Training a wild horse is actually different from training a horse. This is because wild horses are untamed compared to a normal horse. If you want to know more about the techniques in training wild horses, check out http://trainwildhorsesnow.com

Creating your own memories.

Why make your own horse hair Bracelet? I have been a crafty kind of Cowgirl my entire life. In fact I think that most Cowgirls have had to learn to be somewhat crafty. There is just about nothing a true Cowgirl cannot ride, make happen, repair and there is truly nothing they cannot make.

I started making my own horse hair items about 25 years ago. I thought “Why Not” make my own Horse Hair Jewelry. I was always trimming tails anyway.

If you are a crafty person, you will love making your own horse hair creations. It is just plain fun to see what you can come up with. One thing is for certain, it will be your own creation made to remind you of one or your most precious friendships. Not to mention that you new creation will provide a tribute to the deep spiritual connection between you and your most favorite steed. Using your own creative style, it certainly will be unique and one-of-a kind.

Second of all, you will want to learn how to make your own jewelry items to save a little cash for some other horse adventures, like a new saddle. I have had numerous, perhaps dozens of favorite horses over the years and it does get costly paying for a new item to be made for each horse’s Hair. So at some point, you might want to learn how to make your own horse hair jewelry as well.

What about all those favorite horses? What have you done with all that hair that you have stock piled in your keepsake box to make something out it on the next rainy day? Is today your rainy day? After 50 years in the horse business, I have outlived most of the horses that I have owned and now looking back, I wish that I would have actually saved a lot more of the hair.

With just a little effort, you will find that it is fairly easy to make a simple Key chain or zipper pull from horse hair. It only takes a little practice to make a bracelet.

However, don’t be like me and procrastinated until it was too late to collect enough hair to make a nice piece of jewelry. You actually need a lot more hair then you would think. Making a piece of Jewelry from your own horse is a great reward for yourself. It is the one thing that creates a memorable bond that you get to wear with great pride and as a tribute to your love for your horse. Just like your horse, your new piece of jewelry can never be replaced. Your new creation will be a treasure that you will adore and others will admire.

Lasting treasure

I once had a Cowboy send in bunches of horse hair from 4 different horses. The horses did not belong to him; they all belonged to his wife. The horses were all getting older and he was having the bracelet made for an anniversary gift.

We made a beautiful 4 strand bracelet out of the hair, one strand to remember each horse. She thought it was the greatest, kindest, most thoughtful gift that she could have ever received. She said it was a great way for her to remember each one of the horses that she loved so very much.

Shortly after, one of the horses died, and since then she has emailed me several times to thank us. So if you have someone that is close to you that loves horses, making such a personalized item for them is not only a way that they will get to remember the bond that they have with their horse, but trust me, they will never forget the gift you gave to them as well.

My whole point is, once they are gone, it will be too late. I never get over the loss of one of my own horses, and I am sure that you do not either. So collect the hair while they are still eating way to much hay, dropping oats everywhere, taking you on long summer rides and being your greatest friend. Your relationship with your horse is a life-long bond that can never be broken, so why not create something of your own to remember them by, unfortunately, they will not be here forever.

If you need more help in creating your new master piece, Knot-A-Tail does sell a kit with complete instructions to make 4 strand Horse Hair Bracelet, extra hair and enough hardware to make two bracelets. If you are interested in the “Make Your own Horse Hair bracelet kit,” stop by Knot-a-tail

Feel free to take a look at our custom page for some ideas to make your own.

I certainly hope you will take the time to create a forever memory.
Create The Bond And Save The Memories

Once you start making those new Horse Hair items, you will want to learn how to take care of your new treasures. Knot-A-Tail offers a complete Free eBook on the Care of your Horse Hair Products.

Well, I am so glad that you rode on over: Here is hoping you have Long rides …… Clear Day …. and Fast Horses. Till next time Roberta E CEO Knot-A-Tail In loving memory of Charles Edstrom and his AQHA “Blue”

How to start:
It’s easy to get started in getting that Custom piece of Horse Hair Jewelry.

First, if you have ever dreamed of having a Custom Horse Hair Jewelry made from your own horse’s hair, then the best way and the easiest way is to collect your favorite horse’s hair is right now. The collection process is easy and you can do it just about anytime, especially after he/she has just have a bath.

So, if you have ever thought about making a piece of Custom Horse Hair Jewelry why wait. Just gather up that favorite horse and let’s go.

Second, make sure you collect enough so the braider can do a good job. I would have to say, at least half of what you will be collecting will not be able to be used. In order for the braider to make a perfect piece, each hair strand has to match.

