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Written and Illustrated by Gail Hought
Although a horseman might not recognize
Gail Hought's name, chances are he's familiar with her art prints,
particularly her how-to, instructional series about hackamores,
or maybe he's read one of her will-illustrated feature articles
about such gear. Perhaps he has seen Hought's bosals and braiding
on display or attended one of her workshops. No matter---the
full range of her talent is on display in The Art of Braiding:
The Bosal, which follows her first book, The Art of Braiding:
The Basics.
Hought's an artist, and it shows in every
page of her book. Excellent illustrations, most in color, demonstrate
every step in the braiding process, from gathering the necessary
tools to finishing the product. Materials, core preparation,
plaiting, nose and side buttons, and heel knots are addressed,
all in an easy-to-follow manner, which is somewhat difficult
to do with such a complex subject. However, the difference is
in the details when it comes to such work, and Hought tries to
make mastering the details as simple as possible for the reader.
Throughout, she features plenty of helpful
hints and special notes to call your attention to potential problem
areas, and both hints and notes are boldface and easy to spot.
For good measure, Hought includes instructions for tying the
mecate on the newly made bosal.
If you consider only that this is a spiral-bound
paperback, the book seems a bit pricey. If you're looking for
solid instructional material and the benefit of Hought's experience,
you'll feel you're getting your money's worth and then some. |
