Hackamores

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hunting mad

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Tell me all about hackamores.Who uses them and the reason for use.
Anything else i need to know about them please. Pros,and cons etc.........
Thanks
 
I use an English hackamore on my mare. We use it because she was badly treated in her previous home and hates having a bit in now. She goes forward much happier in the hackamore than anything else we tried, plus as she can be strong, I have brakes when I need them. You have to be quite light-handed as it can be severe if used incorrectly. I have not had any problems with it and now ride both of mine in English hackamores. Any other questions, just ask :)
 
Becca-84 said:
I use an English hackamore on my mare. We use it because she was badly treated in her previous home and hates having a bit in now. She goes forward much happier in the hackamore than anything else we tried, plus as she can be strong, I have brakes when I need them. You have to be quite light-handed as it can be severe if used incorrectly. I have not had any problems with it and now ride both of mine in English hackamores. Any other questions, just ask :)
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Pretty much ditto to this except the reason i tried it was due to her teeth problems :)
 
My mare has a very shallow palette combined with a curved point bit seat so any bit at all is uncomfortable for her and she resists and holds her mouth open, the Hackamore works superb and she is rounded and happy. The only time she has a bit is for dressage and ridden showing, an NS lozenged pony snaffle wrapped in Sealtex as she can't compete in the Hackamore.

Pros - Everything, it has certainly taught my daughter to ride from her seat more.
Cons - None that i have come across other than having to get written permission for her to compete PC in it and a declaration that my daughter is competent to not have a bit - LOL
 
I know it would vary from horse to horse,but my mare is very strong....especially hunting,ex huntsmans horse,she crosses her jaw and generally seems very unhappy in her mouth despite having her teeth done,etc.I would say she has a large tongue.
Someone suggested a hackamore,but i have to admit im very sceptical
 
hunting mad said:
I know it would vary from horse to horse,but my mare is very strong....especially hunting,ex huntsmans horse,she crosses her jaw and generally seems very unhappy in her mouth despite having her teeth done,etc.I would say she has a large tongue.
Someone suggested a hackamore,but i have to admit im very sceptical
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My mare is also very strong. I had her in a pelham before the hackamore (2 reins) and if she decided she was going to turn round and go home, she would just go. There was no way I could stop her, not even a one-rein stop - nothing. I too was sceptical about the hackamore but am so glad I tried it! It really is good. We can now have a canter towards home and I know I can stop at the end of the track.

I would suggest though that you try it first in a safe area or an arena if possible, because although my mare absolutely loved it, my sister's Haffy wasn't so happy to begin with and not all horses like the pressure on their nose. He did settle after about 5 minutes and is now happy as larry but just the first few minutes he tossed his head around and threw a bit of a hissy fit (nothing new for him though :p)

Hope you work something out :)
 
hunting mad said:
I know it would vary from horse to horse,but my mare is very strong....especially hunting,ex huntsmans horse,she crosses her jaw and generally seems very unhappy in her mouth despite having her teeth done,etc.I would say she has a large tongue.
Someone suggested a hackamore,but i have to admit im very sceptical
Click to expand...

I had one on my old pony - he was very strong and stroppy - when he wanted to go he would stick his head between his front legs and tank :eek: impossible to stop him when he did that. Worked a treat on him as he respected it but you do need light hands as it can be very severe.
 
Have used a german hackamore on my boy in the past for SJ; he loved it, but it took me a while to learn to use my legs/seat more! :D In the end switched to a dutch gag with a waterford mouthpiece - a compromise that suited us both better in jump-offs.....my inadequacies, not his. :mad:
 
gunnergundog said:
Have used a german hackamore on my boy in the past for SJ; he loved it, but it took me a while to learn to use my legs/seat more! :D In the end switched to a dutch gag with a waterford mouthpiece - a compromise that suited us both better in jump-offs.....my inadequacies, not his. :mad:
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At least you have sorted something that works for you both..
Thanks for all the replies so far
 
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