For your consideration Walla Walla, Washington Prison hitched horsehair bridle circa 1930's. This is a near fully hitched hand crafted horse hair bridle that is 100 years old. The headstall shows variety examples of geometric patterns that fluidly changed from piece to piece; the headstall and romel is finely hitched and shows exceptional workmanship. each side of the headstall shows a single horse head rosette form the 1930's with hitched horsehair Turkshead knots ending in tassels of free flying horse hair shows great beauty. The romel is hitched horse hair ending in a cored wrapped in hitched horse hair and connected by a large leather Turkshead knot. The bit is a mild long shank curb bit with steel rein clips attaching strait to the headstall. 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 bridle is good with no obvious signs of damage and shows great plaits of horsehair; the rosettes show some aging but are in good overall condition. The overall measurements of this bridle are 26" x 7" for the headstall and the romel reins measure 68" long. (The bridle does not include the horsehead display)