How to ride in a hackamore?

[Pennyhp]

My mare is very fussy with her bit.
When I first had her as a green broke horse she had been ridden western and I don't know what bit they used.
I put her in a straight bar nylon bit as an introduction to english riding. She was fearful of any contact to begin with and would rush around with her head in the air.
In time she really improved to the point where she was begining to lean on the nylon bit and I changed her to a frensh link snaffle.
She has been fairly good, but recently she started getting her tongue over the bit and fussing and chewing on it. I have put on a flash noseband to try and help with this.
She is due to have her shots and I am going to ask the vet about her teath, but I am increasingly interested in trying her in some sort of bitless bridle.

My problem is hat I have never ridden in one before.
Do you ride with any contact in a hackamore?
Because of the action of the curb, and on the nose and poll I am worried about having any consistant contact like I would have with a bit?

Please could someone explain the principles of contact in a bitless bridle.
I am thingking of buying just an english hackamore as it is considered fairly mild.

Thanks in advance.

 

[michelleice]

A hackamore will exert leverage pressure on the horse’s nose, poll and chin groove instead of on the bars of the horse's mouth there is contact while riding but depending on horse so if u have a happy hack who will riding school follow pressure is less, hackamore isn't a "softer" or "kinder " bit as it put pressure on different sensitive areas and if you are planning on using one please do so carefully, Also i have a English and German hackamore as my old boy got used to English but if using the German also a mechanical i put fluffy nose band on the nose band and he coped better. If you would like to try my english let me know

 

[Chico Mio]

Get a crosspull. Less chance of causing any problems. I am not confident of my hands and because of this I would never use a Hackamore as I don't fancy the idea of levering on a horses nose.

I ride with no contact on the cross pull unless I need to give direction but my OH is a beginner and rides with a light contact, which doesn't bother the horse at all and makes OH feel more secure.

 

[Girlracer]

I tend to find the less contact you ride with the better. In my sig the picture of the bay schooling is in a hackamore as is the first jumping picture.

I found it a huge help to him and he still works in a nice outline and now tracks up when previously he didn't.

You do have to be careful and have very light hands.

 

[CrazyMare]

She was quite possibly broken in using a sidepull, or a bosal, if she was broken western. If she did have a bit, then it was unlikely she had an 'english contact' which may be why you had the head high etc.

Firstly - have you checked that the bit is the right height? Idiot story alert.....I got my Dad to put my bridle back together after cleaning, popped it on at a show the next day. Started working in, realised I had no brakes, no steering and she had her tounge over it....I hadn't checked the height!!! WHOOPS!!

 

[Pennyhp]

Thanks guys for your help.

Yes I have checked the fit of the french link as I was thinking to put it a knotch higher to help with the tongue over thing, but its wrinkles the corners of her lips nicely so I don't want it to be pulling her mouth tight.
Its the contact thing that concerns me most. Having been taught to ride with a light but elastic contact, and ask the horse with your fingers to soften and encourage flexion.
Its how to do that in a hackamore that worries me.
Its encouraging to hear that your horse tracks up better Lanim.
Thank you so much for the offer to try yours Michelleice, but I am probably a long way from you...I live in Canada.
A crosspull is an idea, they are very easy to come by here, and yes I think she would have been started using a bosal.

To guage how she would respond in a hackamore I think I may put some reins on my rope headcollar as she is used to doing ground work in that and responds well to pressure.
I will have her bridle underneath though so I have reins attatched to the bit if I need to call on them.

Thanks again all.