Award winning artists, Shoni and Ron Maulding, are owners of Hitching Tails and River Publishing. We supply hitched horsehair books and products.

Six months in the actual making, Mariposa Lapwai (butterfly, butterfly, has been our most challenging, rewarding, and collectible piece.   It's modeled after old pieces, and has Ron's original hand-crafted sterling silver and brass metalwork for the four rosettes and browband piece. The silver  butterflies and roses are engraved, with semi-precious stones adding to the piece. Creating true life butterflies in hitched horsehair was a coup for Shoni. Some hitching processes were accomplished by using specially designed jigs which Ron made specifically for that purpose. This can be yours for $17,900.00. (Includes reins which have yet to be made.)

Close-up of Noseband of Mariposa Lapwai (butterfly, butterfly)

Remember to check out the photo of our Griz on Horse Prairie headstall towards the bottom of this page.

Hitched horsehair products are some of the most sought after products in the western field. Collectors are continuously looking for unique and rare pieces which often sell for thousands of dollars.

Note that hitched horsehair is not the same as braided horsehair. Hitched horsehair is a series of knots with horse tail hair; braiding is, well, braided. Hitched horsehair will last generations, while braiding does not have the same lasting stability.

See our Show Schedule at the bottom of this page.

BOOKS

Hitched Horsehair: The Complete Guide for Self-Learning stands alone. This complete and comprehensive book teaches you step-by-step how to hitch, finish projects, and use graph paper to design patterns.

Hitched Horsehair II: Advanced Patterns and Inlay Projects fulfills the many requests for advanced patterns with complete directions. And if you want to put hitched inlays in leather, this book is for you. Photos and illustrations for making inlay projects include buckles, belts, checkbook covers, saddles, Indian cradleboard, quiver, and more.

These books show some of the award-winning projects the Mauldings have mastered through their creativity and design work that are the first to be done in the art of hitched horsehair and silverwork.

We welcome you to start creating your hitched horsehair collection today. Click on Books for more information and ordering.

CUSTOM HITCHED HORSEHAIR PRODUCTS

Or order your own finished custom hitched horsehair products made by these award-winning artists. Click on Products for information for your specialized item.

PLACES OUR HITCHING IS TRAVELING TO (& maybe us)

Shoni & Stetson (yep, the hat company...):

There's a new show in the western world. Women Who Design the West premieres in Cody, Wyoming, September 2010. It's an exclusive exhibition featuring women who design and create western craft. And Shoni has been invited to the show.

Stetson has endorsed Women Who Design the West and will be inducting each craftswoman into the Stetson Craftsman's Alliance. The mission of the alliance is to recognize and honor excellence across western craft disciplines.

Thea Marx has worked with Stetson for several years on this project. Thea also directs Style West, held at the same time. Both shows open, free to the public, at noon on Thursday and Friday, September 23-24, and at 10 a.m. on Saturday, September 25. The event closes daily at 6 p.m.

Website: www.womenwhodesignthewest.wordpress.com.

Upcoming Classes: We are always open to one-on-one three day workshops, taking up to two students at a time in our studio at Kettle Falls, Washington. Check the "Instruction" page of this website for more information.

Montana Academy of Living History: We will present two sessions on hitched horsehair in Deer Lodge, Montana, September 16-17, 2010.

First session: Find out what hitched horsehair is, a general description of how it is done, and display of finished products. This is an overview discussion. A question and answer period will be at the end of the session. This is September 16, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.; fee of $10.00.

The second session is an accelerated how-to and hands-on for beginners. Students will make a hitched horsehair key fob, having hands on experience with making pulls, the two knots used in hitching, and understanding drop, add, and standing pulls. The six row diamond, the basis for all geometric patterns will be hitched, but not completed due to time constraints. Class is limited to ten students. Please bring small scissors and a ruler. We recommend that people taking the how-to, hands-on session also attend the two hour overview session on Thursday. This session is September 17, 8 a.m. to noon.

For more information and to register: www.academyoflivinghistory.com; or e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Or call the Powell County Museum and Arts Foundation, phone number 406-846-3111.

KSPS PBS TV out of Spokane, Washington, did a great job on our story as part of their Northwest Profiles in October, 2006. We were on for about seven minutes. The interview is available on their website, www.ksps.org. Click on Local Productions; then Northwest Profiles; then Archives; then the alphabet letters "G-L"; then scroll down to "Knotted Up (Hitched Horsehair hitching". This interview is also on YouTube - type in "hitched horsehair". This is not an instructional video, but does show Shoni hitching and Ron doing silverwork.

The Horse Show with Rick Lamb still occasionally runs a radio interview that came out several years ago. Mr. Lamb interviewed us at Ride the West in Spokane, Washington.