Horse hair sporran

[craigclan]

Today I purchased a vintage horse hair sporran from baker04 and he suggested I condition or feed the hair on the sporran . Neither one of us are sure what I should be using to do this . Ideas please ....

[rtown]

http://www.bagpipejourney.com/articl...cleaning.shtml

Found this on the internet. Hope it helped.

[CMcG]

I also have a vintage hair sporran, but I don't really do anything to it except comb the hair and polish the cantle every few years. I'd be interested to read suggestions, however, because I would like it to last a long time. rtown's link about washing sounds helpful... does anyone have experience with shampooing and conditioning a hair sporran?

[artificer]

I also have a vintage hair sporran, but I don't really do anything to it except comb the hair and polish the cantle every few years. I'd be interested to read suggestions, however, because I would like it to last a long time. rtown's link about washing sounds helpful... does anyone have experience with shampooing and conditioning a hair sporran?

I've had to rejuvenate a few old horse or goat hair pieces. I essentially used the process in the above link. I'd add that you don't need horse shampoo, just a very gentle one. Baby shampoo works well when diluted.

The other thing I'd add is that for a 'wide toothed comb' what is really best is a horse comb- I bought one specifically for building and cleaning sporrans.
It is VERY wide, and helps avoid pulling when you get to knots. Which brings up the other thing- when you're combing through the sporran it's best to put a hand right on the sewn base of the layer of hair you're combing through. That way you'll
reduce the amount of tension on the attachment point and therefore reduce the chance of yanking out any more hair than necessary.

It's not a difficult process to clean a sporran, but it is a little time consuming if the piece is very dirty. Cigarette smoke in particular takes tons of time to wash out (and it does build up into a filthy tarry-brown layer).

ith:

[CMcG]

Thanks, artificer. That's helpful!

[craigclan]

Very helpful thanks . And since i own horses all this stuff is right in the barn . Thanks

[Mel1721L]

Other than pipe bands when would anyone use a horsehair sporran?

[Calgacus]

Other than pipe bands when would anyone use a horsehair sporran?

There are quite a surprising number here who wear horsehair sporrans, whether it be to ceilidhs, weddings, or just for the hell of it. They may not be all that common, but pictures get posted here quite regularly of non-pipers wearing them.

[CMcG]

Other than pipe bands when would anyone use a horsehair sporran?

I reserve mine for formal occasions when I need something extra to make an outfit pop.

[craigclan]

I purchased this one for my two boys to wear . My oldest is 4 and he was actually wearing it last night . (with shorts ) lol . I also want one but want to make it from my own horses . i am researching the how to and should be starting it soon i hope