Importance of Horse Hair

Horse hair has been used for a variety of things throughout history.

Horse hair has many advantages over other fibers. Taken from either the horse's mane or tail, the hairs can be soft and flexible or stiff and thick depending on the need and use. Horse hair has been important to the development of music, the arts and even fishing technology. It can be woven into durable cloth with many practical uses and is often used as stuffing for upholstery.

Music

The most notable use of horse hair as applied to music is the design and construction of violin bows. A bow is usually a length of wood attached at both ends by many hairs that are tightened to create the vibrations against the strings by which the violin is characterized. Some bows are made with synthetic fibers or string, but, according to the experts at the Violin Site, the finest bows that create the richest sounds are composed of horse hair.

Art

By far the most common use of horse hair today is in the manufacture of paint brushes. Because of the range of textures available from horse hair, many types of paint brushes and chip brushes can be made. Options for the artist range from single-hair precision brushes to wide and flexible brushes that allow the artist to work a variety of paints and other media into their art. Horse hair can also be stiff enough to create textures with paint, as well as soft enough to spread paint smoothly over surfaces.

Fishing

In fly-fishing, it is common to use a rod with a line of twisted horse hairs. The main advantage is that horse hair does not rot, and so the lines composed of horse hair typically last longer than alternatives and can even be passed down from generation to generation. The strength and thinness of the fibers is ideal for fooling fish because it is virtually invisible and very difficult to break. In his paper, "A Fly Fishing History," Dr. Andrew N. Herd notes that it is the mark of a skilled fisherman who can catch a fish using a single horse hair for the line.

Fabrics and Textiles

Horse hair enjoys a long history of use in creating fabrics and upholstery. Popularly used as stuffing for upholstery in the 1800s, it is still used that way today. The versatility of horse hair has led to many types of fabrics with practical uses, and it has also been used to make ropes, sieves, reigns, rugs, socks and other clothing. According to Kerstin Fröberg of FiberArts.org, horse hair can be difficult to weave compared to other more synthetic options, which usually makes products made of horse hair a more expensive alternative.

Decoration

According to Marjorie Congram, horse hair has been used in various types of decoration for many years. In pottery making, horse hair is a good medium for creating impressions and designs in the clay. Horse hair is also often used to create hair weaves for equestrian enthusiasts to dress up their horses for shows and competitions. It is also used in the manufacture of jewelry, such as bracelets and necklaces, and belts composed in various braided and weaved patterns.

References

• The Violin Site: Violin Bows
• Fiber Arts: Horsehair as a Textile
• A Fly Fishing History: Horsehair Fly Lines
• "Horsehair: A Textile Resource"; Marjorie Congram; 1987