Preparing the Hair
Getting the hair ready to collect is easy. Let’s go

Preparing the Hair for Braiding.

You will want to start by washing the tail first. By washing the hair before you start cutting the hair will make this process very easy and have a nicer finished piece. Brush or comb out the CLEAN tail prior to cutting and again before you start trimming.

The mistakes that are most common here is that the hair is not long enough or that you do not cut enough hair. You will find t he longest hair is found at the tip of the tail bone and will be best for your jewelry.

Next, gather a lock of hair that is about the diameter of a thimble when squeezed tightly. The Minimum length for a Bracelet is 22 inches, so start at the top of the tail bone from the underside.

Grasp the longest hairs at the bottom of the tail.

• Lift the longest hairs over to the side with one hand and with the other hand pull the shorter hairs away.
• Separate away as many short hairs as possible so you are only cutting just the longest hair.
• Cut close to the tailbone.
• Cut 2-4 bunches from different places on the tail so you do not cut too big a chunk from one place.
• The final bundle should be about the diameter of a nickel or more, the more hair the better the piece of Jewelry.
• For a standard sized bracelet the length needs to be at least 18 inches long, however, 22 inches is better.
• With Scissors, cut the hair from the tip and immediately bind the hair with a runner band or use braiding bands.
• Once cut, Keep the cut ends of the bundle even with the each other.
• We can use the some of the shorter hair for key chains and zipper pulls.
• Bundle the hair in a large plastic bag. Do not braid, fold, knot or kink. Just loosely coil the hair if needed.
• Make sure to tie a rubber band around the bundle. Please do not use tape.
• The hair should be clean and free of tangles or mats.
• Do not knot or braid the hair.

Just a gentle loop like below. 

Please place your horse name in with the hair in a Zip-lock bag. If you are sending in for a custom piece make sure you place your address inside the baggie as well.

Got Enough Hair Collected?

A custom piece requires more hair than you would think necessary. **REMEMBER: Not all the hair that you trim for you jewelry will not be usable. We find that only about half makes it through the sorting process once we receive the hair, so please make sure you send enough. To make sure the braider can do quality work for your Custom Horse Hair Jewelry or other items you will need to collect enough hair to be about the diameter of a nickle.

SO YOU CUT BEFORE YOU CLEANED THE HORSE HAIR: NOW WHAT?

For cleaning already cut hair, you will need to secure one end of the hair with a hair rubber band. You may even need to wash it with a disinfectant soap. You may also need to wash the hair more than just once, sometimes several times. If the hair is really dirty, let it soak for at least 24 hours in a dish pan with a disinfectant soap. Then rinse it well, soak it again, and then give it another wash. Once it is free of ALL debris and dirt, urine or feces, then hang the hair to dry.

Please do not add oil, show sheen, or any other similar product to the horse hair.

Blot the hair dry with towels and hang to to dry. A hair dryer may be used to speed the drying process. Make sure it is completely dry before shipping off to the braider. Once dry, take the end with the most uniform ends and remove all the shorter hairs until it is all about the same length for the braid.

It can be quite a process and very time consuming.

Like I mentioned, if you have ever thought about having Custom Horse Hair Jewelry made from your favorite horse, it is way easy to do while you are still enjoying their company. Don’t worry the hair you are trimming off will grow back.

Don’t have time to clean that hair yourself?
Some companies offer to do the processing for an additional fee. It is very time consuming for use to wash and dry the lose hair. So to say yourself some cash, just wash and dry the horse hair before you start cutting.

Come for a visit our horse forum and community page or post your greatest horse story, suggestions and let me know if there is any thing else you would like to see on our site. We want to exceed all of your expectations, so why not stop by and tell us what you needs, dreams and desires. Always here to help: Happiest of trails Roberta CEO knot-a-tail

Finding a Bosal and Mecate/bosal rein: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly!

Bosal sets that don’t cause pain to your horse.

If you are looking for a mecate rein for the first time, you might be surprised at the price range. A Bosal can range from a few dollars to hundreds of dollars. Let’s face it, quality costs.

Unfortunately, the less expensive bosals that are not tightly braided, with few plaits and made with inexpensive leather or cheaply processed rawhide can peel the hide right off the horse nose and leave blisters and bare spots around the jowls. I know we have all seen those bare spots and know that most bare spots are caused from ill fitting equipment. The white spots are caused when ill fitting equipment has severely damaged the underlying tissue causing unbelievable pain to the horse.

There are several things you want to look at when buying a bosal. A quality Bosal is made from rawhide braided over a core that is also made of rawhide. You can sometimes find a bosal with a metal core, but most professionals will not use these because they are too rigid.

