A mecate is a rein that is attached to a bosal (find this video on the Dennis Moreland Tack blog at www.dmtack.com/%c2%ad%c2%adhow... ). Once the mecate is attached the combination of the bosal and mecate is known as a hackamore.
Mecates are most often made of twisted horse mane hair or nylon rope. The horse mane hair mecates are made of strands of twisted mane hair in a variety of diameters. They are made this way so a mecate equal in diameter to the diameter of the bosal the horse is being ridden with can be used. Nylon mecates are also made in various diameters.
It's easy and quick to remove and attach a mecate. First the tassel end of the mecate is laid under the heel knot. Next several wraps are taken in a counter clockwise direction around the bosal noseband just in front of the heel knot. The fit of the bosal can be adjusted by taking more or less wraps. It may take some experimentation to get the correct number of wraps to get the best fit on each horse. A good rule of thumb is to take just enough wraps so you can fit 2 fingers between the horse’s chin and the mecate knot. The mecate knot should rest on the chin when the horse is at rest. When you have finished wrapping pull the rein loop through the noseband from underneath. Now hold the rein loop in place on the bosal with your left hand and make a half hitch around the complete bosal with the tail or lead of the mecate. Pull the half hitch down snug with the tail of the mecate. Finally pull each end of the rein loop down snug. Now you're ready to try it on your horse.
Hackamores are a good piece of equipment to use when starting and training your colts and young horses. Many horse show associations offer classes for hackamore horses.
See our full line of mecates here: www.dmtack.com/pcategory/reins...