Skhosu
Well-Known Member
What is it, what does it do and how severe/mild is it?
A bosal?
- Thread starter Skhosu
- Start date
kerilli
Well-Known Member
it's a very hard loop of solid rawhide made into a kind of big cavesson noseband, with reins attached at the back. pretty severe i think, used instead of a bit iirc. south american. google images might have pictures.
Tia
Well-Known Member
It's basically a bitless bridle and can be made from pretty much anything from cotton right through to metal covered in rawhide or sheepskin. The weight, fit and material that it is made of, determines how mild or severe it is. People usually use mecate reins with them.
Generally they are not particularly severe because they are used for western riding where you don't have the same contact. Bosals are normally only used in early training before the horse is bitted, however some horses are ridden in them forever. They should only be used by competent people however, as used incorrectly (like anything), they could cause damage.
Here's a photo of one;
Generally they are not particularly severe because they are used for western riding where you don't have the same contact. Bosals are normally only used in early training before the horse is bitted, however some horses are ridden in them forever. They should only be used by competent people however, as used incorrectly (like anything), they could cause damage.
Here's a photo of one;
Tinypony
Well-Known Member
They can be made of different materials, so some are more severe than others. Just a loop for a noseband and you attach the rope reins at the bottom. In Western training riding in a bosal is a stage in training for a horse. Here's a link which includes some info on the use of bosals, and also they sell rope half bosals - which aren't severe at all.
Tinypony
Well-Known Member
Suzibn
Well-Known Member
Oh, Christiamas,
You are sooo good at this. Don't know why I bother coming in. One thing though, it is pronounced Bo sall with the accent on the bo part.
The mecate reins do rub a bit and make the horses chin grove a bit sore, but I sure wouldn't classify them as harsh. Those with metal are usually refered to as Hackamores and work on a different principal.
Love ya
SUzi
You are sooo good at this. Don't know why I bother coming in. One thing though, it is pronounced Bo sall with the accent on the bo part.
The mecate reins do rub a bit and make the horses chin grove a bit sore, but I sure wouldn't classify them as harsh. Those with metal are usually refered to as Hackamores and work on a different principal.
Love ya
SUzi
Tinypony
Well-Known Member
Blimey, I've never had any rubbing from my mecate!
Tia
Well-Known Member
No I've never either, but I guess it could be possible.
Suzibn
Well-Known Member
ARe you tying the correct knot on the bottom of the bosal?
If not, you won't see the rubbing. It just makes the chin groove a bit sensitive, nothing to write home about and surely not cruel. It is used to break in young horses, then jointly with a snaffle, before introducing the western curb.
Love ya
Suzi
If not, you won't see the rubbing. It just makes the chin groove a bit sensitive, nothing to write home about and surely not cruel. It is used to break in young horses, then jointly with a snaffle, before introducing the western curb.
Love ya
Suzi
Tinypony
Well-Known Member
I think so Suzi, but you've got me thinking now.
I start youngsters in a rope halter, then into a bridle normally, but have used a bosal as an intermediate stage with one that was a little bit heavy in the halter.
Oh well, if the bosal is doing the job, and the knot doesn't rub then hopefully it doesn't matter if it's the wrong knot LOL!
I start youngsters in a rope halter, then into a bridle normally, but have used a bosal as an intermediate stage with one that was a little bit heavy in the halter.
Oh well, if the bosal is doing the job, and the knot doesn't rub then hopefully it doesn't matter if it's the wrong knot LOL!
Tia
Well-Known Member
Suzibn
Well-Known Member
See, ya'll didn't need me at all, did ya,
Love ya
Suzi
Love ya
Suzi
Tinypony
Well-Known Member
Yes we did - you got me thinking for a start!
My bosal is buried at the bottom of a box somewhere at the moment, but I think I did a version of this... the one in picture A.
http://www.freewebs.com/lodgeropes/hackamoresbitlessriding.htm
I use rope hackamores a lot and after years of trying to remember how to re-tie them this little picture transformed my life. (Sad eh?).
My bosal is buried at the bottom of a box somewhere at the moment, but I think I did a version of this... the one in picture A.
http://www.freewebs.com/lodgeropes/hackamoresbitlessriding.htm
I use rope hackamores a lot and after years of trying to remember how to re-tie them this little picture transformed my life. (Sad eh?).
Suzibn
Well-Known Member
Oh, I don't think it's sad at all. I'm just happy there are folks over here in the UK that are seeing some of the benefits of western riding! I know I'd rather "hack out" in a saddle I can tie things to and has a handy handle to grab just in case lol!
Guess it's what your used to and I'm used to both!!! The knot in the illustration is correct...it should rub just a bit. And don't go pulling on one to stop...it's check and release over and over or the horse will set his head against the bosal and you're off to the races. Never ever use steady pressure.
Now you go watch some old westerns and I'll teach you something else about bosals. Look at say John Waynes horses...pretty chestnut fella huh? But look at his head. He is wearing a what we call a pencil bosal...a wee one that just hangs on the head under the headstall just to make a plain headed horse look fancy. They have no purpose unless your horse is on the dime with a bosal to show off.Or you can use one to connect a tie down to...standing martingale sort of thing? But hey I don't like tie downs on anything soo... Obviously these actors don't have a clue, but it sure does make me laugh. Talk about little kids aping what the big kids do?
And hey, I've done it too, to sell a horse, make it look all duded up hehehehe.
Love ya
Suzi
Guess it's what your used to and I'm used to both!!! The knot in the illustration is correct...it should rub just a bit. And don't go pulling on one to stop...it's check and release over and over or the horse will set his head against the bosal and you're off to the races. Never ever use steady pressure.
