A Unique Leather McCarty

Grant Matthews of Murtaugh, Idaho is a cattleman and horse trainer. Grant also teaches horsemanship classes at Twin Falls Junior College. As one of Grant's pastimes, he is an accomplished rawhide and leather braider. Unique among the items Grant has braided is his leather version of a McCarty (mecate) rope. Grant braids eight strands of leather around a 3/8" soft nylon core, usually in about a 20 foot length. One might think a leather McCarty would be heavy or stiff, but with the nylon core it remains light and very supple. A leather McCarty would be a good choice for horsemen in Arizona or other brushy states because the rope does not get caught in sticker brush the way hair or fiber McCartys do. A recent addition to Grant's workshop is a leather & rawhide cutting machine he had made based on a prototype machine made by Twister Heller of Congress, Arizona. The machine easily cuts rawhide and leather into uniform strips of the desired lengths and widths for braiding leather and rawhide tack. Grant is offering his hand-braided leather McCartys for sale on a personalized custom-made basis. Grant will make a McCarty for a client in custom lengths. The usual lengths are 20' to 23'. Grant will make them 18' to 26' as ordered. Grant braids eight strands of leather around a 3/8" soft nylon core. He offers a choice of size, shape, and hair color for the horsehair tassel on the head end of the McCarty. Grant will provide horsehair the color of your choice or you may provide hair from your favorite horse. He also offers the choice of a heel knot or a pineapple knot on the tail end. There is also a leather popper on the tail end. Grant makes a standard McCarty up to 22' long. McCartys 22' to 26' will cost an additional amount per foot. The finished McCartys are suitable for use on a hackamore or on a snaffle bit. Grant also makes and sells pencil bosals for the horseman.  His 9 1/2" long, 5/16" diameter braided rawhide bosal with braided leather nose button and mouse, are shown below.    Grant recently made this custom 22' leather mecate for Mark Byrum, High Plains Saddlery,  from Smithwick, South Dakota.  The mecate is made from 8 strands of chap leather braided over a 5/16" core.  A black & sorrel horsehair tassel on one end and a leather popper on the other are attached with heel knots.   Click on photos for larger views Further information may be obtained directly from: Grant Matthews Olive Brook Stables 23761 East Highway 30 Murtaugh, Idaho 83344 208-432-6615 Grant Matthews Murtaugh, Idaho horse trainer and leather braider leather McCarty on a horse:  click pictures for larger view Grant also made the headstall and unique grazing bit that is made specially to use with a McCarty Grant says this bit will never pinch and is balanced so a horse can carry its head naturally. click pictures for larger view