Article On Hackamores
A lot of people like to use hackamores because they presume they are less severe and more humane than using a bit, which simply isn’t true and anyone that tries to convince you otherwise, I’d question their experience and knowledge as a horseman or horsewoman. Like a bit, a hackamore can be gentle or harsh, mechanical hackamores can be especially harsh, and even more so with a heavy handed handed rider. The horse’s face is very soft and sensitive that contains many nerves. Misuse of a hackamore can not only cause pain and swelling on the nose, but extreme abuse can cause damage to the cartilage on the horse’s nose, or even break the fine bones that protect the nasal passages.
There’s technically two types of hackamores, the standard original “true” hackamores are called “Bosals” derived from the Spanish tradition of the Vaquero, and the more modern versions which many people are most familiar with are “Mechanical” hackamores.
Bosals: are commonly made from rawhide braided over a core also made of rawhide. You can sometimes find bosals with a metal core, but most professional horsemen find these as being too rigid. Bosals also have a large knot at the back behind the horse’s chin. The reins are tied to the knot and are typically made from a specially braided and tied length of rope called a mecate, which is tied in a specific manner to both adjust the bosal, and to make a looped rein with an extra length of rope that can be used as a lead rope. The knot also provides weight so that when a rider touches the mecate the shift in weight is noticeable to the horse causing him to react. Bosals come in a wide variety of diameters, with the larger diameters ordinarily used when training horses and smaller diameters on more advanced horses. The Bosal is frequently used by many trainers to start colts, it’s also often used on advanced and mature horses as well. It’s an especially good choice for horses with dental issues or mouth or tongue injuries where using a bit would cause discomfort or pain. Many riders also prefer to use Bosals and Hackamores in the winter to avoid putting a cold metal bit into a horse’s mouth. Bosals are often the preferred hackamore of cowboys and professional horsemen.
Mechanical Hackamores: use shanks and leverage and hence is not technically a “true” hackamore. It features long, metal shanks and a curb chain, making it work similar to a curb bit. The shanks and curb chain increase pressure on the nose and make it harsher, which aids in stopping the horse. A mechanical hackamore has a noseband, usually made of leather and sometimes covered with fleece for extra softness and to prevent chaffing. However, the noseband itself can also be harsh, some are made of rubber-covered cable, stiff metal, or even bicycle chain. The noseband, curb chain and shanks all work together in applying pressure to the nose, chin groove and poll when pulled. Mechanical hackamores made totally of leather with short shanks can be relatively, however, if you include a longer shank and chain or metal under the jaw and over the nose can make this device a very severe piece of equipment. If adjusted too low, it can also put excessive pressure on the horse’s nose cartilage and obstruct the horse’s breathing.
If you found this article useful you can find other tips such as this at the Hitching Post, a site for Equestrian Singles and country folks in general.
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