Which hackamore fits your horse?
Bitless equipment isn't one-size-fits-all.
That goes for not only bridles and nosebands, but hackamore shanks too. Here I break down which shanks are best suited to your horse.
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.
Some people (mainly Americans) refer to a complete Bosal bridle as a hackamore. This is where the name originally comes from, though in the rest of the world we do not use that terminology any more. 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 size is your horse?
I don't use standard bridle sizes when discussing bitless nosebands, because they don't match up well to the size of the horse. For example, a Cob size standard bridle may fit horses who use anything from a Small to an Extra Large Inca Equestrian noseband size.
To work out what size of noseband your horse fits, check out the size guide on the Knowledge Hub.
Which hackamore fits your horse?
All the hackamores I stock 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.
Flower hackamore
The Flower hackamore is an adaptable and popular mild bitless bridle option. The multiple rings allow for a range of rein placements, letting the rider choose the amount of leverage action the bridle produces – ranging from mild to very mild or even a sidepull type set-up. For more on how this works, check out this post.
The thinner style Flower shanks (in stock in silver, black and multicolour finishes) best suit sizes: Small, Medium and Large.
The thicker style Flower shanks (in stock in a silver finish) best suit sizes: Medium, Large and Extra Large.
Little S hackamore
The Little S hackamore is popular bitless bridle option with endurance, trekking and hacking riders who appreciate the wider mouth clearance that it gives the horse. It produces a low-moderate amount of leverage action (dampened by the S shape). The Inca Equestrian model is shorter than a standard S hackamore.
The Little S shanks best suit sizes: Medium, Large, Extra Large and Giant.
Star hackamore
The Star hackamore is a popular very mild bitless bridle option that sits on the line between sidepull and mechanical hackamore. The shanks provide almost no leverage action.
The Star shanks (in stock in silver and brass finishes) best suit sizes: Medium, Large and Extra Large.
Barefoot hackamore
The Barefoot-style hackamore is a mild bitless bridle option, providing only a low-moderate amount of leverage action. Unlike most hackamores, which are a flat shape, the lower 'arm' of these shanks curve outwards from the horse's cheek, providing better clearance.
The Barefoot-style shanks (in stock in silver and brass finishes) best suit sizes: Medium, Large and Extra Large.
Love hackamore
The Love hackamore is a mild bitless bridle option, providing only a small amount of leverage action. The small size of these shanks make them a great option for ponies.
The Love shanks best suit sizes: Extra Small, Small and Medium.
Ring hackamore
The Ring hackamore is a very mild bitless bridle option that sits on the line between sidepull and mechanical hackamore. The shanks provide almost no leverage action.
The Ring shanks best suit sizes: Large, Extra Large and Giant.
Jasmine hackamore
The Jasmine hackamore is beautiful, light and refined take on the wheel-type hackamore for those who want that extra special touch! It is a very mild bitless bridle option that sits on the line between sidepull and mechanical hackamore, and the shanks provide almost no leverage action.
The Jasmine shanks best suit sizes: Medium, Large and Extra Large.
Baroque hackamore
The Baroque hackamore is a popular bitless bridle option with riders of Iberian-type horses or those who prefer a more ornate look. It produces a low-moderate amount of leverage action (dampened by the S shape).
The Baroque shanks best suit sizes: Large and Extra Large.
Compass hackamore
The Compass hackamore is a very mild bitless bridle option that sits on the line between sidepull and mechanical hackamore. The shanks provide almost no leverage action.
The Compass shanks best suit sizes: Extra Large and Giant.
Lily hackamore
The ornate and highly unique Lily hackamore is sure to be a showstopper! Reins can be attached onto either the 'flower' or the 'stem', allowing the rider to choose the amount of leverage action the bridle produces, ranging from mild to very mild or even a sidepull type set-up.
The Lily shanks best suit sizes: Medium, Large and Extra Large.
If you're still unsure what is right for you and your horse, please get in touch for free advice.
