Bosal

This article is about the noseband portion of the hackamore headstall. For additional details, see Hackamore. For the town in Pakistan, see Busal.
For other uses, see Bosel (disambiguation).
An intermediate-level rawhide bosal on leather headstall, showing attached mecate of synthetic rope and no fiador.

A bosal (/boʊˈsɑːl/, /boʊˈsæl/, or /ˈboʊsəl/ bozal ) is a type of noseband used on the classic hackamore of the vaquero tradition. It is usually made of braided rawhide and is fitted to the horse in a manner that allows it to rest quietly until the rider uses the reins to give a signal. It acts upon the horse's nose and jaw. Though seen in both the "Texas" and the "California" cowboy traditions, it is most closely associated with the "California" style of western riding.[1] Sometimes the term bosal is used to describe the entire classic hackamore or jaquima. Technically, however, the term refers only to the noseband portion of the equipment.[2]

Bosals come in varying diameters and weights, allowing a more skilled horse to "graduate" into ever lighter equipment. Once a young horse is solidly trained with a bosal, a bit is added and the horse is gradually shifted from the hackamore to a bit.

  1. ^ Price, Steven D. (ed.) The Whole Horse Catalog: Revised and Updated New York:Fireside 1998 ISBN 0-684-83995-4 p. 158-159
  2. ^ Bennett, Deb (1998). Conquerors: The Roots of New World Horsemanship (1st ed.). Amigo Publications Inc. ISBN 0-9658533-0-6. Pages 54-55.