Hackamores

I think using a hackamore on my horse, but I read somewhere that they can be just as bad (or worse) as a regular bit. Is there something that I know or recommendations before I try this? What type is best w / out tourturing my horse?

As the first poster said, a hackamore can be as gentle or as severe as the driver likes. If you have not already had an experience with a hackamore, I would stick to just regular. You can do much more damage to property, and most horses do not have a hackamore. They are most commonly used on horses that have problems with bit and put one on your horse unfavorable can not do much to improve it.

As a little, a hackamore can be gentle or hard, depending on the rider's hands. It is a myth that the bit is cruel and a hackamore is gentler. The face of the horse is very gentle and sensitive with many nerve endings. Misuse of a hackamore can not only cause pain and swelling in the nose, but abuse can cause extreme damage to the cartilage on the horse's nose, or even break finger bones that protect the nasal passages and cause injury jaw. hackamores particularly serious "elements" may be long sleeve or a hard material such as metal noseband or a bicycle chain covered with rubber.

Today hackamores can be made of leather, rawhide, ropes, cables or various plastics, sometimes in conjunction with metal parts. There are three main types: Bosal the sidepull, and the mechanical hackamore.

The Bosal (pronounced "bo-SAL", not "BO-sul") is the traditional hackamore and is seen primarily in the district of the western-style and tradition from the Spanish vaquero. It consists of a leather noseband with steep reins attached to a large knot or a button on the base - the Bosal. To maintain the proper balance Bosal on the horse's head without rubbing or putting undue pressure on the nose, it is maintained by a headrest with a rope called specialized throatlatch fiador. The reins are made from a length of rope attached specially called Mecate (can HFA-tay), which is linked to a specific way to adjust both the size of the Bosal and Strap Loop an extra length of cable that can be used as a lead rope. The Bosal acts on the horse's nose and jaw, and is the most commonly used to start young horses under saddle in the tradition of the Vaquero style "California" cowboy. The Bosal is a sophisticated and versatile style of hackamore. Bosal come in different sizes and weights, which allows a horse most qualified "graduates" in lighter equipment. Once a young horse is well trained with a Bosal, a bit is added and the horse is gradually shifted from the hackamore a bit. Although designed to be gentle, Bosal is the equipment to be used by experienced trainers and should not be used by beginners as they can be severe in the wrong hands.

The sidepull is a modern design inspired by Bosal This is a heavy noseband rings that attach the side reins on either side of the nose, which allows a very direct pressure applied from left to right. The noseband is made of leather, leather, or rope with a leather or synthetic strap under the jaw, held by a leather or synthetic forend. Sidepulls are mainly used to start young horses or horses that carry a bit. Although the severity may be increased by using strings harder or thinner, a sidepull not the sophistication of the Bosal. Once a horse understands basic commands, the trainer must pass either a Bosal or a bit of refining the training of the horse. If they are made of soft materials, it is also a barrier for many beginners to use, so as not to injure the mouth of their horse, they learn that the aid to win.

English riders sometimes use a cavesson jump, which is a type of hackamore, which consists of a thick piece of leather with rings on t.