Bosal

A bosal (IPAEng|boʊ'sɑl, IPAEng|boʊ'sæl or sometimes IPAEng|'boʊsəl; Spanish: IPA2|β̞o'sal) is a type of noseband used on the classic hackamore of the vaquero tradition. It is usually made of braided rawhide and is fitted to the horse in a manner that allows it to rest quietly until the rider uses the reins to give a signal. It acts upon the horse's nose and jaw. Though seen in both the "Texas" and the "California" cowboy traditions, it is most closely associated with the "California" style of western riding.Price, Steven D. (ed.) "The Whole Horse Catalog: Revised and Updated" New York:Fireside 1998 ISBN 0-684-83995-4 p. 158-159] Sometimes the term "bosal" is used to describe the entire classic hackamore or "jaquima." Technically, however, the term refers only to the noseband portion of the equipment. [Bennett, Deb (1998) "Conquerors: The Roots of New World Horsemanship." Amigo Publications Inc; 1st edition. pp. 54-55. ISBN 0-9658533-0-6]

Bosals come in varying diameters and weights, allowing a more skilled horse to "graduate" into ever lighter equipment. Once a young horse is solidly trained with a bosal, a bit is added and the horse is gradually shifted from the hackamore to a bit.

Description

The bosal has a thick wrapper on top of the nose, called a nose "button," and the ends meet at a heavy heel knot beneath the chin. The heel knot, the "bosal" in Spanish, gives the entire noseband its name.Fact|date=March 2008 It is carried on the animal's head by a headstall, sometimes referred to as a "bosal hanger." [ [http://www.sstack.com/shopping/search/searchresultsmain.jsp?fresh=1&searchType=advanced&iMainCat=0&iSubCat=0&attribute14=0&attribute15=0&attribute16=0&RS=1&keyword=bosal Examples of bosal, hangers and modern mecate] ]

The rein system of the hackamore is called the "mecate." The mecate (IPAEng|mə'kɑteɪ; Spanish: IPA2|me'kate) is a long rope, traditionally of horsehair, approximately 20-25 feet long, tied to the bosal in a specialized manner that adjusts the size of the bosal around the muzzle of the horse, creates a looped rein and a third, loose line that can be used for a number of purposes. [Connell, p. 1] The loose end is coiled and attached to the saddle, and is not used to tie the horse to a solid object, but rather is used as a lead rope and a form of Longe line when needed.

Heavy bosals may be supported by not only the headstall but also a fiador. If a fiador is added, usually a browband is added as well, to hold the fiador to the headstall. [Williamson, pp.13-14] A light single line forelock hanger, usually a thin piece of leather, either tied to the forelock or attached between the ears at the crownpiece is occasionally used to support the bosal in North America, but is not in common use. [Bennett, p. 61] A bosal without a fiador with a properly balanced heel knot and mecate generally does not require additional support.

Uses

Those who advocate use of the bosal-style hackamore note that many young horses' mouths are too sensitive for a bit because they are dealing with tooth eruption, replacing primary molars with permanent teeth. While designed for use on young horses, Bosals are equipment intended for use by experienced trainers and should not be used by beginners, as they can be harsh in the wrong hands. The bosal is ridden with two hands, and uses direct pressure, rather than leverage. It is particularly useful for encouraging flexion and softness in the young horse, though it has a design weakness that it is less useful than a snaffle bit for encouraging lateral flexion.

The classic vaquero and modern practitioners of the "California" cowboy tradition, started a young horse in a bosal hackamore, then over time moved to ever-thinner and lighter bosals, then added a spade bit, then eventually transitioning to a spade alone, ridden with romal style reins, often retaining a light "bosalito" without a mecate. This process took many years and required an expert trainer. The "Texas" tradition cowboy, and most modern trainers, will often start a young western riding horse in a bosal, but then move to a snaffle bit, then to a simple curb bit, and may never introduce the spade at all. [R.W.MIller] Other trainers start a horse with a snaffle bit, then once lateral flexion is achieved, move to a bosal to encourage flexion, then transition to a curb. However, this sequence is frowned upon by those who use classic vaquero techniques.

The combination of fiador with either a frentera or a standard headstall or hanger with browband stabilizes the bosal by supporting it with multiple attachment points. However, it also limits the action of the bosal, and thus, particularly in the California tradition, is removed once the horse is comfortable under saddle. [http://www.horse-sense.org/archives/200104201910.phtml Jaheil, Jessica. "Bosal, snaffle, spade - why?" "Horse Sense," web page accessed August 19, 2007] On a finished horse, a bosal with a properly balanced heel knot and mecate generally does not require these additions.

In the Texas tradition, where the bosal is placed low on the horse's face, as well as on very green horses in both the California "vaquero" and Texas traditions, the fiador is used to stabilize the bosal by attaching it to the headstall along the poll joint behind the ears, running under the jaw, and attaching to the bosal at the heel knot, along with the mecate. [R.W.Miller, pp 127-134] In the California "vaquero" tradition, the fiador is omitted once the horse is able to work without it; in other traditions the fiador is retained.

ee also

*Fiador
*Hackamore
*Bridle
*Horse tack

References

*Bennett, Deb (1998) "Conquerors: The Roots of New World Horsemanship." Amigo Publications Inc; 1st edition. ISBN 0-9658533-0-6
*Connell, Ed (1952) "Hackamore Reinsman." The Longhorn Press, Cisco, Texas. Fifth Printing, August, 1958. (no ISBN in edition consulted; other editions ISBN 0-9648385-0-8)
*Miller, Robert W. (1974) "Horse Behavior and Training." Big Sky Books, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT
*Williamson, Charles O. (1973) "Breaking and Training the Stock Horse." Caxton Printers, Ltd., 6th edition (1st Ed., 1950). ISBN 9600144-1-1

*Segovia (1914)