Hackamores: what makes a strong one?
Hackamores often have a bad reputation as harsh or very strong equipment.
But that's not always true. Let's look at this hugely varied family of bitless bridles, and how to tell a harsh one from a mild one.
What is a hackamore?
Hackamores, or more accurately mechanical hackamores, are a type of bitless bridle. They are defined by the presence of shanks: cheekpieces (usually made of metal) that sit either side of the noseband.
These bridles work with some degree of poll pressure, meaning that when a rein aid is given, that pressure is dispersed across both the noseband and the headpiece. Hackamores also use some degree of leverage action, whereby rein pressure may be amplified (increased). The extent to which pressure is dispersed around the bridle and how much rein pressure amplification there is, depends on the type of hackamore being used.
For example, a Star hackamore uses nearly a 1:1 leverage ratio (or almost no amplification), whereas a very harsh hackamore, such as a German type, uses a very high degree of leverage.
^ When is a hackamore not a hackamore? Different groups use different terms, which can be confusing in online discussions.
You may see the term 'hackamore' being used (particularly in Western riding circles and in the USA) to refer to a Bosal bridle. This is a linguistic hangover with an interesting history that goes back thousands of years – something I'll cover in another post, but for now just keep in mind that the term is used differently by those groups. You may also hear any bitless bridle being called a hackamore. That is inaccurate.
For an overview of hackamore types, using my 'four families' classification system, check out this Knowledge Hub post.
What affects hackamore strength?
A whole range of factors can affect the 'strength' of a bridle, which we can also consider as how your horse interprets the feel of it. Things such as bridle fit, shape, material and padding have a big impact, as well as your riding style, the horse's training, previous injuries/sensitivities and their personal preference.
That sounds complicated and truthfully it is. One horse's mild bridle can be uncomfortable for another, and that's why it's hugely important to really listen to your horse when trying out new tack.
That aside, there is a simple way of telling an inherently harsher hackamore (one with greater leverage action and pressure amplification) from a milder one: shank length.
Generally, the longer a shank is, the harsher it will be. For this length, we need to look at the distance between where the noseband connects to and where the rein connects to. However, introducing a curve to the shank can help to dampen some of this pressure amplification, when compared to a straight shank of equal length, as is the case with the Little S hackamore.
^ The Little S hackamore may seem stronger, but if you consider where the bridle straps and reins connect, it's nearly the same as a mild Flower hackamore.
Length increases rein pressure amplification as the further away from the centre the rein is placed, the less movement from the rein it takes to turn the central part of the hackamore (and the straps attached to it). The more turning happens, the greater the force on the horse's nose, poll and jaw.
This is also why a light hand in a short hackamore will always be much lighter to the horse than the equivalent force from the rider through a long hackamore. At the more extreme lengths, even the lightest touch translates to significant pressure through the bridle.
Inca Equestrian hackamores
All the hackamores stocked by Inca Equestrian are at the milder end of the spectrum, or what I like to think of as a 4/10 strength or lower. Many are the mildest options possible for this bridle type. As previously mentioned, this does not mean that all of them will be comfortable for every horse, as even inherently mild tack can be uncomfortable for some individuals, depending on a range of factors.
If you're unsure what is right for you and your horse, please get in touch and I can help.
