Pictures Hackamores!

[Shysmum]

Who uses them, which sort and why ?. Shyboy rejected every single bit, until the dentist told me he has a very fleshy tongue, and to try bitless. So we did. I tried the Easytrek bitless, no control, sidepulls, no control. Finally got a gentle response to an English Hackamore, which we used for years.

But then I got my shettie Pepsi, 31, who comes out on rides with us, which fired them both up ?. I switched to a German Hackamore, have great steering and control just using finger pressure. Much safer all round. As long as you know how to use a Hackamore they are a great piece of kit. Show us yours, and why do you use it ?

 

[Spotherisk]

Harley in his English, which he’s been wearing on and off for about 15/20 years. I did sometimes swap back to a Pelham but the older he got (he’s 29 this year) the more we used the hack a more. Very light in hand in it, and easy to ride. Steering not an issue, tended to use weight aids more than rein. We only ever used a leather chin strap, not a chain.

 

[TreeDog]

My gelding in his cheap copy of ps of sweden hackamore. In this photo the nose is too low and I since adjusted it higher, it's still a tad low on the shortest hole but it will do. He'd been backed in a dually and ridden in a dr cook which came with him when I got him. I didn't like the dr cook as it doesn't release well. I didn't necessarily want something with long shanks but I liked this one as it has shaped soft padded headpiece, soft padded nose and chin strap, and jowl strap to keep cheek pieces away from the eye. It's hard to find a bitless/hackamore that fills these criteria without breaking the bank! I also drive him in it and I wanted slightly more breaks than a sidepull in case of emergency, though I found he's best with the rein on the middle hole with less leverage as I drive with more contact than I ride. When riding we basically just hack on a long rein using weight/voice.

 

[Sleipnir]

After trying out several shanked hackamores, I stopped at an Orbitless, because it seems that hackamores with shanks are a tad too strong for my gelding. I use the Orbitless to hack, jump and drive.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

After trying out several shanked hackamores, I stopped at an Orbitless, because it seems that hackamores with shanks are a tad too strong for my gelding. I use the Orbitless to hack, jump and drive. View attachment 66168

Oh, what a beautiful horse. Looks like a nice solid fella with a noble head, just my type!



I mainly hack and sometimes school in a Kieffer sidepull, so not a hackamore, but bitless nonetheless. In the Spring before the fields are ready I always carefully prepare him to go back out on grass by introducing it to him little by little. We sometimes walk up a hill to a grassy spot. I mostly wanted to be able to ride him somewhere to graze, but thought I might like schooling in it too so I bought something of good quality.

He is quite sensitive and responsive to my body. Even when the other 2 horses got really far ahead of us on our hack and he couldn't see them anymore (around the bend) he surprised me with what I would call a Levade that would rival those done at the Spanish Riding School, but was never difficult to control.

 

[Sleipnir]

Oh, what a beautiful horse. Looks like a nice solid fella with a noble head, just my type!

Thank you! He's a Latvian Warmblood, and I absolutely love his slight Roman nose. He can get strong, but is very sensible and kind...if he's in the mood for such pleasantries, of course! ?

 

[Shysmum]

After trying out several shanked hackamores, I stopped at an Orbitless, because it seems that hackamores with shanks are a tad too strong for my gelding. I use the Orbitless to hack, jump and drive. View attachment 66168

I like the look of that.

 

[Sleipnir]

I like the look of that.

They're made in the UK and I love how highly adjustable they are - depending on which position of the rings you choose (horizontal or vertical) or the position of your reins, you can play with less/more pressure on poll/nose, use it as a simple sidepull or add several degrees of leverage if you want it to work more like a hackamore. You can also get just the nosepiece with the orbitless rings, so you can simply attach it to your normal headstall.

