Not a stupid question at all. A mecate is a very long rope, traditionally made from braided/twisted horse hair, though more commonly found these days made from yacht rope. They average 22-24 feet in length. You can use them on snaffle bits or bosal hackamores and they are long enough to give you a single "sport" type rein and the left over will be a lead or a "get down" rope. They attach to a snaffle bit by way of slobber straps
And they are attached to the bosal by winding and twisting it a certain way around the base of the bosal noseband
So, if I have a meacate, I just tuck it under the waistband of my pants, or tie it to the horn ( a less safe choice, I know).
I tuck mine all down into my pantleg! The boys taught me that, Even if pulled through my belt loops it came out. So I tuck it down into my pantleg and I can feel it if it starts coming out. However it does take a while to get used to horsehair rubbing on your thigh and even worse if it gets yanked out! LoL!
You tuck it down into your pants? What's the benefit in doing that? I'd think it'd feel like a friggin' cactus in your drawers.
LoL! It does, but you get used to it.
Even if I tuck it through a couple of belt loops it comes out sometimes. If you tuck it down your pant leg you can feel it if it starts to come out, but if you get get bucked off you aren't tied to it. Yet it still has a little resistance that you might think about grabbing it so you don't have to walk to barn....tee he