Hackamore

I just have a question about the horse I ride.
She has a hackamore(sp?) bridle, and my instructor always tells me to be extra gentle because they are much more harsh.

So I always get freaked out that I'm hurting Hailey.
What would be the reason for someone using a hackamore if they don't have to?
It seems wierd to me...

In my opinion, they are not more harsh than a bit. They are if you are hauling on the reins, but any bit is harsh that way.

Many people use hacks because their horses don't like bits, have mouth problems, or simply respond better to a hack.

Some people just don't "believe" in bits.

I don't think its more harsh, it's just a bit that demands less contact to be effective than a snaffle. A hackamore makes them more responsive by acting on a different pressure point than the mouth. This point really lifts the poll and can really put on the breaks if used too aggresively. But I don't believe that if someone braced on a hackamore they would hurt a horse anymore than bracing in a snaffle, it just produces a different response. If your horse is willing to go forward, or is too forward a hackamore can be a nice relief from heavy bitting.

I've heard that you can break bones in a horse's nose with a hack, but I use a hack on my goofy mare, and she works the best in it. I'd say it's no more (if not less) harsh than a bit.

I would think it is less harsh then a bit. I mean, unless you're yanking on it ect.

Um, I thought there were was more than one type of hackamore and that they are quite different in severity?

Sorry, Another question I just thought of... these should probably go in the tack forum... but...
Another sortof funny things I found my barn does...

All of the lesson horses share tack! (Aside from bridles)
Like... there are 5 different english saddles and my instructor told me to just grab any one of them....

They don't look to be the same size though...

How could all of those saddles fit each horse properly?

Umm welcome to lesson barns? Saddle fitting issues can be helped with proper padding, but more importantly it shoud fit you as best it can rather than the horse. Trainers don't have one saddle for every horse, they usually have one and pad accordingly. Some horses with saddle issues can be ridden in the horses owners saddle if it is fitted to them and fits the trainer well. Saddle fit can be a problem for horses, and there are certain trees that are better for multiple horses, but they are expensive and aren't really intended to be just for one horse, unless the horse really demands a custom fitted saddle.

I've never been to a lesson barn where saddles were shared. They should not be. I wouldn't be riding there personally.

When you pull back on the reins it mkaes the chin strap pull up which mkaes them stop. So I guess it can be harsh