(for products, see list above)
1. A Brief History of Horsehair Art (click here)
2. Hitching & Braiding Horsehair - Quick
Facts (click here)
3. Horsehair Care Tips (click here)
4. Custom-made Horsehair Items FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) (click here)
To see what some of our Horsehair Art customers are saying, click here
For a look at the 'custom-made' items portfolio, click here
Quick links to: belts, billfolds, bolo ties / bolo strings, boot bobs, bracelets, breast collars, buckles, business card carriers, earrings, halters, hatbands, headstalls, keychains/keyrings, key fobs, mercates, reins, saddle blankets, shoo-flys, stampede strings, tassels, tush cushions, wallets, watch fobs, watchstraps, whistle straps, wither pads, zipper pulls
Colors:
All items are available in the natural colors of white, black, and brown, as
well as the dyed colors of red, turquoise, blue, purple, hunter green, and
burgundy. The dyed colors are popular for coordinating clothing and tack
for horse shows and rodeo.
1. A Brief History of Horsehair Art
(as found via a little research on the web)
There is very little information about where or when horsehair artists appeared in America. Following are a few of the widest held beliefs. It is believed that working with horsehair originated in Spain around the 8th century. The Spaniards are believed to have then introduced the art to America, where it evolved over many years. There are some who believe that horsehair hitching is a truly American art form and that the cowboy should be given credit for creating it.
The history of horsehair art cannot be discussed without mentioning the connection to territorial prisons. Because hitching horsehair is a very time consuming art, it was adopted by prisoners who had the time to be able to work on long projects. There is information about prisoners making hitched horsehair items dating back to the mid-1800's. Most of the teaching of horsehair hitching during this time period was from one prisoner to another. The USA prisons most commonly associated with the horsehair arts were located in Deer Lodge, Montana; Yuma, Arizona; Rawlins, Wyoming; and Walla Walla, Washington.
Today, many people are learning the art form from books and from other hitchers.
2. Hitching & Braiding Horsehair - Quick
Facts
Working with horsehair is a very time consuming art:
1. The hair is prepared by hand washing and conditioning.
2. The horsehair pulls used for hitching and braiding are made up by twisting individual hairs together. Each pull is made up of 8 - 12 hairs, depending on the thickness of the individual hairs.
3. White pulls can then be dyed different colors. This is done using a clothing dye in a hot mixture. Once dyed, the pulls are then put in a vinegar and water solution to set the dye and prevent bleeding.
4. The herringbone and round braid are used to create a variety of braided items.
5. Braided pieces are sewn together, by hand, with fishing line to create hatbands, belts, and other items. Finishing knots are made to cover splices and complete items. The ring knot is a sliding knot used on items so they can be adjusted.
6. Hitching horsehair is more intricate and time-consuming than braiding. Thus, hitched items are more expensive than braided ones. Hitching is done by making a series of half-hitches over string on a core. Pieces are then flattened by being put in a metal press. Patterns are limited only by the hitcher’s imagination.
7. Horsehair has a slippery surface and is very lightweight. Hatbands should, therefore, be secured to a hat by a couple of stitches with fishing line through the inside of the hat.
8. Horsehair art can only be damaged if it is cut or burned.
High quality work in a horsehair piece is reflected in attention to the details.
A smooth surface is essential to quality - no stray hairs sticking up anywhere. However, with wear and tear, it is possible that a hair may pop up on the piece. In the event that this should happen, using nail clippers, carefully snip the hair off as close to the surface as possible. This will maintain the smooth surface and will not harm/weaken the piece.
As horsehair is a natural fiber, it will take and retain the shape of whatever it may be lying against/on. If you wish to reshape a piece, this is easily done by wetting the piece with warm water, shaping it to the desired shape, and letting it dry that way.
To clean horsehair pieces, just hand-wash with soap and water.
4. Custom-made Horsehair Items FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
(for a look at the 'custom-made' items portfolio, click here)
Horse people develop a very strong relationship with their horse. When that relationship is completed, it is often comforting and meaningful to have a remembrance. Whether deceased or living, an item made from the hair of your special horse can be that remembrance. Following please find information that can answer questions related to having custom horsehair items made (we will add to this list as time goes on):
a. I would like a 'Quote' on a custom-made horsehair item -
where do I start?
