| Finding a Bosal and Mecate/bosal rein: The Good, | | | | horse? That is the largest price both you and |
| the Bad and the Ugly! | | | | your horse will pay. |
| Bosal sets that don't cause pain to your horse. | | | | As you look the bosal over, you will notice that |
| If you are looking for a mecate rein for the first | | | | the bosal has a large knot at the back of the |
| time, you might be surprised at the price range. A | | | | bosal. This knot goes behind the horse's chin. The |
| Bosal can range from a few dollars to hundreds | | | | knot provides weight so that when a rider |
| of dollars. Let's face it, quality costs. | | | | touches the mecate the shift in weight is |
| Unfortunately, the less expensive bosals that are | | | | noticeable to the horse. You will want to check to |
| not tightly braided, with few plaits and made with | | | | see that the braid is tight and when you are first |
| inexpensive leather or cheaply processed rawhide | | | | starting a horse, you want one with some weight |
| can peel the hide right off the horse nose and | | | | to the knot to help the horse respond to the pull. |
| leave blisters and bare spots around the jowls. I | | | | Bosals come in a variety of diameters. To start |
| know we have all seen those bare spots and | | | | out a green horse, you want a bosal with a larger |
| know that most bare spots are caused from ill | | | | diameter. Most experienced trainers start with the |
| fitting equipment. The white spots are caused | | | | 3/4 inch bosal. It has more weight for an easier |
| when ill fitting equipment has severely damaged | | | | feel for the horse and spreads the pull over a |
| the underlying tissue causing unbelievable pain to | | | | larger area. As training process you can go to a |
| the horse. | | | | smaller diameter. |
| There are several things you want to look at | | | | The colors in the bosal and the design can get |
| when buying a bosal. A quality Bosal is made from | | | | intricate which will raise the price significantly in a |
| rawhide braided over a core that is also made of | | | | bosal. They look great, but for all practicality, you |
| rawhide. You can sometimes find a bosal with a | | | | can save a few bucks and skip the design. |
| metal core, but most professionals will not use | | | | However, they sure look pretty in the show ring. |
| these because they are too rigid. | | | | The making of a Quality Mecate Rein. |
| You want to find a bosal that is flexible enough so | | | | Let's start with the right size. |
| it can gently shape around the face of your | | | | Do you want to know what size Mecate rein to |
| horse. Go to a tack shop and compare the $30.00 | | | | use for your newly purchased bosal? Most people, |
| bosal to the higher end bosal. You will notice a | | | | even trainers have no idea what size or how |
| different in the stiffness, the rigidity and the | | | | many strands it should have. You want to use a |
| flexibility within the core itself. Bend the bosal a | | | | mecate rein that is a least as thick as the |
| few times, give it a few twists, and see how it | | | | diameter as the bosal. So if you purchase a 3/4 |
| feels in your hands. Is it giving and forgiving? Can | | | | inch bosal look for a 3/4 inch mecate rein. |
| you shape it while it is in your hands? Will it Flex | | | | The standard length for a Horse size Mecate is 22 |
| and recover? It should be soft and flexible. Image | | | | feet. If you are using the mecate on a Cob size |
| how an inflexible bosal will feel to your horse. An | | | | horse or pony, you might like the 16 foot ones |
| inflexible bosal will leave your horse no way out to | | | | better. Don't worry 22 feet sounds like a lot of |
| be released from any pain. That is how most | | | | rein, but you once the mecate is tied correctly, |
| behavioral problems start. | | | | part of the reins is used for a lead. |
| Your horse is looking for that release and back to | | | | When looking for your mecate rein, remember |
| a place of comfort so look for a bosal that is built | | | | again, quality matters. Try not to buy a mecate |
| on a rawhide core to provide for the most | | | | rein made out of tail hair. It will be "prickly" in your |
| flexibility. You will be thankful that you spent the | | | | hands forever. Tail hair is course and stiffer than |
| extra cash, because a quality bosal is almost | | | | mane hair. On the market, tail hair is more readily |
| impossible to wear out. | | | | available so it is less expensive and the hairs are |
| Take a good look at the braiding. Can you tell | | | | also a lot longer so it makes it faster to make |
| how many plaits are in the braid? Next, you need | | | | the reins. |
| to take a look at how many "plaits" in the braiding | | | | But trust me when I tell you, that you will never |
| that have been used in the making of the bosal. | | | | be happy with the feel of a tail Hair Mecate in |
| Here is how to tell how many "plaits" are in the | | | | your hands. Mane hair is finer, thinner, and softer |
