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University Suggestion Box

Hackamore

Hello!

As I study from the web the Hackamore is either 'mechanical' or a bosal-bridle configuration, and there are warnings about the mechanical causing injury. I am Rocket's third owner and it's said he was raised on a hackamore. I'd like to learn how to use one.

Ekat
Hello!

I do not hands that are quiet enough for a bit so I do not use one. I do not like the mechanical hackamore nor am I a fan of the hard bosel type. I have used a couple of different things on my horses one is a jumping hackamore which is a rolled leather nose band that sits high on the horses nose with an adjustment buckle so that is sits firmly around the horses nose sort of like the Dully halter. There are rings on the sides for the reins as well as for connecting to the headstall. It dose not cut off the horses wind and or use pain. It can be used for a direct reigning horse as well as for a horse that has been trained to neck reigning, as long as the horse is trained to the preasure on the neck and not the leverage in his mouth. The other method that I use with my horses is to use a English nylon bridle with a nose band and use the soft nose band like the jumping hackamore. This does take training so that the horse understands that the pull on the side of his face is the request to turn. If this is done with ground driving I have found it to be very effective with horses that have either very tender as well as very hard mouths. Once you are in the saddle your leg aids are your greatest friend. Remember that horses like to move away from pressure. So when you pull back with the left reign remember to use your left leg to signal to Rocket to move away from your leg so that he will bend around your leg and turn to the left. Can you see what I am saying? It is like if you stand next to him on his left side and want him to move over you can put your hand on his left side and push gently and he will move away from you. Now if you have a lead line on the left ring of his halter and put your left hand holding the lead line on his withers and your right hand on his side. Now if you pull on the lead line at the same time as you push on rocket instead of stepping away from you he will turn in a circle around you. The Hackamore and your leg will work the same way when you are on his back once you and rocket are comfortable with the hackamore and the leg signals.

I apologize if my explanation was beneath your knowledge level or if I did not explain myself clearly. I do not know your level of knowledge and I love talking about horses and as a person who only uses bits rarely I like to what I can to help. Besides, I have found that it helps my understanding when I talk things through for others.

Good luck with Rocket and I will try my best to help if I can.

Ekat

Sasafras
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed

Bosal training is an art and based on extreme sensitivity and bares no resemblance to a three to one leverage hackamore.The art of making a real bridle horse seems lost!I would very much appreciate a whole series from Monty on the making of a reining horse,from the bosal onwards.Come on Monty! Holy Moly!I see Chrome is one !! Bits are SOOOO misunderstood and it has lead to this bitless fad...