Horsehair Jewelry

Horsehair Jewelry 33-2-11 "We specialize in real horsehair jewelry and accessories. It's our passion to keep the traditions of the American cowboy alive through the unique, high quality accessories that we craft," says RockingHorse Ridge Horsehair Products owner Roberta Edstrom. "We're the nation's largest retailer of horsehair accessories. We sell thousands of hand braided and hitched items with unique designs in natural pigments as well as vibrant dyed colors." Using the professionally cleaned hair from horse's tails, in combination with quality leather and silver accents, the Mesa, Arizona company makes items such as: bracelets, barrettes, belts, belt buckles, scarf slides, curb straps, earrings, hat bands, dog collars, keychains, necklaces, shu flys, stampede strings, tassels, zipper pulls and mecate/bosal reins. RockingHorse Ridge stresses that their products "are the highest quality that you will find in traditional, authentic cowboy gear." One hundred percent satisfaction is guaranteed and if you don't love the quality, style and beauty, you can return any item for your money back with "no questions asked." Some sample prices include: $29.99 for a hitched horsehair bracelet, $15 for a 5-strand, adjustable horsehair hat band with double tassels, and $2.25 for a horsehair tassel zipper pull (in your choice of eight vibrant colors). The company also sells horsehair for fly fishing (1oz.) and bulk horsehair (1 lb.) for crafts. For people who want to make their own horsehair accessories, RockingHorse Ridge sells books that teach horsehair hitching, braiding and rope making skills. "Recently, we started making custom pieces from our clients' own horse hair. Memorial horsehair pots are decorative vessels created from wheel-thrown clay, and then bisque fired," Edstrom says. "Individual strands of horsehair are then placed in horizontal, diagonal, or vertical patterns against the hot surface of the ceramic piece." The horse hair burns and shrivels up, forming ash so that a small deposit of carbon and smoke is absorbed into the clay surface, leaving a permanent trace of the horsehair on the pot, resulting in a one-of-a-kind design. The company is also offering memorial horse portraits on slate. Clients send them a picture of their horse, and an artist creates its likeness on the slate. "We have so many clients asking for memorial pieces that we're working on a new website just for that," she says. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, RockingHorse Ridge, Mesa, Arizona (ph 715 699-3263; robertae@centurytel.net; www. rockinghorseridge.com).

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