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A traditional hackamore with a bosal and mecate. I start or restart 10 or so horses per year. After a few groundwork sessions I ride them in my jump saddle, which has become a beaten-up old friend. Usually I’ll have them in a rope halter for the first few rides.

Occasionally they bronc. If I’m worried they might put their head between the legs to buck, then I like to get them in a bit sooner rather than later. It helps me keep their head up.

What I’m missing is that intermediate step between a rope halter and a bitted bridle. A Western hackamore with a bosal and mecate might be just the right thing. Jake Biernbaum, a colt starter and friend, explained that a bosal is a braided Western noseband made of leather or rawhide on a rawhide core from the vaquero tradition. When attached to a hanger (headstall) and outfitted with mecate (braided reins usually made of horsehair) it creates a Western hackamore. They can be made out of different leathers and be different thicknesses. Jake recommends a 5/8-inch bosal, which is a nice middle-of-the-road way to get started