How to Attach a Fiador to a Hackamore

How Do I Tie a Fiador to My Hackamore?
A fiador is a safety device similar (find this complete video on the Dennis Moreland Tack blog at https://www.dmtack.com/tie-fiador-hac... ) to a throatlatch on a bridle but it’s used on a hackamore says Dennis Moreland Tack. The fiador keeps the hackamore http://bit.ly/2flLbbP securely on the horse's head. You can always lead or tie your horse without worrying about the hackamore being rubbed or pulled off if it has a properly adjusted fiador.
A fiador is made with 1 long piece of doubled over rope that’s tied with a jug knot at the hackamore's heel knot, a fiador knot at the gullet and it’s secured with a sheet bend knot. This is the same knot used in fastening rope halters.
Follow along on the video to attach the fiador to your hackamore with this guideline:
1. Lay the fiador out flat and hold the jug knot, facing up, in your left hand.
2. Notice the loops at the very bottom of the jug knot. Pull the loops out from under the top 2 strands of cord that are holding the loops in place.
3. Open the center of the jug knot slightly to allow just enough room to place the hackamore’s heel knot through the hole.
4. From the top of the jug knot slide the heel knot through the center hole in the jug knot.
5. Put the loops back under the 2 strands of cord where they were originally.
6. Tighten the jug knot around the heel knot by pulling the loops and the body of the fiador.
The next step is to put your hackamore headstall and fiador together. We’re assuming the headstall buckle pieces are already attached to the noseband. If not, attach them now. Put the tail of the fiador up through the slots on the right side of the browband and then back down through the slots on the left side of the browband. Slide the browband keepers against the fiador on each side. Put the headstall crown piece through the browband slots in the same way. Buckle the headstall and adjust the headstall and fiador so they’re level and balanced.
The hackamore http://bit.ly/2flLbbP is supported by and adjusted with the headstall and not with the fiador. The portion of the fiador that prevents the hackamore from accidentally coming off is the loop behind the ears that ends at the fiador knot. This portion should be tied quite tightly but with enough slack to get 2-3 fingers between the rope and the head. The rope between the fiador knot and the jug knot should drop straight down. There must be enough length between the jug and fiador knots for the heel knot of the bosal or noseband to be taken up and dropped freely when the reins or mecate are manipulated. If the heel knot swings up and down with each step the length is too long.
I make hackamores for starting colts, training performance horses, pleasure and trail riding, loping and showing. All my hackamores with headstalls come with fiadors. Check out my hackamores here: http://bit.ly/2flLbbP or call 817-312-5305.
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