Yak "Tales" - Part One

Yaks and horses have similar looking tails.

Thank you Licorice for being my model!

There's the shorter, bushy tail of the pure yaks...

And the longer, not-quite-as-bushy tail of the yak-crosses...

Yak tails come in different colors...

Tail hair can be made into a variety of things, however, we don't have the tools or training to do that. Below are mecates, or rope reins traditionally made from the mane and tail hair of horses.

In recent years, we've found yak hair mecates in some western stores, but they aren't all that common. We've been keeping our eyes and ears open for a long time to find someone in Canada who would be able to transform the yak tail hair we've collected over the years into a mecate.

 Or small shooflys for under the horse's chin...

Thank you Buddy for being my model!

Or large shooflys for under the horse's belly...

Well, we've found someone who hasn't done this sort of thing before, but they have plenty of experience with animal fibre and is willing to give it a whirl!

To find out more, watch this space next week for part two! 

To be continued...