Using a Hackamore with a Bit

[EveryLittleBit]

I know that some people have had success adding a hackamore over a bit by simply adding a bradoon hanger.

My question is if anyone has done this with a very petite-headed horse? My mare fits in a cob sized bridle near the top holes and I am just unsure of the logistics of adding more straps to her face.

Also, is there anyway to do this with a monocrown bridle?

I am struggling with bitting for her for jumping as she is very sensitive but the Herm Sprenger Duo is not quite enough bit for her to jump in. I have ridden her in a straight hackamore, and while it is great for trails, I did not like the steering in it for jumping.

[IndyEquestrian]

Why not try a hack-a-bit? Happy Mouth makes a few versions with the flexible mouthpieces that only require your cheek pieces to hang.

I believe supershorty’s horse goes in one. Maybe ask her about it. . . It may be the solution you’re hoping for.

[EveryLittleBit]

Unfortunately, the only mouthpiece she can go in is a Duo or Nathe mullen. I have tried various Happy Mouths, and also the Myler combo bit. I know they make Nathe combo bits, but they are SO expensive I was hoping to avoid going that route.

[Doctracy]

There are a lot of western bit/hack combos that would work with all sorts of shanks/no shanks.
I use a Mikmar short shank with the nose rope and love it with the right horse. It’s mild but very effective.

[Night_Flight]

If you take away the noseband then you don’t really end up with more straps anyway. While I haven’t done it with a horse with a cob-sized head, I did the hackamore plus bit on my TB mare and the straps didn’t overwhelm her face, though I did make sure that the bradoon hanger had extra-thin straps (which would be easier to find in a cob/pony size than it was in the horse size I was looking for). If you need a bradoon hanger for a hackamore, keep in mind that it will need to be shorter for that than for a bit, which means you can size down.

[fordtraktor]

I have a horse like this and I put him in an RS dynamic D. It lies really smoothly in his petite mouth and he is very content with it and comfortable accepting the contact. The duo wasn’t enough though he liked it fine. He hated a regular KK ultra. Might want to try that one if you can’t get the hackabit to work. They are all different, though, so no promises! And the sensitive ones especially have very clear opinions on what goes in their mouths.

You might also try leather, that can be a good fit for these horses.

[EveryLittleBit]

Leather is on my list to try. I was getting away with a HS Comfort Mouth mullen for awhile, but then it turned into a no-go. I have not tried the Dynamic D, I have looked at them and then thought it would not work for her because of the joints. She is not horrid in a double-jointed bit like that, but she will not seek the contact as nicely and will chew the bit.

I am going to buy a pony bradoon hanger and try some experiments with a short shanked hackamore. Thanks all for the advice.

[vineyridge]

Do you need the hackamore shanks? I don’t know if this could work because I haven’t really looked, but the Micklem Multi-Bridle can go both bitless and bitted. It might be able to go both at the same time. That would probably be the kindest combination possible.

You could contact Mr. Micklem and ask. He’d probably answer immediately.

[mbv]

Since you’re not using it for dressage, what about wrapping a hack-a-bit with Sealtex? My horse who goes well in a duo actually loves a french link totally wrapped in a thin layer of sealtex even better…it sort of forms a stabilized mullen shape but is more flexible/movable.

[PNWjumper]

I’ve used the hackamore over a bit trick a couple of times. If the cheekpieces for your bit go on the top holes you’re in good shape because you just have to buckle the cheekpieces of the hackamore a hole or two lower (though you may need pony-sized cheekpieces for that if you have a horse with a particularly small head).

It’s been a while, so I may not be picturing this in my mind correctly, but why wouldn’t you be able to do it with a monocrown bridle? You can utilize the same straps as you do for the cheekpiece your bit is on, so you should be fine either way, I think?

[equuspeace]

I have actually ridden my horse in a duo/hackamore combo I rigged myself! My horse, like yours, is super sensitive, but the duo alone is not quite enough. It really is a matter of making tiny changes before you like the fit off both. I have not tried setting it up with a monocrown bridle. My next thing to try is the nathe hackabit, as it combines the best of both worlds; a super soft/flexible bit with the benefits of a hackamore.

[Xctrygirl]

I did this years ago with my 15 hand mare. Put the hackamore on the bit cheeks, use shorter gag cheeks if needed. Put bit on bradoon strap.

Works like a charm.

~Emily