Hackamores

[wanabe]

I'm trying to understand them. I see references to English Hackamores, German Hackamores, Jumping Hackamores. I even found this web page which discusses the differences but I'm still not able to visualize:

http://www.sandridge.ca/Bits_bitting.asp

Also, is there just a plain old "hackamore"?

[Mehitabel]

her eis an english one on a horse - http://www.plasequestrian.co.uk/imag...0hackamore.jpg
that is too low, and too loose, and the reins are being pulled on. you can see how pulling on the reins has turned the metal bit - the shank - it has brought the bottom bit, with the reins attached, back, and so the whole thing has moved round and put pressure on the nose, poll and chin.
http://www.crossedsabers.com/images/Hackamore.jpg is the 'at rest' position of it. normally the chin strap and noseband are padded - they can also be plain leather, or to be very severe you can have a curb chain on the chin.

this is a german hackamore - http://www.hopevalleysaddlery.co.uk/.../hackamore.jpg i can't find a pic anywhere of a horse wearing one. it is the same principle as the english one - the chain goes under the chin, the black bit over the nose, the reins on the bottom little rings, and the headpiece of the bridle attaches to the rings the chain is on. it is metal covered with leather - or that one is, anyway, so it is more severe than the plain leather across the nose of the english one. again, you pull the rein, the bottom rings move backwards and pressure is put on the nose and chin. lesson the poll with this one, but considerably more on the nose, and they have chains on the chin as a matter of course, so that is more severe too.

i hadn't heard of a jumping hackamore before this thread.

hackamore in general is used to describe a bitless bridle with a mechanical element to it, that uses leverage somewhere onthe head.

[wanabe]

Thanks Mehitabel -- helpful as always!

Your second photo link looks a lot like Western rigs I've seen. Do you know if Western = hackamore? I read that the term hackamore is a corruption of some Spanish term (jaquima?).

As for "jumping hackamore", I don't know what it is, obviously, but a search returns 64 threads. I guess I'll start reading them.

[No_Angel]

the jumping hackamore is basically a sidepull attachment.
the jaquima is a bosal i think, part of the hackamore family but acts more like a sidepull with the reins tied under the chin, a bit like a rope halter in action.

[Shadowlark]

http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgur...icial%26sa%3DN

There is a photo of a bosal. just for reference sake

[Kalypso]

a bosal or mechanical hackamore are generally used in western and not english, yes...the mechanical hackamore generally has longer shanks than the english hackamore, so can be more severe. Here's a picture of Mia in a mechanical hackamore:

[wanabe]

So what's a sidepull? I found pictures of some on Google Images and they look like other hackamores to me.

[No_Angel]

a sidepull has a similar effect to a headcollar. basically just a piece of leather or rope across the nose with rings either side.
like this http://www.trekkingsaddles-webshop.c...rah-sunset.jpg

[wanabe]

I see, thanks!

[Shadowlark]

for the sake of interest adding one more..

Here is a bitless bridle based on a similar idea as the side pull, you can see this one has action under the jaw by crossed straps

http://www.nurturalhorse.com/instruction.htm

[wanabe]

Hey, I actually understand now what was a complete mystery to me yesterday morning!

What I don't understand is why a whole discipline, Western, would adopt a bitless system of control. Was it just a historical accident? There couldn't have been any actual reason that I can imagine.

EDIT: google is my friend! http://www.downthefence.com/outfit/traditional.html

[Kalypso]

hmmm...actually, in most western disciplines you can't show bitless. Barrel racing, you can use pretty much anything you want. But reining and western pleasure, etc, you have to have your horse bitted (unless they are under a certain age, I think)...please correct me if I'm wrong, this is just what I've been told by my western friends

Nice site, wanabe!

[Hummond]

I ride in a Mechanical Hackamore

[wanabe]

So, what's the reasoning behind not being able to show with a hackamore?

[Kalypso]

Probably the same reasoning that most English shows won't let you show in a bitless bridle Partly tradition, partly the 'perception' of control...

[Shadowlark]

your right Kalypso, under 5 usually although it varies can be shown in bosal's etc.
Now keep in mind the basis of most western ridding is lack of using the bit at all. which are the reining and western pleasure rings. So I agree it doesn't make sense that we can't ride bitless in those arenas - if you ever get a chance tho watch pro reining it's breathtaking! (Splash and I aspire...)
however - in most other western events you can wear what you want cutting (I think), penning, barrels most gymkhana etc don't stipulate so it's a big have at er

[Kalypso]

ooh, I didn't realize so many of the disciplines were open to bitless riding, thanks for the info

I've seen a bit of the reining at Quarter Horse Congress...it's amazing...like the dressage of western riding And the Western Pleasure classes...they do bore me , but I love it when the winners take the bridles off their ponies and canter from the arena completely bridleless