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Hackamore or bitless bridle suggestions?

4K views 13 replies 8 participants last post by  DannyBoysGrace 
#1 ·
I've been trying to use a standard hackamore with rawhide bosal with my horse lately but, I don't like the way it fits, even after forming, nor do I like that it is so hard. I have used rawhide treatment on the bosal to try and soften it but, I still don't like the results.

I have used a snaffle on Barney but he always avoided the bit by putting his tongue over it. that is, at least partly, due to the fact that the BLM (Barney is a mustang) never had his teeth floated nor his wolf teeth pulled so, the bit causes him a lot of discomfort. that will be taken care of in a few weeks.

He rides OK in just a halter but when he decides to disagree with the direction I want to ride, he is much too willing to try to pull against it. that sort of ends up with me having to spend a few minutes wrestling his head around to the direction I want. Even though I always do win that argument, eventually, I would prefer that "winning the argument" take less time and effort.

So, what I'm wanting to find now is a different style of hackamore or a sidepull bridle or something that is not hard on the bony part of his nose but allows better control.

I really don't want a mechanical hackamore since I don't trust MY OWN hand control and fear that I could cause injury if I pull too hard on the reins.

Any suggestions?

Thanks folks!
 
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#2 ·
I'm assuming you ride Western, but what I found works for my mare is a Herm Sprenger short shanked hackamore, with an added chain instead of the leather chin strap it comes with. It's made a world of difference, as she fusses too much with a bit.
 
#3 ·
We ride our horses in a bit and bitless (English)
I like the Stubben hackamore about the best, very well padded noseband, short shanks like an English hackamore so it gives clear direction if you 'direct rein' and isn't harsh on the nose
I have recently bought a Zilco Flower hackamore which DH has used on one of his horses but I think the Jury is still out on that one - its isn't harsh though
Neither of those hackamores would work on a horse that got strong and decided to take off with you - you could do a 1 rein stop in them though
 
#12 ·
h DH has used on one of his horses but I think the Jury is still out on that one - its isn't harsh though
Neither of those hackamores would work on a horse that got strong and decided to take off with you - you could do a 1 rein stop in them though
My horse loved taking off and I found that putting the reins on the bottom circled really helped. I wouldn't rule it out, it worked well with my head strong Connemara x ID
 
#4 ·
If you are using 2 hands to control the horse, I suggest not using any type of mechanical hackamore since they can become a torturous vice if used incorrectly with too much force. My "go -to" for a bitless bridle is a sidepull to retrain a horse to be soft and responsive to my cues or for riding when I don't need the precision of a bit.


However, rather than rely on the bridle, reins, and your hands to control the horse, use your natural aids of seat, weight, legs, and core. You also need teach the horse to move away from pressure.If you don't understand how to use the natural aids effectively, find a trainer who can teach you. The bit and reins are not the steering or the brakes. The bit and reins are to simply refine the lines of communication.
 
#5 ·
I tried a Zilco Flower hackamore.



It flops around a lot if you use a leading rein, or need to pull the head around. It's stopping power ranks up there with a tug on the mane. It was OK in an arena, but not worth much on a nervous horse. My daughter even gave up on it for riding our "Steady Eddie" horse on a trail.

I disagree that the reins & bit are not for steering or stopping. At times, my mustang will slow when he hears me whisper "Easy". But if he is in the mood to race, or back when he sometimes wanted to spin 180 and get out of Dodge, my seat didn't count for squat. A strong willed horse can easily ignore the seat, but will need to pay a higher price to ignore the bit.

Other than a sidepull (and ebay has parachord nose bands that attach to a regular bridle to make it a sidepull),



you might consider a Billy Allen snaffle. It won't flop around any in the mouth, and thus won't droop and bang against any teeth. Adjusted a little high, it MIGHT not motivate Barney to put his tongue over. I've never had to deal with a horse putting its tongue over, but have heard it is a difficult habit to break.




Good luck!
 
#9 ·
Glad you found a solution, esp since your horse is in the snaffle/bosal stage, and not ready for any leverage devise, be it a bit or a hackamore,
Soon as you add shanks, no matter the length, it is a mechanical hackamore
You can also shape the bosal, using something like a big pop bottle
Here is a video by les Vogt on shaping a bosal> he is a well known hackmore reinsman



 
#10 ·
I would not be overly concerned with the hardness of the rawhide bosal. It is not a sever device if it’s used correctly and the horse is properly educated to respond to its pressure points. As with any training you have to set the horse up to succeed. We typically start a horse in a larger diameter, 1” or ¾” “more ridged” size and then drop the diameter as the horse progresses in the hackamore training. Not all bosal’s are made the same. Some use poly rope cores and some use rawhide cores. The bosals with rawhide cores will shape up easier and seem to have better action in the nose and cheeks IMO. You can get all leather bosals but these are typical used later in a horses training after they are more advanced hackamore horses.

As previously mentioned the bosal does need to be shaped to the horse face. If they are not shaped correctly they can rub the hair off the bars of the horses jaw.

They comment you made regarding the horse not responding to halter pressure makes me think some of the foundation training may need to be re-visited. The hackamore works just like a rope halter, except its provides a better signal from the reins to the horse if fitted properly.

Best of luck
 
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