Worried about using a hackamore

[lindsay1993]

My horse was ridden for a while in a hackamore with her previous owner. The horse has learnt to lean on the bit and snatch at it, especially when she's getting tired. I find this very annoying and distracting. Horse has regular dentals & all is well. Her owner says she was very happy in a hackamore and she felt as though she had more control of her, all of the leaning and faffing stopped. I ride her in a loose ring NS, which I believe is the 'Team up' bit.

I have thought about using the hackamore on her, if she likes it better than a bit then why not?

My problem is I am terrified of hurting her with it. There are so many posts about inexperienced people using them and damaging the horse. I have no idea how it should be fitted, it's an English hackamore. I have seen many posts about incorrect fitting etc. Can I still achieve the same level of communication with her? Will she just naff off with me? How much pressure is enough to use?

Any advice would be appreciated

 

[Annagain]

Do you have an instructor who could help you with fitting it and riding in it for the first few times? My instructor wanted me to try my horse in one so lent his to me, helped me fit it and wouldn't let me ride in it without him for the first few times. Although he was much happier in his mouth and stopped very well in it, I lost all steering so didn't persevere. If she has good brakes could a kinder bitless bridle be an option? A Dr Cook or a Micklem?

I think a bit in the wrong hands can do as much damage so if you have good hands, I wouldn't worry too much. The other option is to try some other bits. My horse was very fussy in his mouth but is so much better in his mullen mouth hanging cheek. It's very still and consistent in his mouth and really suits him. It's a case of trial and error, though it took me 18 months to find the right one.

 

[lindsay1993]

The steering worries me a little. I have been having lessons to learn how to steer better with my legs, as she is very responsive and it has been going well. When she gets herself excited the brakes are rubbish!! I can sometimes only stop her by turning smaller and smaller circles until she listens to me again. I have thought about a Micklem, but they are pretty expensive for something that might not suit her & I don't know anyone who has one to borrow. The horses owner would help me with fitting & using it at first I think, as she has a lot of experience using a Hackamore.

She is incredibly fussy in her mouth. I have tried her in a happy mouth mullen, plain snaffle & a hanging cheek jointed snaffle and settled with the team-up as she is least fussy using that one. I might just have a play with what is in the bit box at the yard this week. ;-)

 

[rcdapps]

I think the best thing to do here would be to learn as much as you can about the bit, possibly speak to other people who have used one etc, then take her in the school with the bit and just practice walking, halting and circles and work from there.

This will give you a good idea of if it is going to work for you and the horse.

 

[smja]

If you have someone experienced to fit it (lots of people fit it too low) and a school/enclosed area to test it in first, I'd give it a go. I don't really take up much contact in mine because I use it to give horse a mental break from "work", but I find the steering to be less precise rather than non-existent, we can still manage a small course of jumps/negotiating traffic etc.

 

[Annagain]

There's a company that hires Micklems out for you to try. Steering was a particular issue with my boy - 11 years on it's still not great when he's on one - so it may not be as big a problem for you or even one at all.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

The horse has been successfully ridden in the hackamore before, so I would book a lesson and use it to not only get the hackamore fitted correctly, but to teach you how to ride with one in a safe environment.

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

You know how to steer without relying on your hands so you'll be fine in a hackamore. It's a curb so just like if you were riding in any other curb (with only a curb rein) your contact will be minimal. That is not to say you have to hold the reins at the buckle end, just that you won't feel the same weight (from the contact) in your hands as you would when using a snaffle. Fit it snug or it will be too imprecise and the nose part will drop too low over the nose, but loose enough that you can get the bridle on and off without unfastening the hackamore part. It needs to be high enough not to affect breathing or hurt the soft part of the nose, you can look at a diagram of the horses skeleton to see where it shouldn't be. Although if the previous owner will help you that will be a lot easier.

 

[huskydamage]

I started riding my very skitty pony in an English hackamore a couple of years ago. I now use an s hackamore, but still use the english for fun rides. The english is heavy and ugly as hell, its steering is a bit naff, its for breaks only really. You have to use your seat/legs. i had no one to help me with mine so i did all my research with the power of the net. My girl likes it so much now i only ride in a bit for hunting. Heard alot of negativity about how harsh they can be,but as much as i have googled have yet to find a single legit story of someone breaking a horse's nose. I even had someone comment to me that it was good to see someone (me)who knows how to ride in it as some people saw on them and cut the horse's face apparently. I just can't understand how this is even possible! Honestly i am no master rider i ride with loose contact and try to be as gentle as possible,but there have been occasions when i may have been a bit rough when she's tanked with me (same as with a bit) i have seen my horse's mouth bleed from a bit. All the hackamore ever did was leave a sweaty mark on her nose. I don't know where these horror stories come from but from my experience if you can cause an injury with this you must have hands of steel!

 

[lindsay1993]

The s hackamore looks much lighter than the ones she has, the first thing I noticed about it was that it was very heavy. I also bought a sort of rope noseband thing from ebay a while ago, but have been too scared to use it! It's a thickish twisted rope that attaches to the cheekpieces and has metal loops on the part that goes under the chin. I think they tighten when used, but I'm not sure, as it's still in the box ;-)

The padding on the English is fairly worn, so I think I will replace it. I've seen a add on fb for knitted padding that look quite nice.