Now you go watch some old westerns and I'll teach you something else about bosals. Look at say John Waynes horses...pretty chestnut fella huh? But look at his head. He is wearing a what we call a pencil bosal...a wee one that just hangs on the head under the headstall just to make a plain headed horse look fancy. They have no purpose unless your horse is on the dime with a bosal to show off.Or you can use one to connect a tie down to...standing martingale sort of thing? But hey I don't like tie downs on anything soo... Obviously these actors don't have a clue, but it sure does make me laugh. Talk about little kids aping what the big kids do?
And hey, I've done it too, to sell a horse, make it look all duded up hehehehe.
Love ya
Suzi
Tia
Well-Known Member
I'm not in the UK, and I wouldn't exactly say that there are any more or less benefits, on average, to riding western as opposed to English. Some things are better western, some things are not; it's simply a different way of riding that's all.
Suzibn
Well-Known Member
Where be you if not in UK? Would love to know! Hey, another foreighner on here could liven things up. I hear what you are saying,and basically feel the same way...somethings are better one way or the other. Wouldn't want to jump in a western saddle, but have one in trail classes in an english one. go figure.
Suzi
Suzi
Tia
Well-Known Member
I live in Canada however I am not a foreigner.....and I think I have spent ooooh about 34,000 posts livening this place up.
Tinypony
Well-Known Member
Suzi - are you a foreigner then? Am confused...
Anyway, I'm not a foreigner, and I don't ride western, but I do adopt some western principles with my horses. I start everything in a rope halter, and oh dear, I also first ride them bareback, then introduce a saddle after that. I like to get my horses so they can be ridden either in a rope halter with mecate or a simple snaffle bridle, I only used the bosal with one.
I got a new horse earlier this year who leant on his waterford snaffle. So I'm re-schooling him to get soft in the halter, and now riding him out in it, before going back to a bitted bridle. I know it sounds contrary to some people, but I often find that the answer to horses with bits is to first take the bit away.
I'm lucky enough to have had some training with a very good NH type teacher (not a Parelli instructor btw).
Nice talking to you folk!
Anyway, I'm not a foreigner, and I don't ride western, but I do adopt some western principles with my horses. I start everything in a rope halter, and oh dear, I also first ride them bareback, then introduce a saddle after that. I like to get my horses so they can be ridden either in a rope halter with mecate or a simple snaffle bridle, I only used the bosal with one.
I got a new horse earlier this year who leant on his waterford snaffle. So I'm re-schooling him to get soft in the halter, and now riding him out in it, before going back to a bitted bridle. I know it sounds contrary to some people, but I often find that the answer to horses with bits is to first take the bit away.
I'm lucky enough to have had some training with a very good NH type teacher (not a Parelli instructor btw).
Nice talking to you folk!
Tia
Well-Known Member
I believe Suzi is an American who now lives in England.
As for me, I am a Brit who lives in Canada....just like a number of others on here.
Suzi, this is a multi-national forum; we have people on HHO who live in Europe, The States, Canada, Australia, Argentina, New Zealand and other places in the world; so there are plenty of "foreigners" on here.
As for me, I am a Brit who lives in Canada....just like a number of others on here.
Suzi, this is a multi-national forum; we have people on HHO who live in Europe, The States, Canada, Australia, Argentina, New Zealand and other places in the world; so there are plenty of "foreigners" on here.
Suzibn
Well-Known Member
Yyiipeee!
Than I'm not the only one!
RE: taking bit away. I always do this when re-schooling thoroughbreds. If they don't have the bit to lean on, half your problems are solved!
I used to use a sort of mechanical hackamore/bosal that I can't find now for love or money, it had a leather covered noseband, round like a bosal, but under the chin groove it had like an X of metal with a little scoop at the top. Geat breaks if you needed it, but otherwise you could leave the horse alone to find his own balance...something hard for a TB to do in the small arenas we now use (in comparison to the big sweeping tracks they are used to), just turning a corner can get them all discombobulated! It was pretty simmple to do a small chageover to a snaffle after that, riding with two reins until confident the horse wouldn't bolt off with you.
Hey, I didn't get to be this old by taking stupid chances with fit, weight 1,100 lbs than you, are fed oats by the quart three times a day. When bring one down off the track, the feeding and leaning on the bit are the biggest problem. Now if I could just figure out how to find a TB just off the track here, could probably save a life, AND get back to my passion. My saddle and stuff look so empty there in the hall to the front door, and my horse blankies too, sinff sniff...
Love ya
Suzi
Than I'm not the only one!
RE: taking bit away. I always do this when re-schooling thoroughbreds. If they don't have the bit to lean on, half your problems are solved!
I used to use a sort of mechanical hackamore/bosal that I can't find now for love or money, it had a leather covered noseband, round like a bosal, but under the chin groove it had like an X of metal with a little scoop at the top. Geat breaks if you needed it, but otherwise you could leave the horse alone to find his own balance...something hard for a TB to do in the small arenas we now use (in comparison to the big sweeping tracks they are used to), just turning a corner can get them all discombobulated! It was pretty simmple to do a small chageover to a snaffle after that, riding with two reins until confident the horse wouldn't bolt off with you.
Hey, I didn't get to be this old by taking stupid chances with fit, weight 1,100 lbs than you, are fed oats by the quart three times a day. When bring one down off the track, the feeding and leaning on the bit are the biggest problem. Now if I could just figure out how to find a TB just off the track here, could probably save a life, AND get back to my passion. My saddle and stuff look so empty there in the hall to the front door, and my horse blankies too, sinff sniff...
Love ya
Suzi