Yup, mine did the same thing. Didn’t like the Dr. Cooks’ at all. I found it rubbed the hair off the underside of his jaw raw. Not good.
My senior TB gelding used to go in a Dr. Cooks. After he died, I sold it on. I’d only really gotten it because I didn’t want to ride him in a mechanical hack, and he didn’t seem to like the sidepulls much. I did notice that he’d always trot around with his head in the air in the Dr. Cooks, although he used to do that in a bit too, so it was nothing new.
I never took him out on any real trails (in that we had to trailer somewhere) because he was an old boy I’d had for 12 years (we had to put him down because of colic complications on when he was 30) but we did the barn trails. He was a happier horse bitless because of his major dental issues.
I went back to using a bit with the mare I was leasing for a few months after he died. And I’m riding my Haflinger gelding right now in a french link snaffle, although we’re having some issues concerning the bit and trail riding.
I did borrow a Korsteel english hack to try him in it the other day. He went pretty well in it. So I’m willing to give it a try on the trails. Was going to get a Korsteel, but I lucked out and snagged a Herm Sprenger off eBay for $36.
I just purchased a Little S hackamore from Tractor Supply. I like it, except for the stiff rope noseband. I read on this thread how somebody wrapped it with vetrap, so I’m going to try that–after I make sure she goes well in it on the trail. I already swapped out the chain curb for a nylon one.
One thing I noticed is that I can’t get her off her shoulder as easily with the hackamore as I can with a French Link Snaffle. Any tips from those of you using leverage hackamores? It was only our first ride in it, and she stopped and steered just fine. In fact, she spooked and ran into the noseband, which distracted her from the spook. So far, I’m pleased.
But I think that stiff rope noseband will be a problem on longer rides. Anybody else do anything creative for the noseband? I don’t want to cover it in fleece, but I don’t mind swapping it out.
Thanks!
I covered the stiff rope noseband on my side pull with Sealtex tape (available at most tack/feed stores)then sewed a polar fleece cover on it. It looks nice and is color coordinated (of course)
hunter green that matches our other stuff. My girls are all ponies and when I bought polo wraps recently, they were a mile too long and the pieces I cut off are great for little stuff like this. You can also buy it at Walmart. I didn’t put velcro on the cover because I didn’t want it to be that bulky. The sealtex keeps it from slipping and gives just enough cushion, the more you add the more cushy it will be. Sealtex will last much longer than vetwrap which gets very nasty after a short while. Good luck!
if you are riding ‘on the buckle’ mostly, that little S won’t bother her a bit. If you do have to touch-base with her a lot…then the beetle or english hack was likely more what you wanted.
May I ask what you mean by getting her off her shoulder? don’t want to guess…
I use a good quality rawhide bosal when I ride bitless.
Thanks for the replies!
Oh, she dropped her shoulder when we circled to the left today. With the French link, all I had to do was lift the corner of the bit and she’d flex her muzzle in and pick up the shoulder. Now I can’t rely on the bit to do it and have to figure out what in my riding is causing it in the first place. My TB used to do it all the time, but he was big on throwing himself around corners, shoulder first, and it took a lot of work to get him to bend. This little mare bends just fine, and doesn’t usually drop a shoulder–or if she does, she rapidly corrects it.
Today I didn’t have the bit-to-tail connection with the Little S that I normally feel when riding her. I’d like to get this back using the hackamore, if possible. She’d really prefer to go bitless, but I don’t trust her in a side-pull or jumping hackamore. Not yet. She still occassionally throws her head straight up in the leap after a spook, and so I’m looking for a bit of leverage in case of emergency. She doesn’t spook often, but I need to be able to quickly stop her from bolting.
I ride with light contact but not on the buckle. I like that there is no lag when using a rein, as there can be with other mechanical hackamores. I know I can buy a leather or biothane piece to replace the rope, but I’m not sure yet how much pressure I’ll need for stopping if she tries to bolt. She’s still very green. Coming along nicely, but very green.
One thing I do like about riding bitless is, you DO need to rely more on good seat and legs than the hands to communicate with the horse. We all depend too much on those reins, don’t we? FWIW, I do like to drill in the arena, with bit or without, just dropping the reins and doing serpentines and circles etc with just seat and legs. I probably don’t do it very well but it is a good drill for both horse and rider.
Yeah, I think I’m going to be forced to ride better. Drat! 
