Just got off the phone with Bill Black and he’ll be shipping it on Tuesday. Will post pictures when I receive it!
Any advice on what to do with first other than just stare at it? :lol:;):applause:
Now I just need to get myself the mecate reins and I’ll be ready to go at the clinic!
That is exciting! Looking forward to pics!!
Any advice on what to do with first other than just stare at it?
Yes, shape it!
They make wooden shapers, but a shoelace and can of pumpkin (the big ones that make two pies) will do just fine.
Basically, you need to shape the shanks so they don’t pinch the jaw.
Some people purposely use bosals with a metal core, because they KEEP the v-shape, in order to rub the horse’s jaw raw…so the horse has pain and avoids anything the rider might do to pick up the reins- fake lightness from pain avoidance.
There are wooden blocks (Kip Fladland makes a good one) specially designed for shaping a bosal, and photos of it on the internet.
I can’t find any pics of the pumpkin can/shoelace method, but it works just as well. Until October when you need to make a pie.
Also, don’t ever leave the bosal somewhere that a mouse or rat might get to it. They LOVE to chew rawhide, especially if it is sweaty. It will have some salty/sweaty already if the braider ever had sweaty hands…or if they used kidney fat or rawhide cream on it. So I keep mine in the house, definitely not in the tack room in the barn.
I picked up my bosal from the post office today! The quality is lovely and I was so excited to get home and try it on Mac, I didn’t even take the tag off!
Here’s a just 'cause picture (his butt looks funny because he’s standing on a rock and downhill): http://i1310.photobucket.com/albums/s654/PrincessFishCheeks/Big%20Mac%20%202005%20BLM%20mustang/20140221_095119_zpsblgx8spl.jpg
Here is a straight-on picture: http://i1310.photobucket.com/albums/s654/PrincessFishCheeks/Big%20Mac%20%202005%20BLM%20mustang/20140221_095244_zpskknq2lqh.jpg
Here’s a side picture: http://i1310.photobucket.com/albums/s654/PrincessFishCheeks/Big%20Mac%20%202005%20BLM%20mustang/20140221_095314_zpsbg3pe3is.jpg
And here’s a closeup of the heel area: http://i1310.photobucket.com/albums/s654/PrincessFishCheeks/Big%20Mac%20%202005%20BLM%20mustang/20140221_095308_zpsw0qj5ck2.jpg
So. Questions.
I can fit my four fingers between the back of his chin area to the heel area inside - is that enough for the mecate? I worry that it is too small because his head is too big?
What should I do to shape the bars? I can now see where they would sort of pinch around his chin area - if I put a soup can in there is that enough? Can you tell from the pictures how/what kind of shaping it needs? Should it fit snug around the sides of his nostrils where you can see some space?
I just put it on him without doing any adjusting of the length of the hanger - should it be lower?
When I store it (without the mecate wrapped), should I hang it by the hanger, or just keep it flat on a shelf?
Will it stretch at all?
I’m going to a clinic in a month or so to get started in learning how to use it, but in the meantime I of course want to play with it! Going to the tackstore tomorrow that carries some artisan bosals & mecates so I’m going to see if they have a mecate for me to buy. 
Thank you, Mr. PoPo, for my birthday present!!! :yes:
That’s so exciting! Can’t wait to look at the pictures when I get home (photobucket is blocked at work 
)
[QUOTE=Pocket Pony;7434520]
I can fit my four fingers between the back of his chin area to the heel area inside - is that enough for the mecate? I worry that it is too small because his head is too big?[/QUOTE]
Tough to guess without a mecate in place, but it looks about right.
Don’t get TOO carried away with trying to be perfect, it doesn’t look horrible right now. You can shape with a can if it’s way off, but if it’s close, a little shaping by hand after a ride when the bosal has been warmed up by the horse is a good option as well.
Fit it like a hat…close, but not tight. It should be able to move freely though.
You’ll have to experiment with where it works best, and that might change from time to time if you dull him to it by accident or over a long day. Make sure it’s not lower than his nasoinsicive notch (where the skull starts to taper).
Neither, both will warp it. You need to bolt a can to the wall and hang it by that. Always store by the nose button or heel knot.
Not as in “get bigger”, no. It will bend, but not stretch (meaningfully)
Why not? Just don’t ride it like a snaffle on contact, but otherwise, play away!
Are those latigo cheeks? If so, make sure not to use anything with neatsfoot to clean the rawhide bits. Treat the rawhide bits with rawhide products (vaquero cream etc) and the leather bits with leather products (I like the Passier products).
