Help fitting a hackamore

[Scratch_N_Dent]

Hi Gang,

I am looking for a bit of help with fitting a hackamore. I am trying the lovely TB I ride in a Herm-Sprenger short shank hackamore (long story so just trust me on the short term need for this). I thought I fitted it correctly but it seems to pull the cheek pieces very close to his eyes and he actually shook his head after I got off last night and managed to toss the bridle right off. The hackamore is adjusted reasonably snug but it appears to be an effect of the movement of the reins actually pulling the bridle forward. Short of adding a string from the two cheek pieces under his jaw I can’t seem to figure this out. I must be missing something obvious here. Any suggestions?

[ElisLove]

That very normal and when I rode and competed my horse in a hack I tied the sides back with string.

[Scratch_N_Dent]

Well that’s a bummer. Maybe I’ll lower it just a touch and see if that is any better

[kcmel]

I bought an oversized brow band for my bridle and that helped lower the cheek pieces.

[Couture_TB]

Glad and sad to see I’m not the only one who has issues with the hack doing that! I have mine with a thin piece of cloth over the throat latch and cheekpiece and then tape over it and it works.

[Simbalism]

I use the same hack on my TB mare. I think that I have mine adjusted a little low and really have not had that problem(coming off). It does seem to ride a little closer to the eye than a regular bridle. It is the only thing I ride my mare in.

[Couture_TB]

I meant to say that the problem with mine is pulling into the eyes almost. But haven’t had it come off

[Small_Change]

If you don’t like the string idea, you could get a saddler to make you a strap to buckle underneath instead. A loop would go over each cheek, then the two straps would buckle together either on the side of the face like a throat latch or under the jowls. In the end, it would look rather like a giant brow band with a buckle.

[Scratch_N_Dent]

Thanks again SmallChange - looks like we are both posting here and on EMG

[WW_Queen]

You could probably get a cheekpiece specially made from a saddler/leather maker that has an angled jowl strap w/ buckles to prevent slipping into the eye.

Micklem bridles have the jowl strap (versus traditional throatlatch) but would not be suitable for a hackmore.

Something made after this style would work: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Padded-Brow-CBit-Bridle-for-Mylar-Hackamore-Black-Pony-/160657866427

[eqsiu]

Try lengthening the part over the nose and shortening the curb strap. That should lower the shanks toward the jaw. Adjusting it tighter around the nose overall will reduce the rotation of the shanks and help keep them from raiseing the cheeks as well.