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Bit to hackamore

3K views 21 replies 7 participants last post by  CRK 
#1 ·
I just thought this was interesting. I put a hackamore on my mare to "test" her responses to my leg/seat..body in general. It gave me a lot of valuable feed back. I was really proud of her, she did outstanding.... except, one thing - she didn't move off of my leg pressure from a standstill (left or right). I only ever use bit pressure if I get a slow or no response otherwise. So, I am guessing that in the past I had consistantly had to go from leg to bit pressure to move out L or R from a standstill, but I never realized it. I think a hackamore (or halter if you feel that "sure") is such a great way to identify holes in training....I know I was pretty surprised to find that one!

And, I had to use next to zero pressure to get her to stop beautifully. She has always seemed unhappy about bits in her mouth. I even had her teeth checked twice, "just in case"..nada. I guess she just doesn't need one. :) I am not dropping them all together, yet...but I will "plan" her training in that direction.
 
#3 ·
Wah, I no longer have a round pen. After reading your post, I really wish I had it back!!! I know she would do fantastic w nothing on in a round pen. Now I want to put it to the test! I suppose I could just go to a halter and only use it "in case".
 
#5 ·
Thats what I do w the hackamore, g8...I use it as my "safety net" in the event she decides to attempt to leave dodge w me on her. :) Today, I figured out why she does a particular thing that she only ever does in the pen or arena...never on the trail. Its a long story..but suffice it to say it has puzzled me for a long while! I learn something everytime I use it!

In a round pen I would have the courage to take it all off. :)
 
#6 ·
I own a horse riding business on the Caribbean Ocean in Costa Rica. I retrained my horses not to use bits and have no problems with them. I can actually just put a rope on them and ride them. Once a horse is necked and reined trained properly they are easy to control this way I have found.
 
#8 ·
Yea, I'm interested too. Do you use a rope halter, or just a rope around the neck for balance? I really want to move my mare to a hack. My gelding was started in a rope halter. I have him in a hack right now. It helps me get his attention. That sounds bad, but I am a light handed rider, and he is like riding a big dog. He gawks at things on the trails. That dont bother me, b/c I just lean over and tap his neck and say his name to get his attention back. But if another horse would trot near us, he's get excited and want to go without being cued, and he ignored the rope all together. The hack works great at getting his attention enough to realize he is carrying me. LOL, he tries very hard to please me, but gets caught up tin the moment sometimes. Sorry i rambled, lol... I love that boy!
 
#9 ·
Hi and thanks for the response .
I ride my horses and the guest do also with just a hackamore.
Here we call them a basaro. It's a simple rope halter that fits just like the bit around the nose, just no bit. When I first got them they were use to bits.
I can also just put a rope around their neck or make a make shift halter with a rope and ride them.
I believe once a horse is reined and neck trained you can even ride with out the leg pressure.
My riding guest are from every level of riding.

I also teach my non riding guest to ride, but don't go into all the detail of pressure riding.

I teach a system of riding with the rhythm of the horse so both rider and horse communicate better and they are both relaxed.

I hope this has helped.
You may also see my horses and were I ride on my web page: www.playachiquitaridingadventures.com

Or on my facebook page fb/brucsewalker

Happy riding,
Bruce
 
#10 ·
Well, watched the video and now I am completely depressed! WOW! Just so you know in advance, if you ever complain about life - you will get no sympathy, here. :)

Whilst I do not have the "rhythm" of the beach :(...I am a firm believer in rhythm. It is this amazing thing that is "just there for the taking". I actually "accidently" learned that b/c I was born w a hot seat...I could get on the pokiest horse in the nation and have it move on out, which is only useful if the horse is pokey. :) To gain control of it (which took years) I had to sing cadence or nursery rhymes to "myself". One can't miss the response of a horse to rhythm. To bad I do not have a lovely voice.:)
 
#11 ·
Hackomore

Trust me I never complain. I'm blessed to be here and do what I do and to make the dreams of my guest come true.
I don't use bits, and my horses are trained to were I don't need them even for my guest.

I get strange looks and questions when people come to ride who ride and they don't see bits.

I also don't use shoes. I'm pretty much natural here and simple.
Please don't get wrong, Bits have their place the same as shoes do.

And I teach riding with the horse and it's natural rhythm of it's gate.
I've taught riders from around the world who come here, from professional yo to the kids I work with.

You may see more photos on facebook/brucsewalker

I also give my horses massages, work on stress and pressure relief with hands on.
I'm still learning a lot and looking to share information with others who do this.

I'm not a professional, it just seems to come natural and I research.

If any one has any experience with this, please let me know.
Yes I can also through a rope over their neck to ride or just make a make shift halter from a lead rope and ride.

