 |
Re: [RC] [RC] [RC] [RC] Rascal and the Hackamore - Bonnie DavisI'd suggest getting a copy of the "Hackamore Reinsman". It's an excellent book. I have a copy but I've loaned it to someone -- maybe they'll give it back to me someday. There's also one called the "Army Book of Horsemanship & Training". My uncle gave me that -- he used to training officers' horses for the US Cavalry. I'm one of those that doesn't use a different bit on a horse for different things. All my horses go in the bit and headstall they have from day one to the day they die. I think hands are more important than going from bit to bit. The old Spanish Spade was a great training and riding bit but got a bum rap because it was so 'harsh'. It was a mean bit in the hands of a rider who DID NOT know how to use it. All the horse's I've ridden have been in Sliceter's (not sure of spelling) with low port, roller. Mild bit. Sig went to a hackamore because of wolf teeth and Flint into a mechanical hackamore because of bars. If I go into an arena because I can't ride, I'll use the same bit and check up a little more to get more of a head set. I even take my horses and when I can't ride, I saddle 'em, bit 'em up, pull the reins a little tight so they have to bring their noses back and down, run reins through side rings on breast collar and tie 'em around saddle horn, turn loose and let 'em walk in and out of stall into paddock. A horse sure learns to tuck his nose and get his head back and down all by himself so he gets off the bit. He takes the pressure off the mouth himself -- not with someone on his back. I've left 'em bitted up that way for maybe a couple hours while doing something else. Bridles are a lot like saddles. I don't think a person has to buy a saddle for every horse owned. I've used the same two saddles for 40 years on all the different horses I've owned. I believe the padding UNDER the saddle is just as important as the saddle. All my saddles are on a modified Quarter Horse tree. And as I said, I don't endurance ride so my one saddle weighs about 65 pounds, the other about 35 pounds. Both are square skirted and big -- a bigger saddle spreads weight over a horse's back better and doesn't concentrate it in just one or two areas. Bonnie Davis ----- Original Message ----- From: "Laurie Durgin" <ladurgin@xxxxxxx> To: <horsecamping@xxxxxxxxx>; <eyler@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; <Ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Tuesday, December 31, 2002 7:45 PM Subject: Re: [RC] [RC] [RC] Rascal and the Hackamore So when I get this all adjusted(I may have to cut some of the bridle off, I took it all the way up and extra strap is almost to his ears! LOL(a 25.00 bridle,if this works I may switch it to my biothane or get another it will fit on.)So what about "rounding"? Does the horse need to already do this before you put him in a hack? I can do the "no contact" thing as he hates it anyway, and I only do it when I am "doing my backyard dressage" in the ring.If it helps his "You want me to stop?maybe later" routine ,then it may work out real well on trail.I have worked some with giving to poll pressure, so it may be an added plus.He did seem responseive to it yesterday, when t quits raining again (sigh) I will see if it is consistant. Is there any problem with horses in hacks, getting "strung out"? Any other weak areas? I can see if this works, then I may use the snaffle for "dressage work", but the hack for our trail work. I like the looks and idea of a bosal, just don't know how to train for one. Any good books or sources?(I read voraciosuly(just can't spell). (slow down Laurie, how many headgears are you going to collect??? LOL)From: "Bonnie Davis" <horsecamping@xxxxxxxxx> To: "Laurie Durgin" <ladurgin@xxxxxxx>,<eyler@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,<Ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: Re: [RC] [RC] [RC] Rascal and the Hackamore Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 19:14:05 -0800 The hackamore bit should sit with noseband just above the soft nose tissue. (To low and one will cut the air off when horse breaths.) Shanks centered just above corners of mouth. Curb chain is above groove in chin about an inch. The whole hackamore bit should fit the horse's face. The nose band sits above and fits over the nose to top of shanks -- no space. The curb chain fits under jaw and has enough room for maybe about a little finger tip. There shouldn't be a finger or two. The idea is to have instant contact when pulling back on reins which is why its so IMPORTANT to have good hands and ride light -- no pulling or tugging on reins. Going back to the 60's, mechanical hackamore bits used to be considered the 'bit of last resort' for horses that ran through bits and used to be seen on a lot of gymkhana and rope horses. When the mechanical hackamore was first put on Flint, he tried to run through it once or twice and soon learned a quick jerk hurt. So he gave up trying to take the bit and run through it. After about 3 months use, Flint was a horse you just shifted weigh on and he moved in that direction. Flint was the only horse I've used a mechanical hackamore on and as I've said, my Quarter Horse, Sig, is in a regular hackamore. There is a difference. The mechanical hackamore has a chain under chin and noseband with reins attached to shanks all on a headstall. The regular hackamore has a bosel from which double reins are taken from a knot under the jaw line. The knot is adjusted for various pressure. Personally, I like the hackamore because I like the way it looks on Sig plus he has nothing in his mouth so I_________________________________________________________________ The new MSN 8 is here: Try it free* for 2 months http://join.msn.com/?page=dept/dialup =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
|