Simply fill out the on-line order form,
in detail, as if you were making a regular 'Order' (this is a 'Quote' only - you
are not committed to purchase in any way - you will not be giving us any credit
card information). Select 'Custom-made Horsehair Item Cost Quote' in the 'Order
or Quote' box on our order
form. In the 'Comments'
box (at the bottom of the order form), give any relevant details that might be
useful to us. We will pass your information onto Donna
Murray, our wonderful horsehair artist, and Donna
will contact you directly (usually by e-mail) to go over the details with you. Once you and Donna
figure everything out (costs of custom-made item/s, approximate shipping costs,
timing, etc.), Donna
will have you telephone us, with
your credit card information, to confirm the order. Note: You don't have to fill out the on-line
order form again - we will just roll your 'Quote' over
into an 'Order'. After your custom-made order has been completed, we will
process your credit card and ship the finished item/s out to you.
b. How will I be billed for the item/s?
Although all discussions on custom-made pieces will be done between you and Donna
Murray, the final billing details will be handled through CanadianMoose.com
(as we have access to the different payment options - credit card, money order,
etc.). If you live
outside of Canada, you can easily convert the cost of your item/s to your
country's currency - just click here.
As foreign exchange rates change daily, this converter is a useful tool in
determining the cost of item/s in any desired currency. You will find your
currency is quite favorable when converted to Canadian dollars. The
conversion (from Canadian dollars, to your currency) will take place just before
we are ready to send your item(s) to you. For
credit card purchases from countries other than Canada, your credit card company
will calculate the foreign exchange automatically for you.
(Donna Murray takes over these questions from here)
c. What is the difference between mane hair and tail hair?
Mane hair is finer than tail hair and of course, much shorter. Because
of its shortness, mane hair is usually used only for tassels. Tail hair is
coarser than mane hair and of course, much longer. Because of its length,
tail hair can be used to make many types of items.
d. How much hair will I need to have an item made?
That depends on which item and how many items you would want made.
Before any braiding or hitching can be done, pulls must be made from the
hair - a very time consuming process. Pulls are individual strings made up of 8-12 individual hairs.
The number of hairs in each pull is determined by the density of the hair.
Once this process is complete, I can begin work on your item/s. If
approved by you, I can add additional hair from another horse. This is
sometimes done to be able to complete an item or to add another color for
contrast. It is impossible for me to be able to determine if there is
enough of your horse’s hair to complete an item without seeing the hair.
Once I have seen it, I will contact you and further discussion will take place
as to whether there is enough of your horse's hair or if some more hair needs to
be added. If there is any extra hair (from your horse) left after I am
finished the item/s you have requested, I will be more than happy to send the
extra hair back to you (with the finished item/s).
e. How long does it take to have an item made?
That depends on which item/s you have chosen to have made. This can
also be affected by the number of orders I am currently working on. Orders
are completed in the order they are received by me.
f. Can I take hair from my living horse?
Hair can be harvested from a living horse without harming it. The hair
will grow back just as human hair does. To take hair from the tail, go to
the underside, take a small handful, and cut the hair off close to the
dock. Depending on the thickness of your horse’s tail, you may be able
to take 2-3 cuttings. If you live in an area with a cold winter climate,
it is not recommended to take hair in the fall, as your horse will need this
hair for the upcoming cold weather. To harvest mane hair, it is
recommended to take it from the poll area, where you will probably have trimmed
a bridle path anyway.
g. How do I send the hair?
The hair can be sent through the mail or by courier, if you desire.
Just place the hair in a plastic bag, place the bag in an envelope, and send it
to me (I will provide you with all my contact information once we have had our
initial discussion).
Once received, I thoroughly wash the hair (by hand) and then allow it to dry.
The hair must then be twisted into pulls, to be ready for braiding and hitching.
There will be a charge of CDN$25.00 to cover this additional
work (washing, drying, twisting into pulls).
If you are sending me hair from
outside of Canada, the hair will cross the border and be cleared through our Canada
Customs agents.
Simply state the value of the hair at CDN$5.00, so there will be no duty charged
for the hair coming into Canada. Horsehair, in the raw form, has very
little monetary value (but high sentimental value). You, the customer, are
responsible for the cost of mailing the hair to me and the cost of having the
finished items mailed back to you. Just so you know, I live in a small
city, a couple of hours from where the CanadianMoose.com offices are
located. Your finished item/s will be forwarded, from here, to CanadianMoose.com, and they, in turn, will ship your item/s to you. I will add in
a small shipping cost to cover the postage from here to CanadianMoose.com.
Please let us know if you need any more information - we will add questions and answers to this page to make it easier for all customers to learn how easy it is to have custom-made horsehair items created for them.
050726/6007