Pros and cons of mohair mecates... [Archive] - Eclectic Horseman Magazine: Just What Works!

ManyPonies

03-08-2007, 12:53 AM

Need a new mecate for a big gelding soon to move to the hackamore. Have a nice horsehair set up on another bosal, love it. Could go this way again. But the prices on the mohair are tempting, especially as I'll need a longer mecate for this guy.

Anyone have experience with mohair who'd care to compare it with horsehair?

Many Thanks!

reata

03-08-2007, 04:25 AM

I don't have a horsehair mecate but I do have a mohair one that a very special friend bought me at the Californios last year.. I use it on my little mare.. I love it .. it has a really soft feel to it and a little play in it..
I think it allows me to make tiny mistakes with out upsetting the mare..
don't know how it would compare to a horsehair one.. But I do like it ..
:)

Two Cents

03-08-2007, 07:33 AM

Hi!

I'll bet you will really like the mohair. They are much easier on the hands, especially for women who have a little softer skin. They have pretty much the same body and feel as the good mane hair mecates.

Sara Hagel makes beautiful mecates, and can fix you right up. Her website is mecates.com. Give her a call.

Scout

03-08-2007, 09:09 AM

I love the feel and life of a mohair mecate but there is one thing about them -- if it's humid or raining, they can really stiffen up. Might be going with narrower ones makes that be less of an issue. They are soft in my hand but I don't mind the prickle of manehair -- especially once they've been used enough to smooth them out.

Sara Hagel makes beautiful mohair and manehair mecates. I love the feel of manehair and Sara's are magnificent. Her mohair ones are exceptional as well.

red

03-08-2007, 12:08 PM

since you already have a horse hair mecate, you really have nothin to loose by havin' our Sara whip you up a mohair treasure...if your horse hair mecate is not one that Sara made...there is no substitute...(there are lots of mass manufactured horse hair mecates..and there are a zillion ways to scrimp on quality)...that won't be a concern with one of Sara's mecates. The beauty of what Sara does, is she has a way of helping you, without you feelin like a dork...and then she spins her magic...and the mecates have a life, and feel unique to them..As Two Cents and Scout report, go on her website, and LOOK at all of the possibilities..(I always tell her to make me a wild one..and she has made some unique beautiful working pieces of art). Turn her loose, and let her design one...I have never seen one I did not love...and I have my favorites that I reach for time and again...don't settle for less. Our discipline is one of subtle nuance, and a mecate with life, can help you with timing and feel as you communicate. Think not? Go hold a plain old cotton lead rope. It feels dull, heavy, and dead. Now go pick up your favorite lead the one you do your ground work with..I bet you can feel the difference, and never gave it a thought..there is a reason why you choose it, it allows you more feel. Will wonders never cease? Your pony can tell the difference, too...can't wait to see what you decide!!!

love,
red

keeps

03-08-2007, 01:41 PM

Must say that I am very happy with both horsehair and mohair mecates----and Sara's are by far my favorites. My mohair has the opposite twist to my horsehair, so that requires just a bit of an adjustment on my part regarding the direction of my coil. The mohair is certainly less expensive, and softer on the hands. My choice of use depends on what size bosal I am using, and which mecates I happen to have that are the proper diameter for each. And if I'm ridng in lots of timber, I tend not to use either, but go to treeline rope or something like that. But now I am getting off the track. Sara's horsehair mecates are far superior to the the horsehairs that I have. Shopping with Sara is fun---I need to shop. 5 1/2 years ago I sent her some very special mane hair----------about time to have something made with it. Enjoy!

FrancaV

03-08-2007, 09:08 PM

I have never tried mohair but *love* my Sara Hagel mane hair mecate. I kind of designed it myself with elements from two of my favorites on her site. The feel of the mane hair isn't too rough for me so next time I will probably get another made with mane hair as well. Still ... I'd love to feel what her mohair mecates are like!

ManyPonies

03-08-2007, 09:17 PM

Thanks for all the input! The horsehair mecate I have was made by Sarah Hagel - it is a memorial mecate with mane hair from two very special horses, one is the dam of the horse who wears it now. Beaded a hanger for it in a matching pattern. Looks sharp.

