Rawhide is the skin of the animal that has had the hair removed and has been stretched and dried but has not been tanned, oiled, or treated in any way like leather has. Rawhide is one of the oldest materials used, people have been making things out of it for thousands of years. It is also a very tough material with tremendous durability and strength. A quality piece of rawhide gear will last for many years with normal care. The user of rawhide tack shouldn't worry about getting it wet when their horse takes a drink or gets sweated up while riding. It takes over an hour of soaking in water to soften a piece of rawhide gear. Once a piece of rawhide gear gets wet, the owner need only to hang it in the shade or indoors to dry and perhaps apply some rawhide cream from time to time to keep it from drying out too much. A pair of reins, damp with sweat, should be taken off the bit and hung so that they dry straight. If you live in a humid climate it's a good idea to store your rawhide gear indoors in a well ventilated room or a room with air conditioning. Never leave your rawhide gear stored in direct sunlight as this will cause it to dry out, bleach, and develop cracks.

    The cost of a piece of rawhide tack is determined by the level of intricacy in the braiding. Colored strings can be braided into a piece to add to the design and will also add to the price. But it is the number of "plaits" or strings used in the braiding that is the biggest determiner of price. A 5/8" bosal needs to be 5/8" whether it was braided with only eight strings of rawhide or twenty four. The diameter or size of the piece must remain the same; only the level of difficulty in the braiding increases. The strings for a twenty-four plait bosal must be cut very thin in order to wind up with a finished piece of gear that is exactly 5/8" in diameter. This holds true for reins as well, the diameter of the reins must be correct or they will be too bulky and heavy to use. The higher the number of plaits in a piece of rawhide tack, the more difficult it is to make and the more expensive it will be to purchase.

    Size and dimensions are very important when it comes to the usability and functionality of rawhide tack. A pair of reins can be sized for use with a pair of rein chains or can be sized to be attached directly to the bit. A bosal, no matter what size it is in diameter, should never be more than twelve inches long from the top of the nose button to the tip of the heel knot. A bosal that is to long will have to be filled in with extra wraps of the mecate and will look bulky. The over-all fit of the gear is determined by its dimensions. If the dimensions are wrong the gear will not fit properly and will be hard to use. A good bosal should fit the horse like a good hat fits your head, it should never hang on the horse's head like a bucket. It's important to shape a new bosal before using it for the first time. Tie a piece of leather string across the top of the nose button to bring in the sides and place a spacer block inside the bottom half to widen it a bit so it will conform to the natural contours of the horse's head. In a short time, as it gets broken in, the bosal will begin to hold it's shape naturally and will fit your horse perfectly. When it does, your horse will be more comfortable and happy to go to work with you.