Horn Knot Tightened to Saddle Horn

Had a customer a couple of weeks ago buy a big horn knot to go on his saddle horn. Most people who have been buying my knots have been tying them onto their horns themselves, but I do offer the service of tying it for them. So he brought me his saddle last week and I found time this weekend to knock it out. I had originally tied a 8Lx9B THK with a gaucho interweave or 17Lx19B gaucho knot, but when looking a the circumference of his saddle horn, I decided to reduce the number if bights. So, I retied the horn knot, this time a 17Lx15B gaucho knot. It took a three go-rounds of tightening. I got a little anxious when starting the last round by tightening too much, and by the end it was pretty tough to pull the line through. But after two hours or so of work I finally finished. The horn knot is made of a single strand 3/16" Solid Braided Nylon. Around 20 feet of cord when the knot was loose and then pulled out another 8 feet or so after it was tightened.

A Spanish Ring Knot Fix

My brother had a headstall which kept sliding up into the horse's eyes. So I used some 1/8" solid braided nylon and tied a couple of Spanish Ring Knots. These worked perfect. They are tied tight enough where they will not slide around. But, if you want to re-position them, all you need to do is twist them. Works the same way as threads on a nut and bolt.

A Nylon Keeper, plus some Horn Knots

I had a request for a Keeper that had the ability to be size adjustable. I started with a four strands 6 feet long, found the middle of each strand and started a four strand round braid. I made the four strand round braid about and inch and a half. Then I folded the braid to create an eye, then started an 8 strand round braid. The 8 strand round braid is done for about 16 inches. I then tied a constrictor knot to secure the braid in order to tie a stopper knot. I tied a 4 strand diamond stopper knot, then doubled it with the remaining 4 strands. Now that the stopper knot can be pressed through the eye, with a little force, I wanted to make sure it can be strongly secured. So, I tied a Spanish Ring Knot, tight enough that it wont come undone, but loose enough that it will slide nicely. I then tied a couple more Spanish Ring Knots down the braid from the stopper knot. This will make the size of the Keeper adjustable. In other words you can make the loop of the keeper have smaller diameters.

The cord I used is 1/8" Solid Braided Nylon. A total of 26 feet were used.

I went ahead and included another picture of some horn knots I finished.

Full view of the Keeper

Diamond Stopper knot followed by Spanish Ring Knots

Round braid eye followed by a Spanish Ring Knot

7X8 THK with Gaucho Interwave, used for Horn Knots

The horn knots are tied from 3/32" Solid Braided Nylon.