You want to find a bosal that is flexible enough so it can gently shape around the face of your horse. Go to a tack shop and compare the $30.00 bosal to the higher end bosal. You will notice a different in the stiffness, the rigidity and the flexibility within the core itself. Bend the bosal a few times, give it a few twists, and see how it feels in your hands. Is it giving and forgiving? Can you shape it while it is in your hands? Will it Flex and recover? It should be soft and flexible. Image how an inflexible bosal will feel to your horse. An inflexible bosal will leave your horse no way out to be released from any pain. That is how most behavioral problems start.

Your horse is looking for that release and back to a place of comfort so look for a bosal that is built on a rawhide core to provide for the most flexibility. You will be thankful that you spent the extra cash, because a quality bosal is almost impossible to wear out.

Take a good look at the braiding. Can you tell how many plaits are in the braid? Next, you need to take a look at how many “plaits” in the braiding that have been used in the making of the bosal.

Here is how to tell how many “plaits” are in the braid.

Look at just one of the laces and count how many rawhide laces are going under it. If you count 3 just multiply by 4 and you have a 12 plait braid. A quality bosal with have at least a 12 plait braid on the cheeks but you want more on the nose band. Since the weight of the bosal will be carried on the nose of your horse, you want the lacing to be made of thinner, softer laces. I like at least a 24 plait braid on the nose.

The more plaits in the braid the finer the leather the braider used and it makes the weight from the bosal softer on the horse. So the more plaits the braider used the more the bosal is going to cost.

Now run your hand over the bosal. Is it rough in your hands? Does the braid have high spots and more bulk that pulls on your skin? If it does, it will pull on your horse’s skin as well.

The area where the bosal rides is over soft, sensitive tissue so you want to look for the bosal that glides across your own skin. The cheaper bosal have less plaits and the leather or the rawhide is bulky and they have high spots that will tear the shin.

Also, I suggest that you look for American made leather and rawhide, because it truly does matter how the leather or rawhide was processed. The chemicals alone used on imported materials can also cause damage to your horse.

Also remember, that in America when we talk about leather we assume the leather came from a cow, however, a lot of the newer, less expensive items comes from imported leather. Now you are looking at the possibility that the leather is made from water buffalo. Leather that is made from water buffalo has more natural oil, it is stiffer, not as flexible and severely chemically processed, some even being processed with urine. So take that into consideration with the imported leather. It is important. One easy way to tell if the leather is water buffalo, is to smell it. Water Buffalo does not have that leather smell and it always seems to have oil on it. It is slicker.

Like most training equipment you want to look for a piece that will last, that is right for you, your training methods and your horse. I have seen more customers buy cheaper equipment and pay for Vet bills later. Ask yourself, how much is it worth to you not to inflict any pain on your horse? That is the largest price both you and your horse will pay.

As you look the bosal over, you will notice that the bosal has a large knot at the back of the bosal. This knot goes behind the horse’s chin. The knot provides weight so that when a rider touches the mecate the shift in weight is noticeable to the horse. You will want to check to see that the braid is tight and when you are first starting a horse, you want one with some weight to the knot to help the horse respond to the pull.

Bosals come in a variety of diameters. To start out a green horse, you want a bosal with a larger diameter. Most experienced trainers start with the 3/4 inch bosal. It has more weight for an easier feel for the horse and spreads the pull over a larger area. As training process you can go to a smaller diameter.

The colors in the bosal and the design can get intricate which will raise the price significantly in a bosal. They look great, but for all practicality, you can save a few bucks and skip the design. However, they sure look pretty in the show ring.

The making of a Quality Mecate Rein.

Let’s start with the right size.

Do you want to know what size Mecate rein to use for your newly purchased bosal? Most people, even trainers have no idea what size or how many strands it should have. You want to use a mecate rein that is a least as thick as the diameter as the bosal. So if you purchase a 3/4 inch bosal look for a 3/4 inch mecate rein.

The standard length for a Horse size Mecate is 22 feet. If you are using the mecate on a Cob size horse or pony, you might like the 16 foot ones better. Don’t worry 22 feet sounds like a lot of rein, but you once the mecate is tied correctly, part of the reins is used for a lead.

When looking for your mecate rein, remember again, quality matters. Try not to buy a mecate rein made out of tail hair. It will be “prickly” in your hands forever. Tail hair is course and stiffer than mane hair. On the market, tail hair is more readily available so it is less expensive and the hairs are also a lot longer so it makes it faster to make the reins.

