Bosal Instructions

The bosal is the noseband used in traditional Spanish riding. The bosal and headstall, together known as the jaquima, is a bitless bridle that works on an indirect rein. Bosals are leather wrapped nosebands that act on the horse's nose and jaw when pressure is applied to the reins. Fixing the bosal to the headstall and reins is slightly different from the method used with traditional bitted bridles.

Things You'll Need

  • Bosal
  • Mecate rope (reins)
  • Headstall
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Instructions

    • 1

      Buckle the headstall to each side of the bosal cheek pieces. Find the cheek pieces on each side of the bosal just below the curve. These correspond to similar sections of the English style noseband.

    • 2

      Tie on the mecate rope or reins. Slide the knotted end through the back of the bosal (above the fiador or knob that sits at the narrow bottom of the bosal), so that it points away from the horse and the headstall. Hold the knot and wrap the rope twice around the bosal bottom.

    • 3

      Form the reins by taking up the mecate's slack back through the bosal ring, drawing it back toward the headstall. Decide how much rein length you need. Let the reins fall from the upheld bosal to check for length and for twisting in the rope. Wrap the loose end of the rein around the outside of the bosal bottom (this is the lead rope). Tie this in a knot. Press the knot down toward the fiador and see that it lies smoothly.

    • 4

      Slide the headstall over the horse's head. Gently pull each ear forward through the headstall. Adjust the headstall so that the bosal sits over the bony part of the nose, about one handbreadth above the nostrils. See that there is one inch of space (or about two fingers' width), between the horse's jaw and the bottom of the bosal.