bosal - good information - books etc ?

[cvb]

Hi

Now I am finally the proud owner of a bosal - and being your typical bookaholic, I feel I ought to "read up" on it.

I had a play the other weekend, just for a few mins. And we took it slow as stopping was a doddle (she knows the 9 step stop - seemed to come with it already programmed !)

But turning required a bit more thought. So is there a "right way" with a bosal ?

Did a quick search for "bosal" on the UK Amazon - but no hits. There are more hits on USA Amazon, but then I need some help as to whats good and whats not worth the palaver of importing over here....

any hints ?

[Harry Hobbes]

cvb,

I assume that by "bosal", you are refering to the piece of equipment shown in the photo of this thread: http://www.newrider.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=27822

If so, then,
But turning required a bit more thought. So is there a "right way" with a bosal ?
Yes.

Because of the central tie point of the mecate (directly behind the horse's chin), you have to use an exagerated direct rein until the horse understands the cue; then, you can slowly use less exageration over time and practice.

The book referenced in the other thread is the only book that I've come across that discusses the subject in detail. As far as I can tell, it is the only publication available.

However, if you obtain the book, be forewarned that it was written in 1952, so it reflects "traditional" thinking regarding horsemanship. But, nonetherless, it'll get the job done; and, its' author definately was the contemporary expert.

Best regards,
Harry

P.S. Hopefully your bosal is made of rawhide or leather, and does not have any metal, such as a "cable" core in the nose band. Such bosals are potentially dangerous to the horse's face.

P.P.S. The authors's last name of the referenced book has two "L's": "Connell".

[cvb]

thanks - though am a bit shame-faced at not having done a search and found this myself :rolleyes:

Also found the books as a "buy these 2 together" deal on Amazon - and had a big brother moment when I discovered that ".com" knew about my ".co.uk" account !

Bosal came from Lodge Ropes - will post a photo they sent me - but will post this first as my computer crashed on last attempt...

Did try and get a photo of Fi in her bosal - but she wanted to know what I was doing so it was a little difficult :rolleyes: :p Will have another go sometime.

[cvb]

now lets try with that photo.

p.s. we also didn't have a lovely blue sky like Lodge Ropes had - more like murky grey - I guess thats Scotland for you !

[Harry Hobbes]

Oooohhhh!!!

Latigo leather! Very nice.

Harry

[cvb]

oh good - I guess that means you approve ?!:p

We're so short on places to get equipment here, that when Lodge Ropes offered me their last bosal (they had made up a few as samples) I jumped at the chance. And it came all the way from Australia in a week ! (plus some other goodies too :cool: )

I rode in it a couple of weeks ago, but haven't tried again since - Fi was short on work and needed to "do something" (anything) to get the excess energy out of the system. Not exactly the right conditions to add unfamiliar tack. :rolleyes:

[Harry Hobbes]

The latigo leather bosals are usually the "Rolls Royce" of bosals; the finest from the perspective that they are softer and more flexible on the horse's face, and therefore gentler; not to mention better looking than the more common rawhide bosals. Latigo bosals are the most pricey; but, definately worth the price. Take good care of it, and it will last six lifetimes. (Believe me when I tell you that the books on how to build this type of bosal are more expensive!)
We're so short on places to get equipment here...
Sounds like opportunity knocking...
I rode in it a couple of weeks ago, but haven't tried again since...
Over here nowadays, in cowboy country, horses are usually started in a snaffle; a practice which reflects contemporary modus operandi. However, the "old hands" usually started colts in a bosal, then moved to a snaffle; or, started in a bosal, and moved to a spade bit. The point being that the bosal can be the only thing on the horse's head for either a couple of years, or its' lifetime. The horse (and rider) can do everything with a bosal that can be done with bits; because they merely learn pressure and release (i.e., the cues) with a different feel (because of different equipment.)

Best regards,
Harry

[cvb]

Harry

Thats interesting cos I was having the conversation about prices with Lodge Ropes - this one, with hanger etc - cost me £32 plus P&P. But the UK western suppliers start at £65 for something not have as nice. So even with P&P it was well worth it.

And you can get away with more in competitions over here, because of the scarcity and price of tack. If they insisted on all "proper" show tack, they'd only have about 2 people in each class !

I think all the UK western saddlers suffer from the economics of importing, and that the "opportunity" would be in doing what Lodge Ropes did and buying in the basic material then adding value to it - they made the hanger and mecate. Maybe I should organise myself a visit to Oz to learn how to do it from them :)

I've been aware of bosals for a while - and always been into bitless ever since my first pony. She was a part-Appy with the softest skin and no brakes :rolleyes: A little 13.2 mare that I did gymkhana with (so the equivalent of barrell racing etc) and then taught to jump. Because her mouth used to split at the drop of a hat, I rode her in a (english) hackamore a lot. Or just with a halter at home. and we did bareback jumping too :sigh: those were the days :sigh: She once jogged for 10 miles along a beach cos I was too scared to let her go ;) (They told us that there were "bad" patches of sand were people had dug for worms - you can't spot them from surface but you can break a horse's leg).

So - now I have a chance to try the bosal out for myself :)