Hackamore - Can I use it with . . .

[Spotsrock]

Hi,

New boy is a bit of an enigma. He has been very badly done by somewhere along the line and I want to offer him a forever home. Sadly he is far too strong for me to 'control' even in the short term while we work through issues so I need to get him to work with me.

The stronger the bit I put in his mouth, the more excitable and explosive he gets.

I tried him in a hackamore this morning and it went well. He may just be confused and once he gets used to it he'll take off again but in the meantime while I try it, I have a question.

I normally ride him in a standing martingale as he has very high head carriage and I don't know him well enough to know he won't go up if stressed. (have been jumping in a market harborough and waterford)

I don't want to put the standing onto the hackamore BUT would it be unsafe (unconventional yes) to leave his regular noseband on above the hackamore to attach his martingale to?? It worked well this morning but I don't want to take the martingale off yet.

This horse is seriously explosive under saddle but sweet enough to want to make him safe long term so that I can keep him. Teeth, back, saddle, health checked, adorable and very quiet on the ground.

Thanks peeps.

 

[[59668]]

Interesting and I love the way you are finding things that will work for him and are willing to experiment.

I think it would be ok tbh. I can't see that they would get in the way of each other.

 

[tls]

Alot of top show jumpers never use a hackamore without a standing martingale attached to a normal noseband, it does help give you more control. Be warned though hackamores are no good for horses that bronc - you can't get their heads up!!!!!!!!

 

[Spotsrock]

Alot of top show jumpers never use a hackamore without a standing martingale attached to a normal noseband, it does help give you more control. Be warned though hackamores are no good for horses that bronc - you can't get their heads up!!!!!!!!

I can't imagine they would be!! Thank you. So far he has shown no inclination to buck rear or anything else, he just rushes everywhere and glues his nose to his shoulder before tanking sideways away unable to see where he is going. We took out a row of ponies last time we went out!! He has now learnt he can run off with me too so I need to fix that. He is so quiet until you get on him that it has to be learnt behaviour somewhere down the line as it is out of character for him to be as loopy as he is under saddle.

I used a hackamore on my other horse when she was young as her skin was very soft around her mouth and couldn't handle using a bit more than once or twice a week, the martingale thing was never an issue with her for flat work though.

 

[TigerTail]

Id be slowing everything down and just poddling round on loose reins, no pressure, no faster than walk for a few weeks and take all the pressure and excitement away.

Keep going with the hackamore if he finds it comfy, its only as light/strong as the hands in charge of it anyway.

You say you've had his back and saddle checked however I would still be querying a pain issue if he is only unpredictable under saddle. Who checked what?

 

[PingPongPony]

Id be slowing everything down and just poddling round on loose reins, no pressure, no faster than walk for a few weeks and take all the pressure and excitement away.

Keep going with the hackamore if he finds it comfy, its only as light/strong as the hands in charge of it anyway.

You say you've had his back and saddle checked however I would still be querying a pain issue if he is only unpredictable under saddle. Who checked what?

i'm at the yard with her so know pony etc. and trust me, thats what she's trying to do, slow it down to walk which atm happens rarely

 

[Spotsrock]

Id be slowing everything down and just poddling round on loose reins, no pressure, no faster than walk for a few weeks and take all the pressure and excitement away.

Keep going with the hackamore if he finds it comfy, its only as light/strong as the hands in charge of it anyway.

You say you've had his back and saddle checked however I would still be querying a pain issue if he is only unpredictable under saddle. Who checked what?

Loose rein = pace (trot) or gallop uncontrollably round school then leave and arrive at stable/field

Relaxed contact, with increased pressure to slow down then relaxed to reward = some semblance of normality!

Mctimoney practitioner (and lecturer) has checked and manipulated his back, it has previously been bad for a long time which may be contributory, now all good and massaged weekly (at least), same has checked saddle (treeless anyway) and he has improved in the way he carries himself on occassions that he does settle a bit since she started treating him and I switched him to treeless.

Saddler and Mctim both happy with the treeless and the weight distribution it provides.

Dentist is also a lecturer and has massively great reputation, has improved previous horses for us loads so I have a lot of faith in her.

Vet had a quick look and is happy with general health and condition indicating no major problems or issues though I haven't gone down the blood test route, he is an older very experienced horse vet and believes it's behavioural. I trust his judgment.

I think it is pain but remembered pain not existing pain, he has learnt to totally evade the bit and naff off so I need to stop this, hackamore takes him out of what he knows and he focused on it quite nicely, also his evasion techniques don't work as they rely on his mouth!! He just has a massive temper and when it doesn't work for him he curls his head round and crushes your leg between his body and anything to hand! No napping in hackamore this morning, may not last though as he gets used to it.