[QUOTE=aktill;7443382]
Tough to guess without a mecate in place, but it looks about right.
Whew - as long as it doesn’t look immediately and obviously like it doesn’t fit I can not stress about it. Will post a picture when I get a mecate.
Don’t get TOO carried away with trying to be perfect, it doesn’t look horrible right now. You can shape with a can if it’s way off, but if it’s close, a little shaping by hand after a ride when the bosal has been warmed up by the horse is a good option as well.
Fit it like a hat…close, but not tight. It should be able to move freely though.
Ok, thanks.
You’ll have to experiment with where it works best, and that might change from time to time if you dull him to it by accident or over a long day. Make sure it’s not lower than his nasoinsicive notch (where the skull starts to taper).
Thanks. I know you’re a fan of the hackamore - do you ride in yours each time, or switch back and forth to the snaffle? Or are you in the two-rein?
Neither, both will warp it. You need to bolt a can to the wall and hang it by that. Always store by the nose button or heel knot.
Would a regular bridle hanger (round) work just fine? Maybe I’ll get a nice brass one to put in the house and hang it like art!
Not as in “get bigger”, no. It will bend, but not stretch (meaningfully)
Ok.
Why not? Just don’t ride it like a snaffle on contact, but otherwise, play away!
Do you have any YouTube videos you’d recommend for some ground work or just basic under saddle exercises at the walk?
Are those latigo cheeks? If so, make sure not to use anything with neatsfoot to clean the rawhide bits. Treat the rawhide bits with rawhide products (vaquero cream etc) and the leather bits with leather products (I like the Passier products).[/QUOTE]
How often do you condition yours? Do you clean it like you would a saddle, or just condition it from time to time?
I got into the Buck Brannaman clinic again this year - it is still a few months away. I’ll go in the first couple of days with a snaffle, but if I get the hang of the hackamore, I’d sure love to have his feedback on exercises and such.
It is beautiful! Look forward to further updates.
[QUOTE=Pocket Pony;7443410]
Thanks. I know you’re a fan of the hackamore - do you ride in yours each time, or switch back and forth to the snaffle? Or are you in the two-rein?[/QUOTE]
Tin’s in the two rein: http://www.easphotography.com/Tindur/TindurTwoReinPhoto.jpg
…but I generally reserve that for working outside. He likes his cricket, but the english riders I generally school indoors don’t particularly.
I switch to the snaffle for dressage lessons, but only infrequently other than that.
The shape of your hanger should mimic the shape you want in the bosal. If the brass one does the trick, no problem with that.
Not off the top of my head. There are lots of DVDs, but nothing I can say I remember from Youtube.
When it needs it. Notice what the strings look like now, and condition it when you notice it getting a little dry. I try to keep mine clean, but that’s not a full condition.
Just don’t use saddle soap ever on the rawhide bits unless you know it doesn’t have a neatsfoot element. Most don’t, but it’s worth checking.
Wouldn’t hurt to get feedback, that’s for sure. When I rode with Buck a couple of years back that’s what we were in.
Your horse is so cute, and the bosall looks great! Western tack is so much fun! When I switched it was like being in a candy store!
He looks handsome in his new bosal!
I love his ears in the straight-on pic 
Ok, I got my mecate over the weekend - it is stiff! I assume it will soften up the more I use it? I figured out how to tie it on to the bosal and thought I’d do a little work with it today.
It is a lovely and warm sunny morning, and Mac seemed to be in a good mood. I took him down to the arena with his halter on and then put the hackamore on there (I had already tied the mecate). I made a minor adjustment to the height (still not sure I got it right). I thought we’d start by just walking around, but there was something in the bushes, so his head came up and he was on high alert. Great . . . why didn’t I do any ground work ahead of time?!
It was actually interesting, though, because I was so conscious of my equipment that I had to find another way to get to him vs. moving his feet and letting him run it out, so to speak. Instead I worked on head-lowering exercises, and flexions in-hand and my own breathing exercises and he calmed down. It was a good lesson for me in how to manage a situation calmly vs. myself getting amped up to meet his energy level.
So then I got on. We did some more flexions while standing. Wow, he really “got it” with responding! Then we walked around and did some circles, changes of direction, teardrop-looped-together-circles, backing, and TOF. He was really responsive to the hackamore and I don’t think I screwed him up in one short ride.
