Which hackamore fits your horse?
A hackamore isn't a single type of bitless bridle. The term covers a huge range of equipment, which are grouped into four "families" under the system developed here at Inca Equestrian.
Hackamores vary hugely in design, size, shape and style – all of which affects their appearance, function and the size range they fit. As with any other equipment, you need to make sure that the hackamore you choose fits your horse to ensure that it works properly.
What is a hackamore?
Hackamores are a type of bitless bridle. They are defined by the presence of shanks: cheekpieces that sit either side of the noseband.
To a greater or lesser degree – depending on the size, style and form of the shanks – hackamores all use some amount of rein pressure running through the poll as well as through both the upper and lower straps of the noseband. This is because the turning motion of the hackamore shank as the rein is pulled causes all the connected bridle straps to move at once, dispersing that pressure throughout the bridle. You can learn how this differs from a sidepull bridle here.
At Inca Equestrian, we have developed a system that puts all hackamores into one of four 'family' groups. For more detail on that, check out this post. In all but the zero-shanked group, the hackamore also generates rein pressure amplification, meaning that the horse feels comparatively greater pressure through the bridle than the rider is applying directly with their hand on the reins. The amount of pressure generated in this way varies depending on the size and style of the hackamore.
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.
What size is your horse?
Standard bridle sizes (full, cob, etc.) don't match up well to a horse's bitless noseband size. For example, a cob size bridle may fit a range of horses, from an Arab type who fits a Small noseband, to a heavy cob type who fits a Large noseband.
To work out what size of noseband your horse fits, check out the size guide or get in touch for sizing help.
Which hackamore fits your horse?
Inca Equestrian stock a wide range of hackamores, all of which are on the lower end of the strength spectrum. Many are the mildest options possible for this bridle type. Below we look at each of these types, along with noseband size recommendations for each.
It is possible to use a hackamore on a noseband size larger than the ones listed – though this may look unbalanced it will function correctly. Using a hackamore on a noseband smaller than those recommended will usually result in the noseband sitting too low on the horse's nose, which must be avoided as it places pressure on the sensitive nasal bone.
If you're unsure which hackamore is right for you and your horse, get in touch for free advice.
Flower hackamore
The Flower hackamore is an adaptable and highly popular mild bitless bridle option.
The multiple rings allow for a range of rein placements, letting the rider choose the amount of poll pressure 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.
They best suit sizes: Medium and Large.
Flower shanks are available in a huge range of colours and in short or standard style.
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 is of low-moderate strength, using some poll pressure.
They best suit sizes: Medium, Large and Extra Large.
The Little S shanks stocked at Inca Equestrian is shorter than a standard S, and therefore generates less poll pressure.
Love hackamore
The Love hackamore The Love hackamore is a mild bitless bridle option, producing only a small amount of poll pressure.
The small size of these shanks make them a great hackamore option for ponies.
They best suit sizes: Extra Small and Small.
Love shanks are very popular with riders of smaller horses.
Star hackamore
The Star hackamore is a very mild bitless bridle option that sits on the line between sidepull and hackamore. The shanks provide almost no poll pressure.
They best suit sizes: Medium and Large.
Star shanks are available in silver and brass finishes, and as part of the Special Edition Golden Star bridle.
Barefoot-style hackamore
The Barefoot-style hackamore is a mild bitless bridle option, creating a low-moderate amount of poll and nose pressure.
They best suit sizes: Medium, Large and Extra Large.
Barefoot shanks are available in silver and brass finishes.
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 hackamore. The shanks provide almost no poll pressure.
They best suit sizes: Medium and Large.
Jasmine shanks are available in silver and brass finishes.
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 poll and nose pressure.
They best suit sizes: Large and Extra Large.
Baroque shanks are the classic bitless style for Iberian horses, as well as being popular with riders of other breeds.
Lily hackamore
The Lily hackamore is a unique and ornate bitless option.
Reins can be attached onto either the 'flower' or the 'stem', allowing the rider to choose the amount of poll pressure 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.
They best suit sizes: Medium, Large and Extra Large.
Lily shanks are available in silver and brass finishes.
Ring hackamore
The Ring hackamore is a very mild bitless bridle option that sits on the line between sidepull and hackamore. The shanks provide almost no poll pressure.
They best suit sizes: Large and Extra Large.
Ring shanks are a good substitute for sidepull rings on extra large bridles, for riders wanting something a bit more decorative.
Compass hackamore
The Compass hackamore is a very mild bitless bridle option that sits on the line between sidepull and hackamore. The shanks provide almost no poll pressure.
The scale of these shanks made them best suited to large horses.
They best suit sizes: Extra Large.
Compass shanks are the largest hackamore stocked at Inca Equestrian.