On Eventing Trend: Hackamores
Have you noticed how many upper-level riders are show jumping at competitions in hackamores?
There’s Phillip Dutton and Woodburn who, shortly after this photo was taken, clinched their 2nd place finish at Rolex 2010:
Mara Dean, who won the Red Hills World Cup qualifier on Nicki Henley, and who talked with Three Days Three Ways about “letting go to gain control“:
Allison Springer with the gallant Arthur who rallied the eventing world around her when she cantered down the center line at Rolex 2010 with a proper helmet:
Kristin Schmolze on her comeback kid, Cavaldi:
and Becky Holder on Courageous Comet who, together, came in 3rd at Rolex 2010.
What are your thoughts on bits vs. hackamores? Do you ride in a hackamore to show jump? If so, why? Or if you don’t, why not? I do pretty much everything in a French snaffle with my sweet Ellie. If you’re thinking about swapping make sure you check with a trainer (or yourself if you are one!) before transitioning from a bit to a hackamore. And tell us all your thoughts behind the switch!
Thanks to Josh Walker of the USEA and Mike McNally for the photos in this post. They are out there in the scorching sun, driving rain, and sometimes snow to capture just the right shot for us eventers. Goodness knows we’re grateful!
18 May 2010 | Jackie Said:
Apparently it’s not just an eventing trend; at Equine Affaire last month quite a few of the hunters and jumpers riding in the clinics were using hackamores.
Can’t say I know much about hackamores myself. I had my boy in a french link eggbutt for a while, but he didn’t like that much. Now he’s in a loose ring, single jointed Myler snaffle which he seems to love. One of the key benefits of the Myler design is that their bits relieve tongue pressure, making it easier for your horse to swallow and relax and flex at the poll. And it has made a difference with my horse.
Slightly off-topic, but not really.
18 May 2010 | Courtney Said:
So interesting to know this isn’t just in the eventing world. That makes it even more fascinating. I’m glad you bring up the Myler bits. I don’t know much about them but I have heard good things all-around. Good to know it made a difference with your horse. Maybe it’s something worth exploring with Elle? Thanks for sharing….not at all off topic!
18 May 2010 | Sarah Espinoza-Sokal Said:
I started my mare in a rope halter and didn’t even introduce a bit until she had been under saddle for over a year. I use a snaffle for her fairly regularly now, but she’s still lighter and more reliably responsive in the halter. I also ride bridleless on a regular basis – at walk, trot, canter, gallop and jumps up to 2’6″ – but I find the halter better for precision direction (please jump the left side of that jump, not the right) and the snaffle better for precision shaping (tip your nose in a bit more, raise your neck just a tad).
I think part of this is because when I ride in a halter or hackamore, I ride with no contact – thus it is very clear to my horse that when I pick up a rein, it means she’s supposed to respond right away. In the snaffle, I ride with contact so I can help her engage and bend and all that lovely stuff – so perhaps the signals are just not as crisp. Hmmm…
Seeing all these riders using hackamores really makes me wonder what their thought process is, though – why do they think the hackamores work better?
19 May 2010 | Margaret Said:
I have an older mare that didn’t receive great dental care before I bought her (actually, no dental care at all!) and has always been a bit fussy with her mouth. So after a few years of trying different rubber/plastic bits, I finally got the idea to put her in a hackamore. MUCH happier horse. Now that she’s retired she does everything in her hackamore. I think her favorite part is that she gets to freely eat on trail riders.
I also have a young TB gelding that I’ll ride in a hackamore every once in awhile just for a change of pace. He’s a bit of a pull-er, so the hackamore is like a challenge for us both. Challenges him to not lean on me, and me to not hold him up.
22 June 2010 | Nellie Said:
I recently started using a hackamore once a week on my boy. He’s 14, and I’ve been riding him in a full cheek snaffle for the four years i’ve owned him. the reason i decided to try out the hackamore was because i knew a lot of the eventers were using them and i was interested to see how it worked. i like using it on the flat, but for me it’s too much “bit” per se, over the jumps. He responds to it beautifully, but I find I don’t have a lot of lateral control. But I do like it in the sense that it prevents him from being hard in the mouth, and gives us a chance to work on giving without there being pulling. It also makes it so I have to keep my hands light so as not to give him the wrong signal.
22 June 2010 | Courtney Said:
Hey Nellie! Thanks for weighing in on the hackamore trend. It sounds like it’s been of tremendous use to you. I like hearing the details of exactly how it has benefitted your specific horse, as well as your own, specific riding. I have also heard that lateral movement (er, steering) can be more challenging. But it seems that it really works. Especially so, as you say yourself, you can give without pulling! Thanks again.
24 March 2011 | ciara sitko Said:
I ride my 7 year old in a hackamore.we used to have a lot of trouble slowing down and collecting and ecspecially pulling my arms off to go to a jump,but he loved ignoring me when I asked him to turn ,he can be quite strong as he is a draft(fjord).I put the hackamore on him and it was an imediate difference,he slowed down and almostt completly stoped charging the jumps,and the best part I can turn him.we have our first cross country event in a couple weeks and I’m excited to see how he does in the hackamore.
15 October 2011 | Jaimie Said:
I’m curious if there are any lower level shows that allow a horse to be shown in a hackamore rather than a bit. I would eventually like to show my horse, but I’ve pretty much only ridden him bitless. He plays with the bit too much and ignores it, but with no bit (even though it’s just a rope halter) he listens and concentrates better.