But trust me when I tell you, that you will never be happy with the feel of a tail Hair Mecate in your hands. Mane hair is finer, thinner, and softer than tail hair. When you first use mane hair, it might feel a little prickly until the fine hair ends wear down, but use a Mane hair mecate rein a few times and it becomes baby soft, tail hair does not.

Making a mecate rein is very time consuming. A quality mecate reins is hand-twisted by a master braider with mane hair. When a master braider twists the reins by hand this allows him to create endless combinations of patterns all boldly designed and done in a multiple of colors using natural mane hair. We hardly every have two patterns come in exactly the same pattern.

The price of the mecate rein will depend on a several things. First, is whether he mecate is made from tail hair or from mane hair. The most preferred is the mecate made from mane hair.

Let’s look at how many Strands of hair the Mecate has. It is Easy to tell how many strands the mecate is made from. Just count how many strands there are before the pattern repeats.

If the rein is a solid color, give the rein a twist in the opposite direction of the twist. In a quality mane hair braid the hair stands easily separate and it is easy to count the number of strands in the rein. The higher number of strands will add a lot more strength and provide for less stretch in the rein.

The third thing that will determine the price is the material used in the center of the mecate: its’ core. While you have it twisted in the opposite direction, check to see what they have used for the core of the braid. Is it horse hair? The center should be a core of Braided Horse hair. By using horse hair as the core, the flexibility will remain in the mecate.

Have you ever noticed a mecate reins that never seems to never unroll and goes in all directions? This is because the manufacture used inferior material for the core of the rein. So while you’re twisting and looking, take a look at the core.

Another great thing about having the entire rein made of horse hair is the fact that you can easily maintain the rein and wash the rein without any damage. Make sure you learn to care for your new mecate reins.

From this point on the colors of the bosal and the mecate are all most endless. Some horseman chose a one ear or a no ear headstall, but a brow band headstall will help stabilize the Bosal as well.

If you would like more facts about mecate reins and especially how to properly tie them onto a bosal, just sign-up to receive our free e-book, The Mecate Rein, on the Knot-A-tail website. Come visit our horse forum and community page or post your greatest horse story, suggestions, and let me know if there is any thing else you would like to see on our site. We want to exceed all of your expectations, so why not stop by and tell us about your needs, dreams and desires? Always here to help. Happiest of trails, Roberta CEO http://www.knot-a-tail.com/

When it comes to horseback riding, the importance of a bridle is obvious. A horse bridle comes with different pieces such as the brow-band, nose-band, cheek-pieces and throat-lash. For the comfort of the horse as well as the rider, it is necessary to adjust each piece so that the bridle fits correctly. Mismatching can often affect the horse’s gait and cooperation. When bought, bridles are always very stiff. Neatsfoot oil is a good solution for making it supple and conditioning the leather for long term durability. There are different kinds of horse bridles. Each one is meant for different purposes and techniques in horse riding.

Snaffle bridle: This is a bridle with a lot of adaptability. It can be used for various purposes like dressage riding, general exercising, eventing, polo and racing. This horse bridle has a head-piece, brow-band, cheek-pieces, nose-band, reins and bit. The snaffle bridles can be fitted with a flash strap that is attached to the noseband and fastens around the mouth to help keep the horse’s mouth closed to aid control.

Western bridle: These bridles are used for long trail rides and are therefore light weight and apt for hot conditions. They are mainly used in barrel-racing and cutting competitions. This bridle has a head-piece and a brow-band, either a full brow-band, split-eared brow-band or a one-eared brow-band. It is worn without a nose-band. The bit that is used with this bridle is a western curb-bit that has split reins at the end rather than one with a joined buckle.

Double bridle: This bridle provides a great level of control over the horse since there would be two bits in the horse’s mouth instead of one. This can be used for showing and advanced level of dressage riding. A double bridle also has a head-piece, brow-band and cheek-pieces. The nose-band is designed as a cavesson, which encircles the nose to avoid interference by the action of the bit. There are two bits, one attached to the cheek-pieces and the other attached to the bridoon-sliphead, which features 2 sets of reins one set wider than the other the curb rein being narrow for more control.

Endurance bridle: This bridle helps when the horse has stopped to drink water. Its main use is for general exercise and long-distance riding. In this bridle, the bit can be removed to use the head-collar or for the bridle to be used as a bitless bridle, made from lightweight webbing material.

While choosing a horse bridle, there are a few things you need to take care of:

You need to decide on the type of material for the bridle. This has to be decided upon based on your preference and your budget. There are horse bridles varying from webbing, plastic to leather. Leather bridles are always preferable, though they can be on the expensive side. You have to consider the extent, kind of use and safety as well in order to decide on the material of the bridle.