 

[soloequestrian]

I sometimes feel like I'm the only bitless person around so this is a lovely thread!
I started my young warmblood bitless and I don't particularly want to change away from that. She hated a Scrawbrig, totally ignored the Transcend but seemed to intuitively understand an English hackamore. I'm interested in the comments about the German hackamore because I'm a little nervous about brakes - she's never done anything silly so at the moment I've no idea what would happen if she did and whether I would need better brakes - wondering if the German hackamore would give me a bit more in reserve if I did ever need it?
My project horse also goes in an English hackamore to hack. He loves the Transcend (it's a sidepull) for schooling though, although he doesn't love schooling in general very much. I would hack him in the Transcend if, again, I didn't want a bit more in reserve for emergency situations. I do have a short shank hackamore that he has worn too.
I've had a lot of trouble finding bridles to fit with a hackamore - mainly getting cheeks that are short enough. I've got a new Horsemanship Saddlery one to try once the weather calms down but at the moment I am also gazing longingly at the kit in this shop Bitless - Kapson Equestrian - may have to give in and get me some posh shanks and one of the contour bridles, they look ideal!

 

[AutumnDays]

I used to ride a previous horse of mine in an English hackamore, even hunted her in it, much better than a bit, as she had no room in her mouth for one! New mare is of similar mouth shape, so am very tempted to try her in one, but haven't got round to it yet. From the looks of this thread, I need to just get on with it and join the crew!

 

[Meowy Catkin]

My gelding has a little S hackamore. I use it with a pony size bridle and an extra full browband. A slightly oddly sized set up on paper but he has a real seahorse shaped head and it works for him.

 

[Mynstrel]

My gelding has a little S hackamore. I use it with a pony size bridle and an extra full browband. A slightly oddly sized set up on paper but he has a real seahorse shaped head and it works for him.

We have a little S too after braking started to feel optional with a crossunder. My mare feels really happy in it. Odd looking thing but it suits her.

 

[AutumnDays]

My gelding has a little S hackamore. I use it with a pony size bridle and an extra full browband. A slightly oddly sized set up on paper but he has a real seahorse shaped head and it works for him.

We have a little S too after braking started to feel optional with a crossunder. My mare feels really happy in it. Odd looking thing but it suits her.

Are these the kind of one's you both use? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AMIDALE-...ED-LEATHER-BNWT/123087521342?var=424358287828

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Are these the kind of one's you both use? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AMIDALE-...ED-LEATHER-BNWT/123087521342?var=424358287828

I have the Zilco one.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Zilco-S-...424962?hash=item3b45e0b5c2:g:s48AAOSwy4hensR6

ETA - picture

 

[paddy555]

I've had a lot of trouble finding bridles to fit with a hackamore - mainly getting cheeks that are short enough. I've got a new Horsemanship Saddlery one to try once the weather calms down but at the moment I am also gazing longingly at the kit in this shop Bitless - Kapson Equestrian - may have to give in and get me some posh shanks and one of the contour bridles, they look ideal!

I've had English Hackamores for many years and have had endless problems getting bridles to fit. I end up either taking a pattern to a saddler and having one made or alternatively buying separate parts to make up my own.

 

[Shysmum]

My gelding has a little S hackamore. I use it with a pony size bridle and an extra full browband. A slightly oddly sized set up on paper but he has a real seahorse shaped head and it works for him.

Always wondered about those.

 

[Sleipnir]

I used to use a little S hackamore, but it was only good for hacking on a loose rein for my gelding, as even the slightest contact in it caused much resistance.

However, each horse is very individual, and, in case of my boy, I later discovered that he, unfortunately, has facial nerve damage which only allows us to ride bitless on a loose rein and for schooling he actually prefers a bit + no noseband.

 

[Mynstrel]

Are these the kind of one's you both use? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AMIDALE-...ED-LEATHER-BNWT/123087521342?var=424358287828

I have the zilco one too, although over time the straps have been replaced with leather from an English hackamore, we thought it looked a bit nicer.

We ended up with it cos my mare has melanoma on the side of her face which was starting to be irritated by a bit and it was find something different or retire her, but she does like having a job to do. We started with the crossunder then moved to the s for a bit more of a say in braking and she's never looked back, the shaping and positon of the s-hack goes round and behind the lump so it could have been made for her