How to Measure a Horse's Head for a Bosal

The bosal, or jaquima, has been used for centuries to control the horse's movement when ridden. It has roots in the Middle East and was adopted by the Spanish who gave the bosal its reputation when this equipment along with the horse were introduced to the New World. Native Americans adopted the headstall and invented their own styles. Constructed of the mecate, headstall and fiador, the bosal is associated most commonly with western and Spanish-American horsemanship. In English riding styles, the bosal is constructed in a traditional European manner (generally with metal shanks), and is known as the hackamore. The bosal and hackamore are bitless, and act on the horse's nose and poll rather than the area in and around the horse's mouth. These bitless bridles are training tools and useful alternatives to riding without the bit, particularly in horses desensitized to or uncomfortable wearing the bit.

Things You'll Need

  • String
  • Flexible curve drafting tool
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Instructions

    • 1

      Measure the horse's muzzle to ensure that the bosal properly and comfortably fits the horse's nose (this does not have to be accurate). Use a flexible sewing measuring tape, string or ribbon to measure the horse's nose. Wrap the string around the muzzle about a hand's width from the nostrils. Check that the bosal sits over the bony part of the face (generally 3 or more inches from the nose). Complete the fit by checking that the heel knot, the bottom knob of the bosal, rests just behind the chin.

      Choose the size of the unshaped bosal that best fits your horse's personality (thinner bosals have more "bite") and head size. Pick smaller bosals for refined or small muzzled horses (Arabians, some ponies and thoroughbreds).

    • 2

      Take the flexible curve and bend it along the bony part of the muzzle where the bosal will rest. Carefully lift the tool from the muzzle and trace the inside curve (the bosal is shaped to this measurement).

    • 3

      Find an object, or shape one to fit the curve you have measured reasonably. Carve foam or wood blocks for this, or just use a coffee can or like object. Take the bosal and bend it over the chosen form. Use string to hold the bosal to the form, and then leave it tied for several days. Place the bosal on the horse's muzzle. Check that the sides are nearly flat, and expect some gap where the top of the bosal curves over the horse's nose. The bosal is ready to use.

      Reshape and adjust bosals by repeating these steps.