Hackamore/bit info/opinions!?

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vicijp

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I need a hackamore, that has a bit attached just for show.
The horse has nerve damage and a bit has little effect (I think - more info in time) but he has to race in one.
Bog standard hackamore grand for home (I hope), so just need something for racing.
Does such a combination exist where the bit has little or no bearing?
Perhaps someone would make one specially? I was thinking a hackamore with 2 rings for loose ring snaffle to slide through?
Any bitting experts care to have a think for me?
Thanks.
 
How do the sjers who use both do it? I wonder if you could use that arrangement but just not have reins on the bit (or do the reins have to be attatched in order to be within the rules?)
 
They make western "sidepulls" (straight pull hackamores" with a clip to "hang" a bit as a middle point between starting in a regular side pull and switching to a snaffle. Could you rig something like that? Is his hackamore "non-leverage" or mechanical? I'm not sure how it would work on a mechanical one but it would be easy to rig on a straight pull. Another option is, as said, to just put a slip under his regular bridle, is that allowed?
 
Robert Whitaker rides one of his horses (Finbarr?) in a German Hackamore for brakes and just an eggbutt snaffle for steering. Would that maybe work for your horse?
 
QR.
Im pretty sure that there will have to be some sort of attachment to the bit, so pretty sure I cant just use a sliphead.
I have no idea what a scrawbrig is.
The horses nerve damage is down just the one side of his mouth, so there needs to be next to no pull on the other side.
Does anyone fancy solving the problem and teaching my brother to ride with 2 reins?
P.S I tried to teach him how to long rein once and gave up after a week.:-)
 
Can you rig some sort of combination bridle it so the pull on the rein(s) comes only on the noseband?

What are the exact rules? Does a bit in the mouth need to be the primary means of control or is the rule only that the horse has to WEAR the bit? Can 2 reins be attached to each other or to a converter like for a pelham? What are the conditions on the bridle?

Is the hackamore a straight pull or one with cheeks? I'm sure if you're allowed you can just rig things up so that the bulk of the "pull" comes on the nose rather than the bit, perhaps with stoppers or some other sort of attachment.
 
Heres the only ruling I can find, I will look it up properly soon. I know that metal curb chains are also not allowed. Problem with the powers that be, is that if you ask, they will very quickly make up a new rule to pi55 you off.
'Veterinary Officers will take note of the bitting of every horse brought into the parade ring and only bits which meet with the approval of a Veterinary Officer will be permitted. For the avoidance of doubt horses are not permitted to run in bitless bridles.'
I have known horses run in a double bridle with 2 reins, and a pelham witha converter. That was back in the day when hackamores were allowed though!
 
Yes, I understand the "ask and it will change" thing. If you make them think too much they will just say no.

Do you know an offical Veterinary Officer who works in that capacity you could ask on the quiet? It would be interesting to know what they're trying to avoid. I still think - if you can't just hang a bit in the horse's mouth and not attach anything to it - you could rig up some sort of combination bridle with stoppers so that the bit doesn't actually lift in the horse's mouth when there is pressure on the reins. Can you use a chin strap, linking the two bit rings together? That would at least help stabalise the bit in the horse's mouth.

Can you simply attach a bit to the sides of the hackamore but then only attach the reins to the hackamore? There might still be some pressure on the mouth but it would mostly be absorbed by the nose and the bit would be held steady in the horse's mouth.

Hmm. I like a good puzzle . . .
 
Have just spoken to someone and apparently you cant run in any king of bitless, even if the majority of the pressure is on the bit.
Apparently 4 traienrs are trialling the Dr Cook's bitless job and they are looking to have racecourse trials in the new year. I can get the horse accepted onto this trial, but problem is I want to run him before then! Not too sure that is the kind of pressure I want in any case.
Basically they are looking at changing the rules, but probably in a year or so!
 
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