Rawhide and buffalo or horse hairs were used to make lariats or throw ropes. Lariats made of buffalo or elk hide were usually around twenty feet long in the early days. The majority were unbraided rawhide threads or thongs about two fingers broad. Some ropes were braided in the “hair braid,” or flat braid, with a little loop on one end, using three rawhide strings. After braiding a lariat from moist rawhide threads, it was laid out on the ground until dry, then greased with tallow and softened by circling a tree trunk or post back and forth.