I own a short shank mechanical hackamore and an english jumping/sidepull noseband. I've used them both on Phantom in the past with no significant issues. But I can't find the english noseband (it's probably sitting right next to the breastplate, stirrup leathers and clippers I own but can't seem to find). So I had to buy another one.
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| Ignore the very dirty face. |
After some research, I decided on the Zilco flower hackamore. It was said to be one that you can ride like it was a regular bit. I ordered it from someone in Britain on eBay, and about a month later it showed up. On Friday night I popped it onto a bridle and took Phantom for a spin with it.
Phantom went around happy as a clam. Forward, relaxed.
And totally on her forehand.
Forging at the trot. Dropped back. God awful canter.
But so happy.
I definitely won't be using it on a regular basis - I've no desire to encourage that way of going. And I don't think I'll use it for the lesson kid - Phantom didn't steer quite as well as I hoped with it. She was fine for me since I don't really use my hands to steer. But for someone who is learning to ride, she just kind of sets her neck straight and doesn't really bend so steering won't be as easy.
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| I forgot to grab a different bridle - my PS of Sweden bridle was not the best choice for a hackamore. It has a monocrown, so I took the noseband off and had to tuck the straps into the runners on the cheekpieces to keep them from flapping around. It worked, but it wasn't pretty! |
Some people can get horses working really well in a hackamore - I'm not one of them. Maybe it's because my legs aren't long enough to wrap under my horse to encourage them to engage their abs, or maybe it's because my horse isn't a purpose-bred dressage horse - stock horses tend to move very levelly. So if anybody has any ideas on how to encourage my horse to lift her back while using a hackamore that doesn't involve me growing an extra 8" of leg, I'm all ears!
B is very very fussy with her mouth, so half halts etc to resemblance are much more my body than rein. I try for roundness and hind leg activation through moving her body around (shoulder in on a circle is good) and lots of transitions, plus so, so much leg and core. Poles can help too. On a good day, that is - some days we seem destined to plow around on the forehand despite all my best efforts :)
ReplyDeleteShe listens to my body quite well and I do try to move her around a lot using mostly leg, but once she sets her neck she's not wanting to soften up again. Very different from when she has a bit in her mouth!
Delete*rebalance, lol
ReplyDeleteI've always been tempted to try a hackamore, and I've never seen the flower one so that's interesting! Hope you find something that works for the kid!
ReplyDeleteWe're going to stick with her regular bit for now - Phantom hasn't been too pissy... yet.
Deletenice! i bought that version hackamore for a friend for christmas one year and she loves it! but yea, many hackamores aren't the greatest for steering, and i'm with you on not really loving doing flatwork in them (tho i actually really like jumping charlie in the hack... if only he didn't require the flat work to warm up!). we use our hackamore pretty regularly tho, mostly for trail rides or conditioning/speed work type rides, or if i'm just off on a fun ride with friends like a hunter pace or something.
ReplyDeleteYeah, this will probably be used for fun rides, like steering with the neck strap. Good for a change, not good to influence how the horse moves.
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