Attaching a mecate to a snaffle bit.
When tying a manehair mecate on a snaffle bit, we suggest being very
careful when pulling the rope through the slobber straps. If you pull it
through quickly, you can strip the cover strands right off the core. This is
especially a problem if the holes in the slobber straps are smaller in
diameter than the mecate.
All of our slobber straps are made with a 5/8" or larger hole, but
other makers don't necessarily do that. If the holes in your slobber straps
are smaller than your mecate, take them to a repair shop or return them to
the maker to have larger holes punched in them before ever trying to tie up
your rope.
Once you are sure the slobber strap holes are the proper size, work the
mecate through them slowly, twisting it as needed to move it through the
holes. Measure off your rein length and tie the lead off at the left side.
Now hang up your bridle and stand behind it as if on horseback. Try to
throw a coil in the loop rein. If the rope is trying to make a figure eight
instead of a coil, you need to work a little twist out of the rein. In
working it through the slobber straps, a bit of twist can be added. This is
normal.
To get rid of the extra twist, just turn the knot slowly one way or the
other, depending on which way the extra twist went in the rope. Keep trying
to throw a coil. If you're getting closer to a coil than an eight, you're
twisting the knot the right way. If you now have a couple of figure eights
stacked on top of each other, you've been twisting the knot the wrong way.
Keep adjusting until you can form a smooth, easy coil.
If you get the mecate wet when its tied on the snaffle, do not take it
off of the bridle. You run a serious risk of kinking it or stripping the
cover strands off of the core. Just let it dry out naturally still tied to
the slobber straps.
The best way to clean a mecate is ride it in the rain.
This is safe with one of our mecates or with one you know is 100% mane
hair, but not recommended for a mane
hair/tail hair blend mecate. When a mane hair mecate gets wet, it will
get really stiff. This is caused by the twist contracting. Any rope made of
animal hair will do this; mane, tail, mohair, yak hair, cow tail, or alpaca,
just to name a few. The interesting thing is that when the rope dries out,
it will be softer and have a nicer feel than it had before.
