Hackamore's!

Natz88

Natz88

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Was just wondering if anyone rides/competes in a hackamore. I will try & keep it short. Basically I have a rising 5yr old, when I got him I was riding him in a bit that he came with & over time he started pulling down & just seemed generally unhappy in it, so we have tried several bits & he was the same. so we had his teeth done to which he was a little better but not 100%. So just before xmas we had our vet out who gave him a good once over. He done his teeth with an electric rasp, but while he was examaning his mouth he came across a little lump & a little scar which he said was very old. So he told me to leave him a few days & try him back in a bit for a few weeks & if no better try him in a hackamore for a few weeks, as he said the bit could be irratating the scar, I said to him he didn't do it when we viewed him, but he said he wasn't doing much work & now he in alot more work it could be the more work he doing it has started to rub.

So we followed his advice & he again still didn't seem happy with the bit, so we tried him in the hackamore & it was like riding a different horse, he was in it for a month & couple of weeks ago I tried him back in the bit & he wasn't happy, so yesterday I put the hackamore back on & went into the school & he went lovely. My vet was telling me his wife's horse is the same doesn't like the bit & goes lovely in a hackamore & she competes at high level in it. So I have now ordered one as the one I am using is borrowed. 1 livery on the yard he had the same issue with his horse put him into a hackamore & he said it's the best thing he done. His saddle is fine & has had back checked etc so it's not that.

Moral of the thread, I was just curious to no if anyone else rides in a hackamore :)

Lots of Chocolate & cake for anyone who made it this far :p
 
I rode my old girl in a hackamore for a while as she had some problems in her mouth - she went as well bitted as in a hackamore, so I went back to a bit after she had recovered. but we jumped, schooled, hacked etc. was no difference really for me.

Just be very aware of your hands when riding in a hackamore!
 
I rode both my adult Clevies in a dr cooks and my SJ mare and BD novice horse in English hackamores.. The BD lad went bitless aged 17 and worked beautifully in it.. I also used to ride my broken Clevie in a rope halter only with total ease..

I'm interested in the S hackamore for my CBBabies (although they will be bitted, hacked and schooled etc both ways) if anyone has any experience of them?
 
I used a hackamore on my 5 year old cob, years ago (I had one and just tried it for "fun"). it worked really well and I never looked back. He used to buck (also for fun!!) and I found I could keep his head up at least as well, if not easier, than when in a bit. I rode him in the hackamore till he died last april :(. I am going to try a hackamore on my current horse in the spring but will use a bit sometimes I think. Both horses are welsh cobs section D. The hackamore is great when out on long summer rides as you can stop and let them graze and have a rest!!
 
I have had two arabs that preferred a hackamore (clunky English style - not aesthetically pleasing but who cares about that?) Both looked a lot harder to ride than they were and the hackamore did cause some raised eyebrows at times.

The mare would turn her back and hide her head if she so much as heard a bit clinking in her direction, yet would literally bridle herself with the hackamore.

The gelding, there was no reason other than he didn't need a bit at home and I rode him in a hackamore just because it was habit to do so. Admittedly for hunting he did have a Myler LS combo as he did get a little over exuberant and his brain was not wired to his legs on those days.

I have one now that goes sweetly in a bosal, he loathes anything in his mouth and trying to get one in is to take your ife in your hands, not worth the hassle with 1300lbs of (usually placid) stallion waving his legs around your ears! If he is happy, I am happy.
 
I ride my horse in a rope hackamore/halter most of the time, usually cause I can't be bothered to put his bridle on.
He responds to the hackamore really well and is very happy in it!

I say listen to your horse, if he prefers the hackamore then I would ride in the hackamore! :)
 
I used to hunt a horse in a hacks more many years ago. Zilco have recently bought out the flower hackamore which is very similar to an English hackamore but you can adjust the amount of pressure applied. Think ride away sell it if anyone is interested.
 
I once bought a horse who was in a rope gag. I put him in a hackamore for hacking, jumping and xc - he loved it. And we had brakes!

You make sure it's fitted correct and you know how to use it.
 
LissyBear said:
I used to hunt a horse in a hacks more many years ago. Zilco have recently bought out the flower hackamore which is very similar to an English hackamore but you can adjust the amount of pressure applied. Think ride away sell it if anyone is interested.
Click to expand...

As well as the Flower (also by Marylot) there is the Orbit http://www.orbitlessbridle.co.uk/

They both replace the Happy Wheel or LG bridle, which is hard to get in the UK now.
 
I've tried a few but use the s hac from performance equestrian, you do have to be able to quickly release any Pressure as soon as the horse gives, but I don't think that's a bad thing, it makes sense to me anyway!

My mare is 100% happier bitless than bitted, and my steering and brakes are fab. Someone did a cracking job halter training my mare 22years ago, and she has always been easier to ride in a headcollar than a bridle.
 
I had a similar situation to op's. Young horse was not happy in a bit, even the most gentle straight happy mouth would cause him discomfort. We found it was splitting the crease right up in the corner of his lips. Every time we used a bit, that split would open, no matter how low the bit sat and my hands are very good! So finally had a go in a hackamore..... different horse. Loved it, felt like he sighed a big puff of relief when he was accepting it so well. He was light and responsive, better balanced and generally much much better. I sold him with the hackamore and told new owners why he had it. I love 'em, on the right horse.
 
CeeBee said:
Dr Cook bit less bridles are excellent too, but I don't think they are dressage legal.
Click to expand...

I also second this. My horse is very sensitive and wasn't happy in even the most gentle of bits. I got a Dr Cook about 4 weeks ago and he is really happy and relaxed. The difference is hard to believe.
 
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