An older horseman I once worked for told me that a good mane hair mecate is superior to anything else, but it was the skill of the rider that made the biggest difference. And I liked the multi toned grey mohair mecate that Reata Brannaman was using a few years back. Hmmm...

Scout

03-08-2007, 09:27 PM

I've got both. In rain or high humidity, I'd rather have manehair. Sara explained that mohair fibers are finer than manehair and with the tight twist, humidity expands and tightens the twist more than with manehair. The softness of mohair is really nice and the life and feel is great. They do soften with time and don't stiffen quite as much as when new.

Excess

03-09-2007, 11:47 AM

I have a manehair mecate and I'm on Sarah's waiting list for one of HER mane hair mecates....I can't wait until I get mine. Just letting you know there's a LOOOOOOOOOOONG waiting list for Sara's work. =) I like the feel of the mane hair mecates the best. I like the weight and I like the prickleness of it.

fionagirl

03-10-2007, 02:43 PM

Just letting you know there's a LOOOOOOOOOOONG waiting list for Sara's work. =)

Ain't that the truth. I ordered in October! But the best things in life are worth waiting for! I just received a headstall from Sara and it's gorgeous.

Excess

03-10-2007, 03:59 PM

Ain't that the truth. I ordered in October! But the best things in life are worth waiting for! I just received a headstall from Sara and it's gorgeous.

Did you get it yet? Lol. I ordered it back in January I think....

Mecate

03-11-2007, 01:33 AM

Scout,

Can you expand a little on mohair vs. mane hair mecates? I didn't follow what you were describing about mohair. What do they feel like in your hands? How does a person care for them?

What do people think about qualities to look for in a mane hair mecate...can a person "go wrong" in buying one? Has anybody bought one from Mary Brannaman?

Thanks,

~Meg

Scout

03-11-2007, 10:54 AM

Will see if I can do justice to the way it was explained to me. I hope folks with a better knowledge base will keep me honest! The diameter of each strand of mohair is smaller than each strand of a horse's mane hair. So, to make a one half inch mecate, there are more hairs used in the mohair rope to create a one half inch rope. Both are twisted tight. In humidity/rain, more moisture is absorbed by a mohair mecate and the twist is tightened up more than is the mane hair mecate. Over time, with use, both ropes will soften somewhat.

Mary Brannaman's shop is Houlihan Horse Gear (there's an on-line address as well). Houlihan sells Sara Hagel and Kraus mecates.

Mane hair mecates when they're new, have the ends of the hairs poking out that makes for a prickly feel. The prickle is strictly a matter of personal liking or not. I like that feel in my hands and also enjoy that with use over time, the rope smooths out. Mohair ropes are softer to begin with -- those smaller, finer fibers make for a softer feel in your hands.

I love the handling of a rope that has good life in it -- you can feel the heft of it, it swings freely -- if I take a coil, I can work the rope quickly. Both mohair and mane hair can deliver that feel. Not all ropes are alike with respect to that feel. Sara's ropes are uncommon in that regard. Even her tiny/narrow ropes feel substantial.

I'd rather ride with a well made lively mohair mecate than a mane hair mecate that feels dead in my hands. The first Sara Hagel rope I used was mohair and someone told me that her mane hair ones are even nicer. They didn't lie. Sara's mohair mecate felt great. Her mane hair mecates are worth the wait! The artistry is worth talking about too -- I love useable art and they are beautiful to look at.

Excess

03-11-2007, 06:03 PM

I can't even ride in anything else but a mecate. I tried a few weeks ago to ride in my new bit and I was using some old Cowboy Tack reins that I have and even though they're awesome reins, I just hated them. Flat out couldn't stand the feel in my hands and I think my extreme dislike of them showed through because I didn't have a good ride. This past week during my vacation I was using whatever reins they had. It was okay but I missed my mecate. I came home and rode for the first time today and boy I sure do love my mecate. The one I have now is not made by anyone special. But it's a nice heavy 1" mecate....real big but I like it. I like the feel and the heaviness of it. I can't imagine using anthing else!

Mecate

03-11-2007, 06:46 PM

Scout, Excess, and everyone else on this thread (you, too, Two Cents!):

Great info from everyone. Sara Hegel's website is very informative on the differences (Scout, you were dead on b---s accurate in your description), care and more.

