Breaking In Mecates

[Excess]

I am just curious as to how you break in a mecate. My mane hairs have always been fine for the most part. Not stiff and very usable. But I find that my new mohair mecate is a tad stiff and needs to be broken in. How would one go around to break it in? I know you're not supposed to get them wet and all. I'm guessing you break it in just by use!

[AWSpinks]

What happens if you get them wet? My mohair cinches get wet every time I ride.

[Excess]

What happens if you get them wet? My mohair cinches get wet every time I ride.

Not sure! I just was told not to get it wet! Or to take care when it gets wet. Mohair cinches are a whole lot looser than mohair mecates. And I was reading that mohair mecates because they have such a tight twist take a whole lot longer to dry...I would think if it got wet it'd stiffen up as well.

[J.W.]

I don't know who made your mohair mecate............so this is a general statement. Water won't hurt a good mohair, mane hair or angora mecate. The difference in mohair or Angora is although they both come from the Angora, mohair is the short fine under coat hair, ...........Angora mecates are made from the longer, courser "top coat" hair. Probably more than you wanted to know.
Anyway, mohair or mane hair will soften just a little every time it is wet, and dries. If you get your mecate wet in the rain, just take it off of your hackamore or snaffle rig, and hang it or coil it, and let it dry. If you have a mohair mecate on a snaffle rig, you might want to let it dry while still tied on your slobber straps. When the mohair is wet, it would be fairly easy to strip the strands while trying to take the mecate through the slobber straps. If you have a poorly made mane hair mecate, it may have a tail hair core.......no bueno. Those can get pretty funky after being wet, because the core and strands will dry and contract at different rates. Then again, if that is the case, you probably already would not be liking your mecate, as the tail hair core will keep poking course tail hairs up through the strands...........and you were ready for an excuse to buy a good mecate anyhow. JW

[red]

JW is right..the heart, or core of the mecate does play a big part in the life of the mecate,(that is why they call it the heart!! if it has no heart, it has no life.) It sure will help you decide which one is your favorite..interesting discussion that Richard Caldwell started at his clinic, a week or so ago. He reported that he unties and coils his mecate, after every ride..does not hang his bosals, by their "hangers"..preferring rather to lay them flat. The reason is that the "nose" part of the bosal, hangs forward, as it is weightier..when you hang it up, and the knot part hits the wall..(lol) and over time bends that way...the art of the bosal, is balance..I know Richard rides more horses than most of us, and more than I ever will in a lifetime..and each horse needs a different wrap on the mecate..but it sure was an interesting take on how the cowboys' cowboy, tends to his gear. I will follow suit.

[Mecate]

Is the stiffness of the mohair uncomfortable to you and your horse, or inhibiting something you want this type of fiber to accomplish? Or just different than your experience with mane hair mecates? I'm contemplating a mohair mecate because I can afford it and it would be lots better than the treeline rope I'm using now. So I'm curious about your experience. ~Meg

[Excess]

JW - I'm not sure who the maker of my one mane hair mecate is. I got it from www.cowboyhorsetack.com which don't seem to be in business anymore. I do remember the person who sold it to me, Tammy, mention a Hispanic name and I had to wait for it to be made for ages and I was excited when I finally got it. It's an all-white mecate and it's not as stiff as my new mohair but it's not as supple as my new Sara Hagel (which I just got today!) This mecate is super thick - 1" so I'm not sure if that attributes to the less-suppleness of it. I have always liked the feel of this mecate, but it is just way too long for my little horse. I just had way too much rein and lead - see here: http://pets.webshots.com/photo/2275836760062041520mdfcGM It is a heavy mecate...heavier than my Sara Hagel. I'll have to check tomorrow if it has a tail hair core. I wonder if that would make it not as supple as the Hagel one.

The mohair mecate I got from Platte Valley Saddle and they're a 2nd generation vaquero tack makers. So I'd imagine it's well made. I'll check this one tomorrow too. I am not sure if it's because I'm not used to mohair or what, but it's much stiffer than both of my mane hair mecates. Are they not supposed to be? Could this mean they have a different core? I have always liked mane hair mecates because of the weight and pricklness of it. I grew up riding in sisal rope down in the tropics.

The mohair came with the bosal and hanger as a set. It is stiff...and the twist seems stiff too. I just am not sure if I'm not used to it or what. My trainer is going to come out to my barn at some point so I'll ask her.

I absolutely love my Hagel mecate though. I am going on a long ride tomorrow. I'm definitely going to use it!

[Excess]

Is the stiffness of the mohair uncomfortable to you and your horse, or inhibiting something you want this type of fiber to accomplish? Or just different than your experience with mane hair mecates? I'm contemplating a mohair mecate because I can afford it and it would be lots better than the treeline rope I'm using now. So I'm curious about your experience. ~Meg

I only rode in it for 3 minutes to see how he responds in the bosal. He really isn't ready to do anything extensive in it yet. I don't think it was uncomfortable to him. He responded beautifully. It wasn't uncomfortable to me....but I'm used to a more supple rein. It felt real hard and tight compared to a mane hair mecate to me. I'm just a beginner. I know nothing, but I'm assuming by the mecates that I have, that the mohair is a tighter mecate than the mane hair. I like a rope to be able to bend coild...and really I haven't played extensively with my mohair. But the mane hair just has a completely different feel. If you want an affordable mane hair I am considering ebaying my white one. It's a great mecate and my first mecate but it's just way too long for my 14'3" horse and I. Too much rope. I love it though. But I could part with it if I know it's going to a good home. =)

[red]

Yipper Exy...there will be hell to pay, and Speeeeedy will hate it if you sore him..and sometimes that is an unavoidable thing..but block your bosal, and tie your mecate so as to prevent it, if you can... when you tie your mecate, you generally want two fingers between Speedy, and where the mecate rests on the bosal..and don't be afraid to tie, and re-tie..you got nuthin but time, and sunshine to make it happen. The mecate is one part--the bosal is the other part, and together, they make the perfect marriage, the esteemed Hackamore..you are gonna love it. (houlihan sells a block, but I betcha Cinch or JW could advise you on how to take something you already have..even a soup can).. and get the same effect..and once you get it shaped the way you want, it will serve you well for years.

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[Excess]

Ok. I looked at my mecates closely today. The mohair is all solid mohair and it really isn't stiff...I was using the wrong word. I really think it's just that it's a TIGHTER mecate than manehair that takes some getting used to. I was bending and playing with it today and it was fine. Bent and everything very well.

I rode in my Hagel mecate today and it's awesome. I love the feel of it in my hands.

I looked at my other mecate - the white one. It has a mane hair core. It's not as pliable as the Hagel mecate because it's actually a tad OVER 1" thick.

[KnightRider]

Exy:

I don't know why your mohair would be stiff or tight. Hubby and I each have a Sara Hagel mohair mecate, and they aren't in the least bit tight or stiff. They are very, very soft. I'd actually like a tad more rigidity when I ride my morgan as he likes to lug on my hands (yes, I'm working on that).

Hubby has a manehair mecate on his bosal which to me feels more stiff than the mohair ones. Not sure on the maker on the manehair mecate. Might have gotten from Capriolas.

I might be interested in your white manehair mecate. Do you know just how long it is? If it's more than 1" diameter, might be good for me on days that the hands don't work too good.

K.R.