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How to Tie a Mecate to a Bosal

DMT LOGOA mecate http://bit.ly/1NRKjn1 is a rein made of a single piece of rope, usually twisted horse hair or nylon. Mecates are used on hackamores and snaffle bits. A bosal http://bit.ly/1WeeGIQ is the noseband of a hackamore and when a headstall is attached it is known as a hackamore.

Once attached properly, the mecate has both a looped rein and a length used as a lead rope. The knot used to attach the mecate to a hackamore is also used to adjust the size of the hackamore noseband by taking more or less wraps of the mecate around the base of the noseband just in front of the heel knot.

Follow along with the video (see video below) as we go through these easy steps to tie a mecate to a bosal:

1.     Turn the bosal upside down with the nose button facing you.

2.     Place the tassel end of the mecate up through the bosal and under the heel knot so it will be next to the horses chin.

3.     Pay special attention to get all the twists and kinks out as you’re tying it so the mecate hangs straight.

4.     Holding the tassel in place begin wrapping the mecate just in front of the heel knot in a counter-clockwise direction around the base of the bosal. By wrapping in this direction the tail of the mecate will come out on the left side of the horse when you’re finished.

5.     Make as many wraps as you need to fit your horse. A good rule of thumb is to take just enough wraps so you can fit 2 fingers between the horse’s chin and the mecate knot. The mecate knot should rest on the chin when the horse is at rest. It’s trial and error at first so you may need to add or remove a wrap before use.

6.     When you have finished wrapping pull the rein loop through the noseband from underneath. Rein length is personal preference to a large degree. An easy way to measure for average rein length is to pull the hackamore and rein loop apart as far as you can reach.

7.     Now hold the rein loop in place on the bosal with your left hand and make a half hitch around the complete bosal with the tail or lead of the mecate.

8.     Pull the half hitch down snug with the tail of the mecate. Pull each end of the rein loop down snug.

9.     Now try it on your horse to see if the bosal is the correct size on its nose and the rein length is correct. In general, you want the hackamore to fit snugly enough that it doesn’t bounce up and down as the horse moves but loose enough so your horse feels the release when the reins are released after a pull.

Dennis Moreland Tack twists both 4 and 6 strand mane hair mecates by hand in 16, 22 and 24 foot lengths. Nylon mecates are hand tied in 3/8 and 5/8 inch widths and various lengths by hand. To find out more about our mecates call 817-312-5305 or visit: http://bit.ly/1NRKjn1­­­.

We’re a full-line manufacturer of handmade tack and we’re here to help you!

Also watch how to Tie a Mecate to a Snaffle