Garrick Pasini of 'West Coast Traditions', talks about the tradition of the on the west coast of California, USA. Garrick will take you on a short trip through the history of the as it arrived in California. Learn how it's made, and some of the basics of using it as a tool for your .
As you read this, I am probably hidden away in my workshop braiding another . The tradition of rawhide braiding dates back to the beginning of man, and the tradition of braiding the goes back as far as the late 1400s, starting with the Moors of Iberia. The Spanish adopted the art during the Spanish war with the Moors and then took their skills and tools with them as they travelled to the new world. Here in California, the art of braiding and the arrived in 1769 when Father Serra and the Spanish army were taking part in the Catholic Crusades. With ebbs and flow in popularity, it is still in use today.
In recent years the has made a big comeback in California, after almost disappearing during the 1970s and 80s. Once again it's proving itself a great tool for development in any discipline. I have used it to start western horses, but I have also used it during colt start contracts, on horses that were bred to go on to careers in jumping and dressage. One of the beautiful aspects of the is that it does not favour particular breeds or disciplines; it simply works.
So what is the traditional ?
The name "" refers to the combination of its three component parts. The first part is the , the second is the hanger or headstall, and the last is the mecate or hair .
The is a length of braided hair that is looped to make an oval shape, and then secured at the bottom. The shape resembles a 's muzzle and should fit ever so lightly around the muzzle, much like a hat on your head. The size of the changes throughout the training process, gradually decreasing in size as training progresses. The size refers to the diameter of the cheekpiece or body. Most traditional trainers start with a diameter of five-eighths of an inch and will drop to three-eighths of an inch as the training process continues. The itself has its own anatomy; the core, body, button and heel knot. All of these parts are in contact with the 's face and all have different designs and measurements, depending on the it's made for.
The hanger, or what most riders would refer to as a headstall, is traditionally very simple. It is merely a leather strap that wraps around the 's head and ties on one side to keep the on; there is no or ear wrap connected to it. The last part would be the mecate, or , in Spanish. The mecate is traditionally made of mane hair and should be about the same diameter as the it's placed on; a traditional five-eighths mecate will have a length of 24 feet. The mecate wraps around the bottom of the and becomes a continuous and lead to the . Today, mecates are made from a number of different animal furs, although mane hair is still the most traditional and effective.
Riding with the
Riding a with a is fairly straightforward, although there are a few basic principles to follow for beginners.
The first is to lift your turning hand; if you wish the to turn right, try to slightly lift your right hand at a 45-degree angle, as your left-hand stays level with your waist. This difference in hand or height cues the to turn its head to the direction of lift, and also results in the picking up its turning shoulder, to make a correct and balanced turn. Make sure that you, as the , also look slightly in the direction of the turn, and more importantly, slightly lift and turn your shoulders in the direction of the turn.
The is a signalling tool, meaning that it has no on the . With no to direct him, the needs your body position and cues to inform him of your request.
Lastly, make sure you are using your thighs and legs to assist the turn cue. As you put these principles together, you will eventually find a connection with your that becomes light and effortless. This is the magic of the and how it can help a become a great horseman or woman, facilitating a fantastic partnership between and .
My wife, Katie, and I teach workshops on how to ride in the , and I also use it to start colts. More recently, I have used my experience to add another dimension to our work with . I now make them for the public, under our new business, West Coast Traditions. Perhaps whilst you read this, I'm making your !
Garrick lives in northern California with his wife and two daughters. He lives and studies the art of riding in the Californian tradition. Garrick is a farrier, professional trainer and clinician, and who has now added gear making to his portfolio.
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