Award winning artists, Shoni and Ron Maulding, are owners of Hitching Tails and River Publishing. We supply hitched horsehair books and products. Mariposa Lapwai  | Here's our new all hitched horsehair headstall titled Mariposa Lapwai (butterfly, butterfly). It's modeled after old pieces, but has Ron's original hand-crafted sterling silver and brass metalwork for the four rosettes and browband piece. The silver butterflies and roses are engraved, with semi-precious stones adding to the piece.
The Monarch butterflies could test any hitcher, and Shoni was pleased that they are lifelike.
This can be yours for $17,900.00. |
And here's a close-up of the noseband of Mariposa Lapwai:  Close-up of Noseband of Mariposa Lapwai (butterfly, butterfly) |
Remember to check out the photo of our Griz on Horse Prairie headstall towards the bottom of this page. Hitched horsehair products are some of the most sought after products in the western field. Collectors are continuously looking for unique and rare pieces which often sell for thousands of dollars. Note that hitched horsehair is not the same as braided horsehair. Hitched horsehair is a series of knots with horse tail hair; braiding is, well, braided. Hitched horsehair will last generations, while braiding does not have the same lasting stability.
See our Show Schedule at the bottom of this page.
BOOKS
Hitched Horsehair: The Complete Guide for Self-Learning stands alone. This complete and comprehensive book teaches you step-by-step how to hitch, finish projects, and use graph paper to design patterns.
Hitched Horsehair II: Advanced Patterns and Inlay Projects fulfills the many requests for advanced patterns with complete directions. And if you want to put hitched inlays in leather, this book is for you. Photos and illustrations for making inlay projects include buckles, belts, checkbook covers, saddles, Indian cradleboard, quiver, and more.
These books show some of the award-winning projects the Mauldings have mastered through their creativity and design work that are the first to be done in the art of hitched horsehair and silverwork.
We welcome you to start creating your hitched horsehair collection today. Click on Books for more information and ordering.
CUSTOM HITCHED HORSEHAIR PRODUCTS
Or order your own finished custom hitched horsehair products made by these award-winning artists. Click on Products for information for your specialized item.
 Griz on Horse Prairie Headstall | Griz on Horse Prairie, our all hitched horsehair headstall, sold for a five figure price in March, 2006. It's great to have collectors who are eager to purchase contemporary pieces and recognize hitched horsehair as an artform!
Ron Maulding made the original sterling silver, brass, and Montana jasper piece for the browband and the four rosettes on the sides. The stones were found when Shoni's parents took Ron and Shoni to Horse Prairie, which is where Sacajawea led Lewis and Clark to horses. Shoni's father cut and tumbled the stones. | | | |
PLACES OUR HITCHING IS TRAVELING TO (& maybe us)
We've been invited back to the 22nd Annual Trappings of Texas Custom Cowboy Gear & Western Art Show and Sale, held at the Museum of the Big Bend in Alpine, Texas. The opening weekend is Friday, February 29, 2007, and runs through April 27. Our hitched horsehair headstall, Mariposa Lapwai , is at the show. We also plan on sending hitched horsehair to Flagstaff, Arizona, to the 19th Annual Trappings of The American West Exhibition at the Museum of Northern Arizona. Show dates are October 3 through November 2, 2008. KSPS PBS TV out of Spokane, Washington, did a great job on our story as part of their Northwest Profiles in October, 2006. We were on for about seven minutes. The entire program is available from KSPS for $19.95 plus $4.00 shipping. In the future, streaming of the program will be available for those who have a high speed connection with their internet provider. Contact information is 1-800-735-2377 or www.ksps.org. The Horse Show with Rick Lamb still occasionally runs a radio interview that came out several years ago. Mr. Lamb interviewed us at Ride the West in Spokane, Washington. |