Would love to hear from everyone on when/why they chose a treeline type mecate versus mohair/manehair mecateswhat and why (one post alluded to that...the poster talked about using treeline type gear while riding in a woodsy/forested-area, I believe). The Jan.Feb. 2007 issue of EH featured an article on Buck's teaching turnarounds (From Reaching to Turnarounds) and the pictures appear to show him riding with a treeline-type mecate. Got me to thinking....

And finally -- and this one truly reveals my personal baggage -- in your opinions is there such a "thing" as being "qualified" to using a "hair" mecate?

Love this group and their fine minds!! ~Meg

Scout

03-11-2007, 08:13 PM

FrancaV

03-11-2007, 09:09 PM

I use mane hair every day. Have got a square treeline in my trailer in case of torrential downpours but haven't used it in a long time. You should ride with whatever feels right in your hands and pleases you.Yep, that's about right here, too. I'll use my treeline mecate in 'uncertain' circumstances, uncertainty relating to weather or a decent place to hang it up. I unfortunately hung my first mane hair mecate on a bridle rack that turned out to be within reach of my friend's mare who was turned out in the adjacent arena. Instead of rolling she decided to hang out at the rail and chew my mecate while nobody was looking. It was only about 5 or 10 minutes but plenty of time for her to ruin it. I still almost cry when I think about it ... my friend gave me money to have Sara make me another in the same pattern but it wasn't the same as the first one. They are all unique and though I love the second one it doesn't have the same kind of life in my hands that the first one did. :(

Mecate

03-11-2007, 10:13 PM

Thanks FrancaV and Scout...

fionagirl

03-17-2007, 06:53 PM

Did you get it yet? Lol. I ordered it back in January I think....

Not as of today! It's hard to wait for something you know is going to be so darn gorgeous and useful!

Excess

03-17-2007, 07:07 PM

Not as of today! It's hard to wait for something you know is going to be so darn gorgeous and useful!

I hear that! She hasn't gotten back to me yet as of even starting my mecate. I'm just about pulling my hair out. I hope it's here by serious riding weather time!

fionagirl

04-09-2007, 05:21 PM

Excess

04-09-2007, 07:24 PM

Wanted to say that my mecate is on its way to me -- I can't wait! And it was a totally mixup that had nothing to do with Sara but instead the place I ordered from. Suffice to say I'm ordering directly from Sara from now on!

Thanks for letting us know! I'm still waiting on mine. I can't wait! I got this nice gear for christmas custom made and I have been wanting to use it and I actually DID use it for the first time yesterday. I purchased this cheapo mecate as my alternate (after I get Sara's I'll have 3...and I just have ONE HORSE!). It's supposedly parachute or mountain cord or something. I got it off ebay. It's also 5/8" and I can't stand it! The weight (non existant), the feel, the thinness...I don't like it. I like something with more weight and thickness to it I think. Anyway, I can't wait to get my Hagel mecate! I just got to get myself a good hat, some chinks and I'll be set with my whole vaquero outfit. I guess I could get myself some wildrags too! But I got to dress Speedy first, then myself. =)

fionagirl

04-11-2007, 04:38 PM

It arrived today and is just gorgeous. Well worth the wait. The feel of it in my hands is just categorically different than anything I've ever held before.

OK. Enough about my mecate. I swear I won't bore you guys with news of every new piece of equipment.

Excess

04-16-2007, 11:49 AM

Excess

04-16-2007, 01:59 PM

Sara said mine is coming! I should get it later this week or early next week. She's shipping it out on Wednesday. I am so excited. I can't wait.

At Equien Affaire I got some real nice chinks and a bosal/mohair mecate from Platte Valley Saddlery. I'll have to take pictures of all my tack. I'm so proud of it!

fionagirl

04-17-2007, 06:33 PM

I get mine soon! Sara just emailed me and said she's shipping it out on Weds. I went to Equine Affaire and got some amazing chinks and a bosal/mohair set too. I'm so excited to start riding! AAAAAAAAAND it's going to WARM UP this weekend!

Awesome! Yeah, I'm on the east coast and we are floating in rainwater. But the sun is supposed to break ANY DAY NOW with a fine weekend ahead. It was my first chance to walk my 2-yr-old through lots of deep puddles. We had a blast this morning braving the depths together.