In all our work session was about 30 minutes, split between ground work and under saddle work. I think I did a decent job of wrapping the mecate (except there was a twist in the reins - I think I need to get rid of the twist, right?), I think there’s enough space under his chin, but I need to figure out about shaping because it seems like there’s a gap between the side of his nostril and the bosal - how do I make it go closer to his nose (or do I want it to?)?
Here another picture:
Never having used a bosal before I can only go by what I’ve read.
It seems like from this page (I hope I got the right link, is blocked at work) http://calclassics.net/php/learn/fittingABosal.php you want it more shaped than your second pic shows?
I agree, I’m just not sure how to go about it. Is it one of those situations whereit will eventually just mold to his face on its own or what should I do since it seems to need to be narrower…
Maybe you can make/get something like on this page if you scroll a bit more than half-way down to “Bosal Blocks”?
To get the bosal to fit a horse’s face, when it is newly made, you shape it.
There are good photos of wood bosal shapers. Kip Fladland makes one, it is the most recommended one I have found from the sources I trust.
These sources also tell me a large can (soup, pumpkin, salsa…) works just as well.
I took a few photos:
Bosal on can, top view:
http://s262.photobucket.com/user/Buxombeefcowdairy/media/Buck%20clinic/PIC_0005.jpg.html?sort=3&o=2
You can see from the photo, that not only have the shanks been ‘expanded’ at the bottom in order to not pinch/scrape the jaw, but also that the nose has been pulled in.
After the bosal is shaped, it will keep this form:
http://s262.photobucket.com/user/Buxombeefcowdairy/media/Buck%20clinic/PIC_0007.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0
I ‘store’ my bosals on their pumpkin can…except sometimes for a few days around Thanksgiving!
AFTER you get the bosal in a good shape, the best thing to do with it is ride in it. I have heard that the more they are used, the better they get.
A word of warning, though:
The bosal will ‘tell’ you what holes you have, what you don’t do very well, in the snaffle. There is no problem using the bosal some, especially to find the things you and your horse aren’t really doing well, yet.
If you go to a Buck clinic, and you are not in Buck’s opinion ready to be using a bosal…
…and you are lucky, Buck will tell you that, reasonably privately/one-on-one, during maybe the second or third day. That you need to (say, have your horse carrying a soft feel through the haunches in, or that your horse should be doing simple lead changes, carrying a soft feel, or maybe more generically that you need to get some things working in the snaffle) before you go to the bosal and possibly ruin or backtrack significantly your progress toward making a bridle horse.
…and if you are not lucky, Buck might tell you (on the last day of the clinic) VERY loudly over the loudspeaker that "SALLY, YOU HAVE NO BUSINESS IN THE BOSAL. Your horse is doing x, y, z and etc and you need to go back and get these VERY BASIC things going…
I’ve heard both.
My goal, which I am hoping will happen this summer, but due to some health issues might happen in another year, is to go to my Buck clinic and have him tell me it’s time (or close to time) to hang a bridle bit on my horse.
Oh, and if you’re really ‘not lucky’ (and in his opinion you don’t belong in the bosal, yet)…Buck won’t say doodly squat about it.
Thanks for the information. Here’s a link to a Kip Fladland shaper: http://www.buckaroogear.com/proddetail.asp?prod=FBB#.Uw4Zz4V9jqM
What I see here is that the bosal is sort of squished in the middle, so the bars don’t look straight anymore. That makes me 
. I have gotten such a fine and lovely piece of equipment, I’m afraid of ruining it somehow! But obviously that’s how it is done so I should get on it. When you’ve got the bosal in the shaping block, I assume you leave the mecate off?
Regarding the Buck clinic. I’ve heard stories, so I wouldn’t just walk in their with my hackamore thinking I’m all that! :eek: I’ll likely start off the first two days in the snaffle to make sure that Mac and I are doing okay and we’re on the same page, then I would ask Buck about trying the hackamore on the third or fourth day but bring my snaffle with me in case it is a disaster. I just figure that if I could get some instruction/observation/guidance from him, I might as well go for it! But I would never go in unprepared - that’s just not my style. 
What I see here is that the bosal is sort of squished in the middle, so the bars don’t look straight anymore.
Well, no, the bars don’t ever get actually straight, they get horse-nose-shaped.
Fresh from the braider, the bosal is too pointy at the bottom, and too round/wide at the top. Shaping means shaping to the horse’s face.
If you ever get a hold of a metal-core bosal, you can check out how it will NOT get horse-face-shaped, it will bounce back every time to v-shaped at the bottom. If you can’t really ‘see’ the bounce, you can put it on a pumpkin can or in a bosal shaper, and it will never hold the new shape.
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