I’m currently riding my OTTB in a simple Mechanical Hackamore, due to a split lip that is slow to heal and the dentist can’t seem to find any reason for it.
Much to my surprise he is going quite well in it. So that has been a relief. mind you We are only doing 2’6" jumpers at a local schooling show.
While he does great in it, he occasionally will throw up his head when he gets going a little faster than normal (we do jumpers by the way).
I watched the Equestrian Coach video on properly fitting a Hackamore and Mr. Gardiner seems to imply he always rides them in a running martingale. I have seen many top jumpers going in a similar set up. I did like the suggestion Mr. Gardiner had of using two rein stops per rein to limit how far back the ring could slide.
i did try him with the running martingale and I did feel like it added some stability, but then when i searched online everyone was like GOD no don’t ever ride in one if you are using a hackamore…
What are everyone preferences when you ride in a hackamore?
I would expect that it would limit the effectiveness of a mechanical hackamore to put a running martingale on. Though that might depend on the length of the straps.
In general if your horse is inverting and turning into a giraffe at speed I would think he needs more flatwork on carrying himself and giving to the bit. A running martingale doesn’t fix basic holes in his training. It’s also true that you don’t get the same bend and fkexions as in a snaffle.
Is this the horse who banged up the corners of his lips last week?
I think backing up and working on basics, both for horse and for riders hands, is a good idea.
@Scribbler I did post in Horse care about him splitting his lip. And the dentist was out and said it wasn’t his teeth ( he did note that he is extra fleshy at the corners of his mouth)
Wouldn’t say he is inverting and turning into a giraffe. Its more when he gets opinionated about the turn, or asking for him to slow down/ come back to me. and he will toss his head/He is really good about turning off the leg, and he’s actually been better about the coming back to me with the hackamore. But he does get his engine revving when he gets into the course.
And I actually feel like I can be softer in the hackamore, as he doesn’t seem as fussy in the mouth. ( for what its worth the bits he was using before he started having issues on the one side of his mouth were all really mild… a french link baucher, an eco-pure french link rubber dee ring and an eco-pure rubber dee ring…)
Also I have the running basically set as loose… i wouldn’t be using it in anyway to hold or restrict his head,. more just something there as a last reminder. I had a wonderful school the other day with him, without it and he was fine, but i am a little concerned with the reality of a show ring atmosphere being different than my quiet farm at home.
