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Do tassels in traditional horse tack serve a purpose?

11K views 20 replies 12 participants last post by  COWCHICK77 
#1 ·
I'm sure you've seen traditionally outfitted horses with tassels hanging of them. Could they maybe serve as an insect repellent? Has anyone tried it?
 
#2 ·
If you're talking western/buckaroo traditional, then: Yes and yes.

Hanging from the cinch it may brush off those pesky flies that horses go after with a hind foot, or even their head. Off the throatlatch? Similar deal.

I don't have any anymore. But, I like them.
 
#3 ·
Western, as well as most other traditional "dresses", like Arabian, Marwari...

I'll try it for sure, even though I'll look ridiculous with my English tack :)
I don't mind ridiculous if it keeps those little pains in the proverbial away. Modern repellants don't seem to work all that well.
 
#4 ·
I use a big shoo-fly under my saddle just because I like the look. I suppose if you really had a case of belly flies it might help, but for all intensive purposes, it just looks pretty. I wouldn't depend on it to repel flies.

It seems like I've seen some English style fly-swatters made from horse-hair that you carry in your hand like a crop. I actually think that might be useful because sometimes when flies land on your horse you would like something to swat them with. That would actually be more useful than a tassel or shoo-fly I would think.

I really depend on my fly spray. Preferably oil based (Pyrahna is my favorite).
 

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#6 ·
My mare is a great fan of speed and the fly whisk looks too much like a crop :)
I tried riding her with a crop once, there was too much ... responsiveness, let's call it. Any excuse to zoom around is heartily embraced by her.

Thank you regardless, I'll remember it for when I get her trained enough.
 
#8 ·
I have an arabian native costume, and the thought of using it like on trails would make me sick :lol: they don't come cheap at all. And the get up is a little excessive for every day riding. I also find the tassels to be more of an annoyance rather than a help. You have to desensitize the horse to wearing such a set up.
 

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#9 ·
We made our Arabian a native costume for a recent show. It was certainly not as pretty as what Tazzie just posted! When I was researching it, I discovered tassels were indeed added to tack as fly deterrents originally. However, I'm sure it wasn't long before they became purely ornamental since the placement of tassels in these costumes isn't going to do much for those pesky flies.

Maybe you're thinking of something like this?
 

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#15 ·
Yeah, those tassels are a bit much for just trail riding :lol: and I really only ride in it to practice and show in. It was fun riding in the snow though, where the tassels definitely wouldn't serve a purpose :wink:

But now when I think of tassels, I think of Arab native costumes. I would love to get the shoo fly though!
 

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#20 ·
Far as tassels on 'traditional' tack, as in Arabian costume classes, I would think they were just decorative, as I don't think bugs were a major concern in the desert, but could be wrong!
I remember seeing sand flies. I suspect there would be many more wherever there was livestock. I only got close to a couple of individual animals. Didn't get the chance to look closely at the herds and flocks we saw, or the big livestock market in Haffar-al-Batin.

Regarding the vaqueros tradition: I've learned recently that the tassel on the off side of the mecate/bit combo is to counterbalance the weight of the "get down rope" on the near side.
 
#21 ·
For those who use shoo-fly tassels on your cinch or throat latch, dousing the tassels in an oil based fly spray(like Pyrahna) makes them a little more effective.
The oil will attract the dirt and make your shoo-fly loOK a little greasy or stringy but you can wash them in a mild shampoo to clean them up and carefully pick out the tangles.
 
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