Decide on the colour of the bridle. This depends on your personal preference. However, it will be a good idea to consider the colour of your horse and the saddle so that everything matches while choosing the horse bridle.

Next, you need to decide on the weight of the bridle. You could either get a heavyweight one or a lightweight one. Once again, this depends on your preference and the breed of the horse, as a large cob or heavyweight hunter will need a heavyweight bridles and smaller native breeds and children’s ponies will need lightweight styles.

Before buying the bridle, take the accurate measurements of the horse’s head, cheek and neck. An ill-fitting horse bridle can create discomfort for not only the horse but also the rider.

While buying the bridle, make sure that the nose-band that comes with the bridle suits the horse.
Make sure that the bridle is not too tight and doesn’t choke the horse. It’s always better to clean and condition the horse bridle after using two or three times.

Do not give preference for the appearance of the horse bridle. Comfort and safety of the horse and the rider comes first.

When it comes to horseback riding, the importance of a bridle is obvious. A horse bridle comes with different pieces such as brow-band, nose-band, cheek-pieces and throat-lash. For the comfort of the horse as well as the rider, it is necessary to adjust each piece so that the bridle fits correctly. Mismatching can often affect the horse’s gait and co-operation.

And now I would like to give you our Free eBook: “What to Do In Time of Emergency – A Guide & Workbook for Families with Horses”. All I ask is that you answer a simple question to help us with our next interview and eBook. Just go here http://www.PerformingHorse.com You will get instructions of how to download your copy and will receive “Tips & TidBits from our Barn” our newsletter. From Monique Myers @ http://www.performinghorse.com/AboutMe.html

Bonnie and her husband own Gemara Farm Foxtrotters located in Barnesville, Georgia. Bonnie is an amateur at both photography and horses, but has learned these tips to help present her horses in their best light. The Martins currently have nine fox trotters of their own and a few more boarded ones for sale. http://www.gemara.homestead.com

Cliff Thurston is the CEO of Grosvenor Racing Club, a successful horse racing tipster service. For more information, please visit: http://www.grosvenor-racing-club.co.uk

Cheryl Hanna is a freelance writer living in South Florida. A passionate horse owner and advocate, Cheryl primarily writes about animals, fashion, and current events. For more information, email cdh732 at gmail dot com (make replacements as necessary) or visit http://ac4h.com

The Pryor Mountain wild horses are considered an endangered and rare breed. Their history has led scientists to believe the original herd descended from Spanish horses and may have been brought over by Columbus. Settlers brought these horses to the Atlantic coastal areas and western territories setting up breeding colonies. Most of these sturdy animals were then used for farming, endurance duties and transportation in a yet untamed world. In the Great Pueblo Revolt of 1680, Indians raided these farms, stole horses and traded them. With a lot of chaos created by the constant battles, many of these horses escaped and became feral as they ran wild in nature.

They were able to thrive on forage that other breeds could not exist on, and their speed and agility set them apart as a breed to be revered. Through survival of the fittest for generations, the Spanish Mustang essentially culled their own herds, resulting in the healthiest, sturdiest and most intelligent. They showed their ability to survive and multiplied where other breeds had perished. Considered to be extremely tough with incredible stamina,the herd evolved in nature as their heads grew larger, their eyesight became more acute and their sharp minds grew as they focused on survival.

Studies have been done to determine genetic traits and what type of horse the herd was most genetically related to, and no similarities could be found relating the mustangs to either the draft breeds or the thoroughbreds. As opposed to many domesticated horses, the mustangs can also bond very closely with their owner and become very attached to their human companions. Their sizes normally range from 13.2 to 15 hands, with short backs, rounded rumps and extremely bruise resistant hooves. They can be found in most colors, and surprisingly some mustangs are even gaited.

In order to preserve the integrity of the breed, right about the time the Spanish Mustang was on the eve of extinction in the mid 1950’s, Robert Brislawn of Oshoto, Wyoming founded the Spanish Mustang Registry. Twenty horses were originally registered with the ultimate goal to preserve and perpetuate the last remnants of the Spanish Mustangs. There can be no attempts to crossbreed or change these horses so that these creatures will not lose their true characteristics. Today there are more than 3100 registered Spanish Mustangs, maintaining a legacy that endures even in these modern times.

Cheryl Hanna is a freelance writer living in South Florida. A passionate horse owner and advocate, Cheryl primarily writes about animals, fashion, and current events. For more information, email cdh732@gmail.com or visit http://ac4h.com