Sidepull vs hackamore: what's the difference?
New to bitless terminology? Confused by the equipment names?
When you're working out the best bitless option for you and your horse, it can be confusing to navigate all the new bridle names and pieces of equipment. Here the most common bitless bridle types are explained: the sidepull and the hackamore.
What is a sidepull?
A sidepull is the simplest type of bitless bridle. It can be identified by its noseband, which has rings on the cheek area instead of any more complicated pieces.
At Inca Equestrian, only a standard sidepull is sold, as this is the only ethical type of sidepull bridle. Elsewhere, you may see types of sidepulls including the cross-under or Scawbrig (this includes branded versions of these bridles, including the Dr Cook). Look out for a separate post on why these kinds of bridles should never be used.
Standard sidepulls work by dispersing rein pressure to the nose only, with no pressure going through the poll. They also produce no leverage or rein pressure amplification. Because of this, sidepulls are widely considered to be the lowest strength type of bitless bridle.
A sidepull is a brilliant choice of bitless bridle for any level, and is particularly beneficial to horses with a history of poll trauma (for example, from being ridden in a gag bit or from a head injury), as the absence of any poll pressure is not triggering.
What is a hackamore?
Hackamores are a huge family of bitless bridles, defined by their use of hackamore shanks or cheekpieces. For an in-depth look at the four families of hackamores, check out this Knowledge Hub post.
To a greater or lesser degree – depending on the size, style and form of the shanks – these bridles all use leverage or rein pressure amplification, with some amount of pressure running through the poll. At Inca Equestrian, only hackamores on the low end of the strength scale are sold, which have little pressure amplification when used.
Hackamores are popular for a variety of reasons. Better pressure dispersal around the bridle (rather than all on the nose as with a sidepull), can be more comfortable for some horses. This way of working also provides a slightly different feel for the rider, which some people prefer. For those needing it at their current stage of training/retraining, hackamores can be (but aren't always) a 'stronger' type of bridle than a sidepull. And finally, the huge variety of styles and finishes can make for very attractive and highly personalised bridles!
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.
Do I have to choose just one type?
No, you don't! Many hackamores are adaptable and, depending on the rein placement, can switch function between hackamore-type and sidepull-type action without you needing to change any equipment. For a more detailed view on how this works and where to place your reins, check out this Knowledge Hub post.
The Inca Equestrian bridles and noseband sets are designed specifically to be adaptable and multi-use. This means that to change your bridle type between a true sidepull and any kind of hackamore, you only need to swap out your metal cheekpieces rather than buying a whole new bridle!
