21/11/2024
Bosal + Hanger + Mecate = Hackamore.
I’ve had some people get upset with me in the past with my post’s because I say ”bosal” or “bosal style hackamore” instead of just “hackamore” on my posts. Now there’s a reason why when making educational posts I use the word bosal instead of hackamore. Lots of times the term “hackamore” to the average hobby rider their mind directly goes to the mechanical hackamore or loping hackamore. Often times the average hobby rider will refer to hackamores as “bitless” instead of a hackamore as well. So there can be some confusion in the communication when I say “hackamore” as a bosal style hackamore is not very commonly used amung the average rider.
So let’s get into being technical here when it comes to the hackamore setup. A hackamore in my line of work is made up of 3 parts (sometimes 4 depending on the addition of a fiadore). These parts of a hackamore are
1. Bosal. The bosal comes in a variety of sizes depending on the horses level of training. Larger diameter sizes ( 3/4, 5/8, 1/2) are for green horses. Now smaller sized bosals (3/8, 5/16) are for horses that are more advanced. Typically these sizes are used for the two rein stage of the bridle horse.
2. Hanger. The hanger is the same as a headstall is for a bit to keep it on the horse. A hanger is usually thinner pieces of latigo leather that has a eye on one side you string the end through to tie a knot instead of a buckle. There is a variety of styles for hangers from standard over the poll, center tie and center hung. Usually decorated with blood knots, small rawhide buttons and occasionally small silver conchos.
3. Mecate. The mecate is a 22-24 foot rope that you use to tie onto your bosal to make the reins and tail to compete your hackamore. They can be made of all different types of materials from horse hair (mane and tail), mohair, Yacht rope, cotton rope and braided paracord. Make sure that when you pair a mecate and bosal they are the same diameter in size. Mixing sizes can affect the balance, signal and results of the hackamore when all put together.
4. Fiadore. It’s not surging you have to have, but many people do incorporate a fiadore into their hackamore. A fiador is known basically is a type of throat latch used on the hackamore. Its purpose is to stabilize a heavy noseband or bosal and prevent the hackamore from shifting.
All of these individual things must be put together complete the hackamore. The the hanger and mecate tied onto a bosal makes up the hackamore with or without the fiadore incorporated into it. Below I show a photo for reference of all the parts that make up the hackamore as a whole. Mecate in white, hanger in red, and bosal in yellow.