FrancaV

04-18-2007, 03:25 PM

Awesome! Yeah, I'm on the east coast and we are floating in rainwater. But the sun is supposed to break ANY DAY NOW with a fine weekend ahead. It was my first chance to walk my 2-yr-old through lots of deep puddles. We had a blast this morning braving the depths together.Here's hoping you get your sunny weekend. I'd like one, too! My lesson last Saturday was rained out so I'm trying again for this Saturday. Good job on the puddles with your 2-yo. Way to use those "natural obstacles", LOL!

Excess

04-19-2007, 07:43 AM

Awesome! Yeah, I'm on the east coast and we are floating in rainwater. But the sun is supposed to break ANY DAY NOW with a fine weekend ahead. It was my first chance to walk my 2-yr-old through lots of deep puddles. We had a blast this morning braving the depths together.

It actually never got as bad here in Buffalo as it did in other parts of the east. We had a constant drizzle but no torrential downpours. None of our creeks flooded except two counties over. 40 min south of us got 5" of snow. Maybe more. It's just been chilly. TODAY I woke up and it's SUNNY and supposed to get up to 50!! This weekend it should even get to 60! Winter stay away! The groundhog lied.

Excess

04-21-2007, 05:48 PM

I got my hagel mecate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Today! It's amazing. The feel is completely different from any of my other mecates. It's so supple. I can't wait to ride in it tomorrow. It is mostly white with two roan stripes going down throughout the whole rope. I'm going to try and take pictures of it tonight and put it in my album.

FrancaV

04-22-2007, 12:36 AM

Excess

04-22-2007, 07:38 AM

Congrats! Wait till you ride with it. I think I'm going to order another one as a birthday present to myself; I've got one of those bigger birthdays coming up this summer and I've been trying to think of something suitable ... silly me - I have a bit and headstall that is just waiting for one of Sara's mecates to finish it off. What could be a better birthday present than that? :D

Not much! I think I might order another one too. I can't decide what to do with my white mane hair mecate. I love it but it's way too long for Speedy and I. I like having two mane hairs and one mohair. I think I might get one yacht or parachute or mountain rope too. I love how I have one horse and right now 4 mecates, soon to be 5 or 6.

FrancaV

04-22-2007, 08:18 PM

I love how I have one horse and right now 4 mecates, soon to be 5 or 6.LOL. Yep, one horse here, too. Three headstalls, five different sets of reins. But I only really like two of the reins: my Hagel mecate and my parachute cord mecate. I have set of english reins that aren't bad but I much prefer a good mecate. My set of roper reins (nylon or poly, I forget which) I don't like much at all - just not the right feel. And my first mane hair mecate reins (not Hagel) that also don't have quite the right feel. They're not as substantial as Hagel mecates - a bit too light, and kind of "lifeless" in comparison to Sara's. But they were a decent starter set and I'd still rather use those than the roper reins.

Excess

04-24-2007, 08:31 AM

Here are pictures of my Hagel Mecate. I got it with roaning and whtie so it matches Speedy and it also matches my tack.

The whole Mecate: http://image53.webshots.com/453/3/92/31/2445392310062041520dzmqEw_ph.jpg?track_pagetag=/page/photo/pets/horses&track_action=/Owner/Shortcuts/FullSize

Close up: http://image57.webshots.com/657/8/72/99/2781872990062041520ckVkzh_ph.jpg?track_pagetag=/page/photo/pets/horses&track_action=/Owner/Shortcuts/FullSize

On my Snafflebit Outfit: http://image57.webshots.com/557/2/83/0/2785283000062041520xrVHmB_ph.jpg?track_pagetag=/page/photo/pets/horses&track_action=/Owner/Shortcuts/FullSize

FrancaV

04-25-2007, 02:12 AM

Very nice! I think mine goes pretty nicely with my horse and my tack as well:

http://inlinethumb27.webshots.com/4442/2558143070036196287S500x500Q85.jpg (http://pets.webshots.com/photo/2558143070036196287MJjRgu)

Unfortunately I don't have any closeup shots that really show the pattern change. It's fairly subtle; the bands that are white on the reins have black stripes woven into them in the lead rope section. I came up with the idea myself when I couldn't decide between my two favorite mecate patterns pictured on her site.