hackamore advice needed please

[bigbaytb]

I am looking at getting a hackamore since my beloved tb just had a wire removed from his tongue. The surgeon had also poked a hole in his cheek to get to it. My poor horse had the wire in his tongue at least 2 weeks and had dug it’s way 2 inches deep into the tongue. My vet couldn’t get it out, but the second surgeon did. at least it was further forward than we thought and my horse can finally eat again.

Anyway, after a couple weeks of heeling, I still don’t want to put a bit in my horses mouth for awhile, but do want to start getting him back into shape. I think a hackamore is the best bet. I’m not sure which I should get. I’ve read that the mechanicals are not good for horses, but then all I see are the western type. I do hunt and thought maybe I could use it there. I can hunt this guy in a snaffle and he’s fine, or i’ll use a combination bit just so i can ride fairly loose reined (I also event this horse and use snaffle on xc, he’s pretty responsive)>

What do you suggest?

[jumpsnake]

I used to ride a horse that went best in a hackamore-- it was just the cheap mechanical ones you can find anywhere. They can be fairly harsh- so you have to be sure you have soft hands. If your guy is responsive, it might be worth trying a bitless bridle- but I’ve not used one so I can’t comment intelligently on that.

Glad to hear he is ok!

[starkissed]

use a sidepull noseband. They don’t look funky and it’s similar to riding in a halter. My guys are really not that much different in a halter than a bridle.

You just attach this to your bride. http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp?pn=X1-0853&ids=235550541
they make ones with rope nosebands and rings, you might get more control that way, but these work very well

[lwk]

http://www.smartpakequine.com/ProductClass.aspx?productclassid=4412&cm_mmc=Froogle--Shopping%20Feed--NA-_-14412

We use this “English hackamore” on our draft cross for trails and foxhunting. We have also tried the “bitless bridle” but she likes to lean on it.

[veezee]

I use an english hackamore on my horse that had a stroke since the left side of his mouth still droops from the stroke. He does great in it. The only thing I would recommend is to make sure whoever is riding with the hackamore has soft hands.:yes:

[Simbalism]

I ride my Tb mare in an english jumping hackamore. She likes it so much that I haven’t ridden her with a bit for several years. I take my jumping lessons with her wearing it.

[bigbaytb]

Thanks all. It will be me riding, and i’m used to being soft and this horse is soft, even when hunting. My other horse,a mare, also demands a light hand so I’m usually pretty good.

[Romany]

Sometimes a horse goes well under saddle when ridden with just a halter, so you might try that perhaps?

There’s also that cowboy rope loop thing that people ride their horses in, which would avoid any pressure at all around the horse’s jaw, cheeks, etc, while it recovers.

[bigbaytb]

I contemplated just the halter…but am not sure if i can trust him

[see_u_at_x]

[QUOTE=starkissed;4381761]
use a sidepull noseband. They don’t look funky and it’s similar to riding in a halter. My guys are really not that much different in a halter than a bridle.

You just attach this to your bride. http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp?pn=X1-0853&ids=235550541
they make ones with rope nosebands and rings, you might get more control that way, but these work very well[/QUOTE]

This is almost exactly like the one I use for my mare. It works like a dream and she’s a very happy camper using it. The only issue I sometimes have with it is that it can rub on her nose more than a regular noseband will. To remedy the problem, I’ve wrapped it in Sealtex to make it “cushier.” A halter fuzzie would work just as well, but I didn’t have one and the Sealtex was cheaper.

[lizathenag]

I would use an english jumping hackamore (which is a leather covered sidepull that looks more english).

the smart pack “english” hackamore is still a mechanical one.