Hackamore bridle; good or bad

[Bow]

Hi,
Next spring we're having my Connemara gelding broken in, I was wondering is it any good to have him working with a hackamore bridle as he is 2 (3/4) and none of his caps/teeth have fallen out yet, and I don't want to interfere with his mouth as he is so sensitive to my emotions and his surroundings, is it really needed to have a bit in when he's so in tune with me and surroundings.
I'm aware that a hackamore bridle has different pressure points to a classical bridle, is their any hackamore that isn't severe too a horse pressure points on it's head but will still let me get his head vertical when needed!
Is this worth my time, or should I just have home broken normally!?
Thanks in advance.

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

why is there any need to get his head vertical?

 

[alice.j]

why is there any need to get his head vertical?

This. He'll be 3 - and unless you've done a lot of work in hand, he won't be working from behind enough for him to hold himself like this naturally. Break him in and focus on getting him settled under saddle before you start thinking too much about how he's holding himself.
Also next spring is a while away, young horses can change a lot in a few months, his mouth and teeth may be completely different.

 

[Barnacle]

Hi,
Next spring we're having my Connemara gelding broken in, I was wondering is it any good to have him working with a hackamore bridle as he is 2 (3/4) and none of his caps/teeth have fallen out yet, and I don't want to interfere with his mouth as he is so sensitive to my emotions and his surroundings, is it really needed to have a bit in when he's so in tune with me and surroundings.
I'm aware that a hackamore bridle has different pressure points to a classical bridle, is their any hackamore that isn't severe too a horse pressure points on it's head but will still let me get his head vertical when needed!
Is this worth my time, or should I just have home broken normally!?
Thanks in advance.

As others have said "getting the head vertical" should not be a concern currently. IMO all horses should learn to accept a bit so that they can be sold on easily if need be and still make decent competition prospects (given how rules are with bitless). However, you can just start him in a sidepull and put him in something bitted later on. Sidepulls are pretty gentle and the vertical head thing will happen all on its own if the horse is developed properly - there are videos out there of horses working bridleless with their head "on the vertical" because they have been properly schooled and developed the right way to do this all on their own. The vertical head is an effect - not a cause - of proper training.

 

[wench]

If you are desperate to break in Bitless do not use a hackamore, use something much gentler as suggested above!

 

[NZJenny]

I ride in a hackamore a lot. I love them and I ride my three year old in one for hacking (I used to endurance ride so have used them a lot) and bitted for schooling. She was started in a rope halter (we can still ride in this if we like), then mouthed an bitted as per usual. I have also schooled her in hackamore when she was teething and got a bit fussy in the mouth as they do.

HOWEVER !

A hackamore is not designed to get a horses head "vertical" and should never be used as such. Nor should you ride on a contact as you would with a bit, they are not designed to be used like that. Ride on the rein weight, and teach your horse to move off of your seat and legs. Lift your inside hand a little to create bend (as opposed to an open rein) and you will get a lovely, soft round horse.

You read a lot of stuff about hackamores, but I think they are very misunderstood and usually used incorrectly - usually more like a hand brake. Used sensitively they are a lovely way to ride a horse.

Have fun.