Things You'll Need
- 20 feet of rope
Instructions
Start with 20 feet of ¼ inch or thicker nylon rope. Thick rope is softer and less severe on the horse. Thin rope is harsher and usually used in training. Fold the rope in half, adjusting it so that one side stretches 13 feet and 7 feet on the other.
Tie two knots 5 inches apart on the looped end of the rope. These are simple knots---just loop and pull through. Horse trainers or owners of young horses can add a second set of knots 4 inches from the center. These knots allegedly help control horses.
Create an N shape out of 12 inches of rope directly above the knots with the shorter strand on the right. The looped end should be below the N shape on the left. Take this end and cross it over the remaining two legs of the N shape. The crossover makes a circle on the left-hand side. Shift the top strand of the circle and pull it over the bottom strand. The circle looks like a two-circle diagram---the kind used in elementary school to analyze similarities and differences between two concepts. It also creates an X shape in the center on top of the remaining legs of the N shape. Draw the shorter strand toward you over both strands of the looped and knotted end. Bring it under the closest section of the loop and over the second. With the longer length of rope, bring it to the right across the X shape, under the top part of the loop and under the shorter strand. Now the ends are switched with the long end to the right and the short end to the left. With the longer end, go under three and over the fourth strand, making the circle diagram. The shorter strand goes under the first strand---it's the strand farthest away from the knot maker---of the circle diagram. Pull on the two strands, which made up the original N shape, and the knotted loop on the right evenly. And you've created a fiador knot.
Tie a knot 5 inches above the fiador knot on the longer stand. Do not tighten it. Take the shorter strand and pull it through the loop created in the center of the knot. The two strands should be parallel. Then take the shorter strand back along the crease made by the original knot. The strand is now on the left. Pull the strand back through the knot behind the X made by the two strands. And you've create a double overhead knot.
Create a slipknot 8 inches above the double overhand knot. Complete the slipknot by taking the strand back along the crease and through the knot behind the X.
Draw the strand forward to the original simple knots tied on the loop, which is the nose band. Use the same technique as used to complete the slipknot on both simple knots, creating two double overhand knots out of the simple knots and a double-strand nose band.
Switch strands. Tie an overhand knot. It should be the same length as the slipknot segment Use the other strand to make it a double overhand knot. Create a second double overhand knot about 10 inches away. Cut off any extra rope.