The stampede rope, what is it?
What I mean by a stampede rope or twine is the braided mane that is attached to a cowboy hat, or other styles of hats, to secure the hat on your head. It usually hangs almost to the belt buckle and often ends with a horsehair tassel dangling from the end of the ropes. At least that’s how Knot-A-Tail strings are made.
These laces, laces, or stampede laces are now decorated with a variety of materials. It can be made of horse hair, rawhide, braided leather. The name “stampede rope” has come to describe these ropes as an obvious result of the application, because a properly attached stampede rope will keep your hat on even in the middle of a cattle stampede!
More than once, while attending some community horse shows, I have observed a yarn stampede that is formed from yarn, directly from the hay bales they brought with them. If you’ve ever lost points at a horse show for losing your hat, which I think is a 5-second penalty, you may need a stampede rope as well.
The Loop Style Stampede Rope
This guy forms a hat band
Knot-A-Tail has 15 different styles of stampede ropes and each style has at least 2-3 color combinations ranging from horse hair, leather, and rawhide so there are quite a few different stamped rope styles available to choose from. . However, there are mainly only two types of stampede strings: the looped style and the cotter pin. You will want to know which type will work for you and how it is installed before considering purchasing a stampede rope.
The first type is the looped stamped rope. Loop-style stampede rope requires two holes to be placed in the brim of the hat. The holes should be as close to the lining of the hat as possible, just behind the ears, or wherever you find the stampede rope to be the most comfortable. Usually I put the hat on the clients head and can see where the stampede rope should rest.
Drilling the holes in the hat
Two small holes are needed to install a coiled stampede rope.
Once you find exactly where you want the stampede rope, you will need to put two small holes in the hat. I like to use an awl, which is a tool that has a small sharp point and the shaft gradually becomes thicker. The awl easily separates the material from the hat and if you are careful the awl will not cut the material, it will simply separate the material.
Again, make sure you know the exact location of the holes before you begin. Then begin to slow down by pushing the punch up. You want to make the hole from the bottom of the wing to the top. After countless times of installing a looped stampede rope, I found that the awl passes through the material more easily from the bottom to the top and the hat holds its shape better.
However, do not force the awl, simply let it work gently and with a foot push through the material. Now test the size of the hole by sliding one of the end loops of the stampede rope through the hole. (The end loops are the loops that meet the opposite ends of the tassels) There is one loop for each side. The end loops just roll back over themselves, so don’t worry if the loops unravel. Just watch how the loops are made, so you can redo them once you’ve slipped the loops through the holes.
You want the fit to be tight. It is best if you actually make the hole too small and redo it a few times, rather than making a big hole the first time. Once you’ve threaded the final loops, you’re basically done.
If the end ties still have the tack ties, simply open the larger end ties, because they form a Hat Band around the crown of the hat. If you overridden the loops, just do the loop again. The loop is like the loop of a Lariat. Don’t worry, you basically can’t damage the stampede rope unless you cut it somehow. Anyway, the looped stampede rope is so long because the loops are made to become a hat band. So cross the ties over the crown of the hat. Push the strings down into the crown where a hat band would rest and you’re done.
That’s it for the looped stamped rope. Just adjust the slider under your chin and you are good to go.
The stampede rope of cotter pins.
It is easy to install a Stampede rope with cotter pin.
The cotter pin type is by far the easiest to install, perhaps that is why it is so popular today. Begin by placing the hat on your head and hold the stampede rope in the place that is most comfortable for you. This will depend on the person, some like it in front of the ear, next to the ear, while others like it behind the ear. If you wear your cowboy hat slightly tilted back on your head, you may want to tuck it behind your ear for better balance.
Just mark the spot with your finger. Place the hat upside down on the crown. You will see that the lining has threads where the lining is sewn onto the hat. Choose a space between two of the strands that is as close as possible to where you want to place the stampede rope. Slide the key carefully between the steps.
In the best made hats, the threads are very close together, but just move the key carefully. You don’t want to cut the lining thread. Push the keys to the end of the key, but not the stamped chord.
Next, flip the liner, inside out. Now you can easily see the cotter pins. Just spread them apart until they are flat against the lining. Turn the lining towards the inside of the hat and voila: simple and easy.
Well now you can ride hard all day and never get off the horse again to chase your hat. Most importantly, you won’t have to see your hat fly under the horse’s feet behind you. Not only are the Stampede strings one of the most particulate elements you can add to your western outfit, but they are sexy and way too pretty, especially the Knot-A-Tail Stampede strings.
Caring for your Stampede thong
Once you’ve installed that new horsehair patterned rope, or maybe you prefer braided leather ones with horsehair tassels, you’ll want to learn how to care for your new treasures. Knot-A-Tail offers a comprehensive free e-book on caring for your horse’s hair products.
