Featured in this lot is this Deer Lodge, MT prison horsehair bridle, circa 1950's-60's. This bridle shows exceptional craftsmanship with a twisting of variety of dyed horse hair and a core hitched design on the majority of the bridle. The crown piece, brow band, and nose band are decorated with a flat hitched, geometric design decoration that accentuates the piece with flare and bravado. This headstall is uniquely constructed with finely crafted braided leather collars holding the headstall together. In the western United States, the history of hitching is intertwined with the history of territorial and modern day prisons in the western United States. It was the first hobby at Montana State Prison, dating back to the territorial prison in Deer Lodge. Charlie Russell, the famous western artist, wrote about men down at Deer Lodge “twistin hairs”. Other commonly known prisons for horsehair were located at Yuma and Florence, Arizona; Rawlins, Wyoming; and Walla Walla, Washington. The condition of this headstall is good, with no obvious signs of damage. The measurements of this horse hair headstall are 24" x 5 1/2" x 7 1/2".