The headgear is called jato or terno in Peru and it consists of three pieces: the halter with its shank; the headstall and reigns; and, the eye cover and strap. The headgear can be of two kinds: a working headgear which is very plainly made and usually does not have metal decorations, and the show (de lujo) headgear which is finely made and adorned with metal pieces to give it a very sober and elegant appearance. The headgear is made of braided strands of rawhide. The rawhide can be of goat, deer and calf. The more leather threads used in the braiding, the finer the end product will be. A fine headgear is one in which twenty or more strands of leather threads per inch are used in the braiding. This means that each thread of leather is one-twentieth of an inch (or less) in width. The braiding style can vary depending on the skill of the artisan and the number of metal pieces (rings and hardware) can vary from a few to over one hundred. Of the three pieces of the terno, perhaps the blinders (tapa ojos) is the one that calls the most attention. This is a very typical piece of the Peruvian gear and is mainly used in the first stages of training because it permits a person to saddle or mount a nervous horse with much ease. The blinders are also sometimes used to keep a horse in place without having to tie him. Complementing the headgear, a bozalillo (small bosal) is often used during the bit training because it serves the purpose of keeping the mouth of the horse closed when pressure is applied by the bit. The bosal is a very important part of the tack during the breaking and early training of the Peruvian horse.

Peruvian Bosal

The Peruvian bosal consists of a nose band held in place by the head stall. The reins are also attached to the top of the nose band. The bosal is also made of braided rawhide but is not as finely made or adorned as the head stall. The Peruvian bosal differs from the Mexican bosal or hackamore in that pressure is applied to the nose rather than to the chin of the horse. The proper use of the bosal produces a horse that easily responds to slight pressures of the reins making it possible to use a mild bit. The Peruvian bit (freno or bocado) is indeed well known because of its soft touch. It has a straight bar with a short curb or spade. The older bits were made of forged and burnished steel that was handsomely inlaid with silver decorations. The modern bits are made of non-rusting materials such as nickel or stainless steel. The making of the Peruvian riding gear is an art which is usually passed from generation to generation within a family. Fortunately this tradition has been kept alive for centuries, but only a very small number of artisans are dedicated to this occupation.