What Type? Hackamore, bosal?

Question

I am looking for a bit less bridle for my horse that is cheaper and all leather. The problem is that I DONT like the concept of the Bitless bridle by DR. Robert Cook . I am Desperate!

Answer 1

An all leather hackamore might work for you...the noseband is leather lined with fleece, and it is used with a leather chin strap.  It is the mildest of hackamores, but still creates a vice effect on the horse's muzzle.  The shorter the shank, the better, in terms of harshness.  I'm not sure why you reject  the Dr. Cook...if you haven't used one ever, I would suggest you do before forming opinions.  I use one, and it is far superior to the hackamore.

ADD...if you purchase a bosal, you also will need a fiadore and the rope reins...the cost is anything but cheaper...sorry if I misunderstood what you are looking for.  Never buy a "cheap" bosal, and don't use one without the fiadore to postion it properly.  And in modern times, when you refer to a hackamore, it will be a mechanical hackamore.  If you want a bosal, you refer to it as a bosal.  Sorry for any confusion.

Answer 2

Hackamore. they are the best on a horses mouth and if the horse is older.

Answer 3

I love my Vosal. It works off the chin bone. Most of my horses ride in it.

http://www.smithbrothers.com/vosal/p/X3-...

Answer 4

well i hate the Robert cook bridles too. well if you go to Dover saddlery look for a hackamore there i think they sell all leather ones that you can use in the show ring. if you don't find any there you can go to eBay and see if they have any. i see them all the time there. well hope this helped.

oh you can attache it to your normal bridle it is like a noseband that is a hackamore.

Answer 5

Whichever one that you choose, you need to make sure that you understand how they work and how to use them.  I, personally don't like a mechanical hackamore, but to each his own....if you don't use them correctly, they can be mean.  I prefer a bosal, but again, you need to know how to use one of they are indeed, unsafe...they are not used by just pulling the horse's head around, they are used by "bumping" the horse into changing the direction of his head, but again, if not used with finesse, they too can be nasty.  I'm curious as to why you don't want to put a bit in your horse's mouth.

Answer 6

for future referance,a "hackamore" is the use of a bosal and mecate for riding and training horses.

a "brockamore" is a mechanical device that is also called a mechanical hackamore but it works opposite of a traditional hackamore.

Answer 7

Hacks are great. I use bits but at the same time part of training for reining I like using the Hack. I urge you to be carefull, some people who say they use Hackamores, acualy use mechanical hackamores. A real Hackamore is a bosal. I highly highly recommend them. When looking for a hackamore, the bosal should be made of good rawhide. Luck

Answer 8

When you say "hackamore" for the record that's a rawhide bosal normally with a rawhide core and attached by a headstall and a mecate (horsehair reins for the real ones.).

The others are referred to as "Mechanical Hackamores"...

I've never been a fan of bitless bridles, but since my Azteca has melanomias on the upper and lower sides of his mouth, I've been forced to rethink them.  I have an OLD quick shanked mechanical hackamore with nothing but leather across his nose and with an English curb chain.  It works, not as great as my shank snaffle did until these showed up, but it's good for a hack down the trail (He's 19 now.).

I bought and tried dozens of different gimicks on the old guy, from a donal to a side pull bridle to this old mechanical hackamore that I had to remake.  To date the mechanical hackamore seems to be what he likes the best.

Answer 9

i would go with the mechanical hackamore. safer in my opinion, especially out on the trails and at shows.

Answer 10

I would definantly go with a Hackamore.  I used one on an older mare that I had, and it worked great.  It just gently squeezes the nose whenever you pull back on the reins.  The only reason why you wouldn't want to get one, is if your horse is hard to stop, and pulls alot on the bit.  But if your horse doesn't do that, and you're a fairly good rider, then the hackamore is definantly the way to go.

Hope that helped!!!