Hackamore Vs Bit??

So as you all know im starting young horse, wondering what people think if I start now with a hackamore?
Whats your thoughts??

I know people who have had GREAT success starting with a rope halter and then converting to a bit. Conversely, I also know people who have found it works better for them to start with a bit.

I personally think that if your horse is well-trained to the halter, you would find it easier to start it in a halter than with a bit. If you teach the horse that the rein doing this means that, you may never need to touch its mouth. My aid on the halter for my (7 month old) baby is soft constant pressure, then soft rhythmic pressure (check-release, check-release) slowly stepping up until she responds. 99% of the time she responds to phase one or two. That's for halt/back up. I don't need to touch the halter for her to turn or come forward, but the same principles would apply (in MY case, for MY horse) if I did. Generally speaking, if your horse is soft on the rope, it will be softer on the bridle when you break it to saddle.

Something that might help you is to improve your groundwork too, if there are any gaps. Does your horse move his hindquarter and shoulder independently when you ask? I'm working on it with my girl and she's 7 months old. At the moment I'm just satisfied with either, or both, going sideways, because I'm teaching her the concept of going sideways when I ask. I find that if they understand sideways on the ground, it's easier to teach it under saddle, and ALL horses should know how to move sideways off the leg, no matter their purpose.

Yeh he's getting there im only working with him when I can get out to the property im trying to get out this weekend. But in saying that I may not be able to. Im going to call "mum" and see if she will have me weather permitting for the weekend or over night (shes not my real mum my mum died when I was 15 but she is a neighbor who pretty much took me in when ever I needed to get away from home)

I will buy a hackamore (theres one on special at the moment) and ill also see if mum has a corner I can leave my gear in, in one of the sheds.

After my old horse died 2 weeks ago I put his bridle on the young bloke (resized it) and ill pull his other bridle apart and put the hackamore on it


He responds well to the halter on the ground because he's been haltered and led a lot.
Does your horse move his hindquarter and shoulder independently when you ask? I'm working on it with my girl and she's 7 months old. At the moment I'm just satisfied with either, or both, going sideways, because I'm teaching her the concept of going sideways when I ask.

I guess it would depend on what you consider a hackamore. I'm a bit of a traditionalist so I would consider a hackamore to be this Jose Ortiz Hackamore Bitless Bosal Pineapple Knot NICE | eBay combined with a headstall and reins. I don't believe that this is a good option for someone without INTENSE supervision from an expert.

A rope halter, no matter how much you paid for it or who suggested that you use it, is not a hackamore. It is not an effective tool for communicating with a horse particullarly a young one.

You might also mean a mechanical hackamore. That would be a big mistake as they are not meant to be used on young horses.

I have started many young horses and a simple ring snaffle has surved me very well. I bought two medium priced bits 15 years ago and I still use them both almost every day. The key to starting a horse is to remember that horses learn from the release of pressure NOT the application of it. It's not about how hard you pull but how quickly you release.

I don't like mechanical hackamores, I have seen horses get their noses broken from those, but if you know how to use them. . .and let go on the reins if you fall back.
I started my paint in a halter becuase he had wolf teeth, then those got removed because they where helf decended and gave him sores so we put a snaffle on him with no issues

Hmm the one I was looking at was a mechanical I think.
Im just looking at my options, he responds well to a headstall but not so much with a bridle.

What about something like these?

Standard BrownBeige Rope Hackamore Natural Horsemanship | eBay

LodgeRopes Natural Horsemans Rope Hackamore with mecate | eBay

LodgeRopes ENDURO Bitless Bridle&Reins - Custom Made!!! | eBay

What about a simple side pull? I like them better then a bitless bridle or rope halter. I have one that is all leather, like this one.

Billy RoyalŪ Padded Nose Leather Sidepull in Sidepulls at Schneider Saddlery

Or you can get them with rope nose bands.

Vaquero Cowboy Tack Single Rope Sidepull in Sidepulls at Schneider Saddlery

Hmmmim in Australia so im not sure if I can get that here, or that price

Buy it in the US and have it shipped. The strength of the AUD at the moment means that even with shipping, you will probably save a bundle.