Blessings
Bruce

Ride to be free, be free to ride. :)
 
#13 ·
A friend that was in the NMSU equine progrem showed me how to "do" message therapy for my senior (now passed away), it was amazing! I had a little routine we developed for him - it was obviouse to the casual observer how much he "appreciated" it.

I am sure we can all benefit from what you have to share. I am guessing there are others on the board that practice/research this, too.
 
#14 ·
Yes we can all learn from each other. I have one horse who use to be a handful to ride. He still is, but he's fun. Since I started using the hands on and massage, he's so much better. He's not as jumpy as before. He still doesn't care for the ocean, or big trucks. LOL
I'm learning to work with each of my horses differently to who they are.
To be honest, I'm not into all the fancy riding, I ride to have fun and love learning. My horses enjoy the life too. :)
I look forward to getting to knowing you and the others here.

The problem I was having was all the professionals who train, seem to do it mostly for the money. I don't. Trust me, we don't make a lot of money here, but it's a beautiful place and it's just plain simple fun. :)
Blessings
Bruce
 
#17 ·
Yes we can all learn from each other. I have one horse who use to be a handful to ride. He still is, but he's fun. Since I started using the hands on and massage, he's so much better. He's not as jumpy as before. He still doesn't care for the ocean, or big trucks. LOL
I'm learning to work with each of my horses differently to who they are.
To be honest, I'm not into all the fancy riding, I ride to have fun and love learning. My horses enjoy the life too. :)
I look forward to getting to knowing you and the others here.

The problem I was having was all the professionals who train, seem to do it mostly for the money. I don't. Trust me, we don't make a lot of money here, but it's a beautiful place and it's just plain simple fun. :)
Blessings
Bruce
Haha...I don't do fancy riding either. I like a "partner" in a horse - just to have fun with. I use to work them, which is also fun. I take personal satisfaction from "our" (my horse and my) progress...but there is no "bar" I have to reach. And, yeah, I have met a few "pros" that I could do w/o, that is for sure! Not only were they in it for the money...but I would call some of their tactics bordering on abuse. I prefer to train my own horses - its half the fun!

Well, I love the ocean but I don't like big trucks, myself. :)

I was going to mention one of the "message therapy" things I did for my old guy that was so easy and he was always so thankful to have it done: pick up there leg from the forearm (somewhat like you would to make sure there are no pinches from a cinch), and cradle it in your hands and rock it gently side to side (obviousely their knee is bent and the cannon on down is freely hanging). And then gently put it down. Try and pull it "more forward" each time you do it..by tiny amounts. He would get a little stiff like all old guys do, that would help him a lot. That might be a poor description. I don't know what, if any, the formal name of it is...and you probably already know "that one".
 
#15 ·
I personally love hackamores. I show in ranch or stock horse competitions and we are allowed to show in a hackamore at any age. My 6 yr old does very well in the hackamore and that is what I show in. They are great for sensitive young horses that have the tendency to get behind the snaffle which has always been an issue with him. I think the hackamore changes their balance a little too, like you mentioned, because I get better, more balanced stops with a hackamore than with a snaffle. In my opinion, if you can keep them from getting heavy on them( I use them for short periods) then they are a great training tool. Plus its nice to "get out of their mouths" every once in a while and see what's really happening :)
 
#16 ·
I personally love hackamores. I show in ranch or stock horse competitions and we are allowed to show in a hackamore at any age. My 6 yr old does very well in the hackamore and that is what I show in. They are great for sensitive young horses that have the tendency to get behind the snaffle which has always been an issue with him. I think the hackamore changes their balance a little too, like you mentioned, because I get better, more balanced stops with a hackamore than with a snaffle. In my opinion, if you can keep them from getting heavy on them( I use them for short periods) then they are a great training tool. Plus its nice to "get out of their mouths" every once in a while and see what's really happening :)
haha...I love the "good job" screen pic.

I think sometimes what I do know can make me think "linearly". My mare is my first grade horse in my adult life (all QH's, before). All of my cow horses had an inate "confidence" that made it effortless to train to a soft mouth. She isn't "them", and that should have been obviouse. In her early stages she needed the "security" of more contact than "those before her". B/c of my linear thinking, it took me forever to figure that out! After I "woke up" and tailored training to her, we mastered "soft". But she acted as if the bit was a huge distraction. We went through a "few". :) The answer should have been obviouse..but I am slow on the uptake. My original intent was to see how she would go along on patterns w "nothing", w the hackamore, which had been collecting dust all that time. Even a blind squirrel finds a nut, every so often! :)
 
#22 ·
That's a great idea, beach rider! I have a small lesson program and just switched all the lesson horses to bitless bridles. They still provide control for my students, but save the horses from inexperienced and bouncing hands. I want to use them for my more advanced horses too, but it is taking some retraining as they are a little confused by the different pressure points of the bitless bridles!
 
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