On Labor Day weekend 2024, 14 students and nine instructors worked together to learn and refine their skills as rawhide braiders. It was held during the 88th annual Evanston Cowboy Days Celebration in Evanston, Wyoming. Sponsored by the Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund in conjunction with the Culture Conservation Corps and the Bear River Heritage Area, this three-day workshop focused on passing on knowledge and traditions to new and upcoming braiders.
The organizer of this event was Dan Ames, a resident of Woodruff, Utah. Dan has been rawhide braiding for about ten years and has quickly become a fixture in the braiding community. When asked what he enjoyed about it, Dan stated that rawhide braiding is “the ultimate recycling because we can take a cow that dies, take her hide, and build something out of it and then use it…we take a useless material that would be discarded and turn it into something useful and pretty.” Every July, Dan hosts a rawhide braiding gathering at the Woodruff Town Hall. Braiders come from all over the country to learn from each other and share tips and tricks. Many of those same braiders returned to participate in the workshop.
“We take a useless material that would be discarded and turn it into something useful and pretty.”
Dan Ames
Workshop participants worked for three days to create a hackamore, a bridle for horses that does not rely on a bit. Instead, the hackamore uses a noseband, also known as a bosal, to apply pressure to the horse’s nose to direct it. Students used strands of rawhide to braid the bosal and then created the hackamore by adding reins to it.
Right: A student’s completed hackamore.
Left: Illustration of a hackamore on a horse by Mike Hickey, one of the workshop instructors. He has written and illustrated several books that detail knot and tack techniques.
Students also learned how to process rawhide into strands for braiding. Rawhide refers to the hide of an animal that is untanned; it is used to make whips, drumheads, shoes, and many other products. Some makers prefer rawhide as it is considered more durable than leather. Rawhide is very tough, and braiders must soften wet rawhide strands in a process called tempering in order to braid it.
The workshop accommodated students of all skill levels; some students had braided for a few years while others had never braided rawhide before. One of the youngest participants, Kache Carter from Morgan, Utah, began braiding at the age of fifteen. He and his grandfather, Brian Porter, started braiding together and want to continue in the future. Brian stated that “We get better every time we braid…It’s fun to learn. It’s a dying art, so it’s fun to pass that on.” Kache added that “We meet good new people every time we go to [a rawhide braiding gathering].” These kind of gatherings help refine skills and introduce new people to the community as well as continue to pass on the tradition.
The workshop was held at Roderick Hall, a building that is part of the Uinta County Fairgrounds in Evanston, Wyoming. It was part of the Evanston Cowboy Days’ schedule and was open to the public. Cowboy Days is known as “The biggest little rodeo in the world,” and features three days of rodeo, a parade, live music, and more. Visitors to the fairgrounds were able to tour the workshop, ask questions, and see the students’ progress.
Example of completed hackamores by Danish rawhide braider Lilli Klausen. Lilli is one of the only rawhide braiders from Denmark and helped to instruct students.
The purpose of this workshop is to pass on knowledge to future generations, share this folk art with the public, and preserve a Western American artform. Samantha Krieger, a student from Evanston, had never braided rawhide before, and she was grateful for all the amazing people who helped to teach her. She stated, “I’m so glad that we have this opportunity here in Wyoming to offer great things like this and keep the Western arts alive.”
The students and instructors want to express their gratitude and support for the workshop and wished to thank the Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund, the Culture Conservation Corps, and Evanston Cowboy Days for this opportunity. This project was supported in part by a grant from the Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund, a program of the Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources.
Story and photos by Emma George, the Heritage and Folk Art Coordinator for the Bear River Heritage Area, a program of the Bear River Association of Governments.
Check out these additional photos in the gallery!