| braid. | | | | than tail hair. When you first use mane hair, it |
| Look at just one of the laces and count how | | | | might feel a little prickly until the fine hair ends |
| many rawhide laces are going under it. If you | | | | wear down, but use a Mane hair mecate rein a |
| count 3 just multiply by 4 and you have a 12 plait | | | | few times and it becomes baby soft, tail hair |
| braid. A quality bosal with have at least a 12 plait | | | | does not. |
| braid on the cheeks but you want more on the | | | | Making a mecate rein is very time consuming. A |
| nose band. Since the weight of the bosal will be | | | | quality mecate reins is hand-twisted by a master |
| carried on the nose of your horse, you want the | | | | braider with mane hair. When a master braider |
| lacing to be made of thinner, softer laces. I like at | | | | twists the reins by hand this allows him to create |
| least a 24 plait braid on the nose. | | | | endless combinations of patterns all boldly |
| The more plaits in the braid the finer the leather | | | | designed and done in a multiple of colors using |
| the braider used and it makes the weight from | | | | natural mane hair. We hardly every have two |
| the bosal softer on the horse. So the more plaits | | | | patterns come in exactly the same pattern. |
| the braider used the more the bosal is going to | | | | The price of the mecate rein will depend on a |
| cost. | | | | several things. First, is whether he mecate is |
| Now run your hand over the bosal. Is it rough in | | | | made from tail hair or from mane hair. The most |
| your hands? Does the braid have high spots and | | | | preferred is the mecate made from mane hair. |
| more bulk that pulls on your skin? If it does, it will | | | | Let's look at how many Strands of hair the |
| pull on your horse's skin as well. | | | | Mecate has. It is Easy to tell how many strands |
| The area where the bosal rides is over soft, | | | | the mecate is made from. Just count how many |
| sensitive tissue so you want to look for the bosal | | | | strands there are before the pattern repeats. |
| that glides across your own skin. The cheaper | | | | If the rein is a solid color, give the rein a twist in |
| bosal have less plaits and the leather or the | | | | the opposite direction of the twist. In a quality |
| rawhide is bulky and they have high spots that will | | | | mane hair braid the hair stands easily separate |
| tear the shin. | | | | and it is easy to count the number of strands in |
| Also, I suggest that you look for American made | | | | the rein. The higher number of strands will add a |
| leather and rawhide, because it truly does matter | | | | lot more strength and provide for less stretch in |
| how the leather or rawhide was processed. The | | | | the rein. |
| chemicals alone used on imported materials can | | | | The third thing that will determine the price is the |
| also cause damage to your horse. | | | | material used in the center of the mecate: its' |
| Also remember, that in America when we talk | | | | core. While you have it twisted in the opposite |
| about leather we assume the leather came from | | | | direction, check to see what they have used for |
| a cow, however, a lot of the newer, less | | | | the core of the braid. Is it horse hair? The center |
| expensive items comes from imported leather. | | | | should be a core of Braided Horse hair. By using |
| Now you are looking at the possibility that the | | | | horse hair as the core, the flexibility will remain in |
| leather is made from water buffalo. Leather that | | | | the mecate. |
| is made from water buffalo has more natural oil, | | | | Have you ever noticed a mecate reins that never |
| it is stiffer, not as flexible and severely chemically | | | | seems to never unroll and goes in all directions? |
| processed, some even being processed with urine. | | | | This is because the manufacture used inferior |
| So take that into consideration with the imported | | | | material for the core of the rein. So while you're |
| leather. It is important. One easy way to tell if the | | | | twisting and looking, take a look at the core. |
| leather is water buffalo, is to smell it. Water | | | | Another great thing about having the entire rein |
| Buffalo does not have that leather smell and it | | | | made of horse hair is the fact that you can easily |
| always seems to have oil on it. It is slicker. | | | | maintain the rein and wash the rein without any |
| Like most training equipment you want to look | | | | damage. Make sure you learn to care for your |
| for a piece that will last, that is right for you, your | | | | new mecate reins. |
| training methods and your horse. I have seen | | | | From this point on the colors of the bosal and the |
| more customers buy cheaper equipment and pay | | | | mecate are all most endless. Some horseman |
| for Vet bills later. Ask yourself, how much is it | | | | chose a one ear or a no ear headstall, but a brow |
| worth to you not to inflict any pain on your | | | | band headstall will help stabilize the Bosal as well. |