Hackamore fitting

[Caol Ila]

Yeah, but it looks like they send trial bridles out and with Brexit and all that mishegoss, they may not operate in the UK. Website isn’t clear. I guess you’d have to ask.

 

[Caol Ila]

I re-attached the hackamore to the original headstall, and the horse was much straighter and softer on both reins. The fit isn't perfect (and I still want a bosal) but he seems much more relaxed hacking bitless. I will press on until I find the perfect thing.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

I also hack bitless but use a side pull. I have a Kieffer Kendra side pull and it's really nice. I was mostly looking for something mild that looks like a "normal" bridle. It might be a bit boring for you though ? I also don't know if it'd be "enough" for some horses because it's very lightweight and possibly just a fancy halter of sorts. My horse is very sensitive, so it works for him.

I've seen some nice bitless designs by F.R.A. not sure if they're available in the UK though.

 

[queenarmadillo]

Something is NQR. Both yesterday and the day before, when I rode him with the hack noseband and the red bridle, my left rein was sticky. He was very reluctant to give to it. But he would bend his head to the right at the lightest wiggle of the right rein. These days, he usually flexes easily in both directions, with a rope halter and with a bit, so I was a bit baffled.

After my ride yesterday, I was playing about with flexions, both on and off the horse. Right, fine. Left, not great. I had to use a carrot. When I got off and was looking carefully at the bridle, I noticed that the shank on the right side scisssored back smoothly when you moved the rein. But the shank on the left side kind of twisted outwards, away from the horse's face. Probably not ideal and might explain why he was reluctant to follow the feel to the left. I poked and prodded at the bridle, but could not figure out why it was doing that. It appeared straight when you looked at it. Could the noseband be the wrong size, shape? Does it not work with that bridle? Is the cross browband interfering? Argh.

When I rode him in the headstall that came with the bridle - the one that's too big -- I don't think I had an issue with the left rein.

He's relaxed and happy when out bitless (so long as you don't need to turn left) and easier to settle if he gets worried. It's just a massive headache to find the right thing buying blind on the internet.

In terms of fitting height, the noseband must at a minimum be on the supported part of the nose (where the face goes all the way around, rather than on the bit that protrudes down between the two nasal cavities). Some people like to use two fingers below the protruding cheekbone as the guide for this, although IMO on some horses that can sit it well up into the safe zone and cause other issues with bridle fit, so Id consider that ore of a guideline than a rule.

When you first posted that he lacked finesse in the school I was wondering if it was the hackamore flipping up. You will probably find as the leather loosens up the other side starts to have the same problem. The solution is a hackamore hobble - I use a wire which doesn't touch the horse's face ever, but very securely joins the two rein rings under the chin so they cant flip up away from each other. Other people with different bridle set ups may use a leather strap. However, if your horse doesn't need the leverage for brakes and you're having trouble with getting a well fitting bridle, I would strongly recommend the double transcend. You don't get the same steering issues as with the hackamores, they will make a custom size, I believe at no extra charge, and the curb strap on the second set of reins adds a lovely extra cue in the school. (I am aware that transcend people come off as a bit of an overenthusiastic cult in the bitless world - I resisted for a long time, but am fully converted!)

 

[Caol Ila]

I had a look at the Transcend website. They are pretty but how are they different from your average sidepull or a Micklem multibridle that has a sidepull +cross-under?

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

I use an English hackamore and the loop circle on the shank is level with the corner of her lips

 

[soloequestrian]

I had a look at the Transcend website. They are pretty but how are they different from your average sidepull or a Micklem multibridle that has a sidepull +cross-under?

The sidepull is just that, a sidepull. It's nicely made but no different to other side pulls in its action.
The double though has a curb that you can either use with two reins or clip up - in the clipped up position it still gives you more options because if you lift the hand you bring it slightly into action.
I've not used a Micklem but it looks like you could set them up in a similar way, they're just not specifically designed to be used with two reins/ have the curb as an optional extra rather than the only point of control.
The Transcends also have a handy extra ring at the back of the noseband that can be used to lead or lunge.