Things You'll Need
Measuring tape
2-inch wide grosgrain ribbon
Cigarette lighter
15-inch bead strand
Iron
Hot glue gun
Round toothpicks
3/4-inch hook and loop tape
A beaded headband for a horse covers the bridle brow band at the top. You can add color-coordinating beads and ribbon to the bridle to match your riding clothes in competitions, parades or rodeos. Craft stores carry ribbon and bead strands in a vast assortment of colors and patterns. This method of making beaded headbands takes very little time and allows you to change quickly from one to another.
Measure the length of the bridle’s brow band between the left and right jump rings. The brow band is the horizontal area on a bridle that fits just below the ears and across the brow of a horse, and is either leather or nylon. An average horse bridle has a 15.5-inch brow band and is 3/4 inch wide.
Measure and cut 2-inch wide grosgrain ribbon to the length of the brow band.
Strike a cigarette lighter and pass the flame quickly back and forth over the short ends of the ribbon. This process heat seals the ends so they will not fray.
Lay the ribbon right side up on a flat surface. Apply hot glue in a straight line horizontally in the center of the ribbon.
Center a 15-inch strand of beads on the hot glue and press them down into the glue with round toothpicks. Allow the hot glue to dry for about 5 minutes.
Measure and cut a length of hook and loop tape to the length of the grosgrain ribbon. Turn the ribbon over with the right side facing down. Peel the backing off the hook and loop tape and apply one half to the top edge and the other half to the bottom edge horizontally.
Position the beaded headband in the center of the bridle brow band. Pull the top and bottom edges around it to the rear, and press the hook and loop tape together.
Tips
Grosgrain ribbon has texture to it so the shape of the beads will stick well in the hot glue. You can use smooth texture fabrics in place of the ribbon, but the beads may not adhere flat to the fabric.
Warnings
Introduce your horse to bead strands with horizontal strands first. Then try bead strands with hanging vertical beads in shorter lengths before adding longer beaded headbands to acclimate them to new items.
References
Photo Credits
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Scarlet beads image by Olga Khopshanosova from Fotolia.com
Writer Bio
Mary Lougee has been writing for over 10 years. She holds a Bachelor's Degree with a major in Management and a double minor in accounting and computer science. She loves writing about careers for busy families as well as family oriented planning, meals and activities for all ages.
