What Is A Horse Bosal?

A bosal is a piece of equipment put on a horse's head for riding. A bosal, when used with a hanger and mecate, is called a hackamore. The three main parts of a hackamore are:

• The hanger (sometimes called a headstall, this is the part that goes over the horse's head, behind the ears).
• The mecate, or reins. Traditional mecates are made from horsehair but some may be made from nylon or other synthetic materials. The nicer horsehair mecates are made from mane hair, but some are made from tail hair, which is coarser.
• The bosal. The bosal goes around the nose of the horse and has a knot at the back, underneath the horse's chin.