How to Make a Hoof Rattle
Hoof rattles were made by Native Americans and used in various ceremonies and as toys for children. The design varies from tribe to tribe and probably even between builders within each tribe. The rattle would have been decorated with items of significance to the builder. The hoof rattle can be made with either deer or goat hooves.
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Things You'll Need
- Deer or goat hooves
- Buckskin
- Natural stick
- Knife or scissors
- Paint (optional)
Instructions
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Acquire the hooves. Goat hooves are commercially available and deer hooves can be acquired from hunters. The black hornlike portion of the hoof is removed from the foot and cleaned and dried. Deer and goats both have cloven or two-part hooves yielding two hooves for a rattle from each foot.
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Create a fringed piece of buckskin or other light leather. Each fringe should be about 3 1/2 inches long. The number of fringes should equal the number of hooves in the rattle. Insert the end of the fringe through the small end of the hoof and tie a knot in the end. The knot should be large enough to prevent the hoof from sliding off the end of the fringe.
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Wrap the fringed piece of buckskin, with the hooves attached, around a stick. Use a natural stick from the forest or field rather than a manufactured dowel. Do a spiral wind around the stick and tuck the ends of the buckskin strip under the wound leather to hold the ends in place.
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Tips & Warnings
Add any other decorations desired to the hoof rattle. This can include fur or trade beads among other items.
According to the National Museum of the American Indian, the interior of the hooves was sometimes painted in bright colors to make the rattle more attractive.
