Making a Bosal Hanger
Making a bosal hanger connects you with history while creating functional equipment.
If you are interested in traditional horsemanship, you’re probably familiar with the hackamore. This basic system has been around for hundreds (if not thousands) of years. Essentially, the hackamore uses natural materials every horseman had available to create a tool they could use to ride their horse. If you were a horseman, you had horses. If you had horses, you had the materials to make the hackamore. If you know what you’re doing, crafting one doesn’t require any input from the outside world. In terms of practicality, it is hard to beat.
Although there is disagreement on the subject, many people agree that the hackamore is a combination of three separate components. The bosal, hanger, and mecate. When you combine the three components, you get a hackamore. As mentioned, each is traditionally made of natural materials. The bosal is constructed of rawhide. The mecate is made of twisted horse hair. And, the hanger is made from either leather or softened rawhide. Although an average person can create each of these components, the simplest piece to craft is the hanger.
The hanger refers to the leather strap that secures the bosal to the horse’s head. Although there is no one hanger design, many share a few basic parts. First, there is the cheekpiece that attaches to the bosal and runs along the horse’s cheek. Then, there is the crownpiece that goes over the poll. Some varieties also have a browband, which passes across the horse’s forehead. Finally, many hangers have a throatlatch, or piece that passes under the jaw. I’m sure somebody will find fault, or disagree with how this has been worded. However, whatever you call them, those are essentially the four parts commonly found on a bosal hanger.
Here is a video showing the process of making a bosal hanger.
If you are interested in making a bosal hanger, keep reading to see one easy method you can use.
Making a Bosal Hanger
Materials and Tools
Before you begin making a bosal hanger, you need to have appropriate tools and materials. Typically, hangers are made from latigo leather. Latigo leather is good for several reasons. First, it is flexible. This is important to allow the hackamore to function. Secondly, it is durable. This means it is strong enough that it is less likely to break while you are riding.
If you don’t have latigo leather, you can substitute chap leather instead. Chap leather has many of the same characteristics, except it usually isn’t quite as heavy as latigo. That being said, you can still make an effective bosal hanger with it. If you don’t have either of those two leathers available, you can use softened rawhide as well.
In terms of tools, all you really need is a sharp knife. A straightedge to cut against is helpful, but not essential.
Blood Knot
Before you start making a bosal hanger, you will probably want to get familiar with a blood knot, or bleed knot. This knot essentially laces a string back through itself. It is a good knot to know for lots of leather projects. Also, for this particular design, you’ll need to know it to tie the throatlatch. If you’re not sure about the blood knot, reference the video and you should be able to figure it out.
Getting Your Measurements
Before cutting your latigo leather, you’ll want to get a rough estimate of how long each piece will need to be. The nice thing about this design is that it really can fit a variety of horses. That being said, if you plan on riding one specific horse with your hackamore, you might take specific measurements. Although you can use a rope tape measure, you can also simply use a string and pinch off the measurements.
Start by taking a measurement from approximately where the bosal will sit to a location about a third distance between the eye and the ear. Add at least 4 inches and that is the length of the cheekpiece. You’ll need two of those. These can vary in width, but I cut mine at 1/2”. The cheekpiece in the video is 13”.
Next, use your string to take a measurement from the center of the horse’s poll to that same spot. Without moving the string, then measure down the side of the horse’s jaw, before passing under the horse’s jaw to the center of the underside. Add at least 8” to this. Double the measurement to get the length of the poll strap. You need one of these. It can be a different width than your cheekpiece, or the same width depending on what you want.
Finally, if you want a browband on your hanger, you need to take a measurement from where the crownpiece will run to the center of the horse’s forehead. Add at least 6”. You’ll need to cut two of these. Again, this can be the same width as the other pieces.
After cutting your strips, you can begin creating the blood knots. However, you can also take a moment to bevel the edges of your leather. This is unnecessary to the function, but can give the end product a more polished appearance and may make it more comfortable for your horse.
Blood Knots
If you’re making a bosal hanger to match this design, you may notice there is no metal included. This keeps is simple and (I believe) more reliable as long as the leather is in good shape. Instead of using rivets, everything is connected using knots. Mainly, the blood knot.
Start by connecting the cheekpiece to the bosal using a blood knot. The more times you weave the leather back through itself, the stronger and more reliable the knot. This knot won’t be undone, so tighten it down snugly between the noseband and ring knot on the bosal.
If you have a browband, you’ll want to make the blood knots that attach both sides to the crownpiece. The location doesn’t have to be precise at this point, but try and get it close to where the browband will connect.
Attaching the Pieces
When you’re done, you’ll want to remove a small section of material at the other end of the cheekpiece. This slot should roughly match the shape and size of the crownpiece. Don’t get too close to the edge and inadvertently weaken the leather. Cut these slots on both cheekpieces.
To get the hanger ready, simply thread one side of the crownpiece into the backside of the slot in the cheekpiece. Then, take the working end under and around the cheekpiece before finally bringing it back down through the loop you made. Do this on both sides. At this point, the hanger can be adjusted to fit the horse that will wear it. Keep it centered and balanced by equally adjusting both sides. Once it is centered and fitting properly, you can mark the location of the blood knot that connects it beneath the jaw. Each strap needs one hole for the blood knot. This knot will be done and undone each time you take the hanger on and off.
Browband
If you want to add a browband to your bosal hanger, you can easily attach the two straps you have already cut and attached to the crownpiece. With the hackamore on the horse, bring the two browband straps toward the center of the horse’s forehead. Mark one of the straps as close to the center of the forehead as possible. Cut a slot at that location in the center of the strap. Now, you just have to tie it all together. For this example, imagine you cut a slot in the strap coming from the left side.
With the hackamore on the horse’s head, bring the strap from the left to the center of the horse’s forehead. Then, bring the strap from the right side and, coming from back to front, insert it through the slot. Once it goes through the slot, pass it under and around the left strap before passing it through the loop you created. Next, take the working end of the left strap, and pass it under and around the right strap, before passing it through the loop you created on that side. When you are done, your browband should be secure and there should be two tails pointing down toward the horse’s nose. Trim off the excess, and you are done. In the end, the knot will resemble a sheet bend. I’m sure there is a proper name for it, but I’m unaware of what it is.
As you can see, making a bosal hanger isn’t a complicated process. With a knife and a little bit of the right leather, you can easily make one in less than half an hour. The hackamore technology isn’t necessarily cutting-edge technology, but it works. What is more, it reflects the traditional values and way of life of the men who developed it. It isn’t fancy, but it is practical It was born in a time and place when people used what they had in order to make the things they needed. Eventually, they created the simple, yet functional, hackamore that many people still find enjoyable and useful today.