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Chelle,
Ideally, the horse should neck rein so that you can "steer" with your neck cues, legs, and seat. I DO direct rein on occasion when there is URGENT need, but you risk engaging the curb unintentionally. You have to realize that you won't have the feel of the horse being "on the bit" like in dressage if you switch to a hack. For dressage schooling I switch back to a bit.
If you watch a <good> western rider, they use the curb for half halts (seat and briefly pick up on the reins) - they just may not call it a half halt. In fact, when I finished a horse's training with a Spanish spade curb, directions were almost exclusively seat & legs with very little neck cues. The bit was inactive except for a slight touch on the reins and firmness in the seat to indicate a half halt or an upcoming transition. It would work the same with a hackamore.
We recently put a hackamore on my husbands 18 year old gelding. You should of seen the look on his face the first time he ate on a ride when he was bitless. Greed & joy went across his face! (He had been working in a jointed egg but snaffle or a mild, solid, low port Uxeter kimberwicke.)
Good luck with the transition. Most horses pick it up pretty fast.
Linda
-----Original Message-----
From: Chelle Sherman [mailto:cms@fluent.com]
My question is - how do I
ride with a hackamore? I have almost zero experience with curb bits and
have never ridden with a hackamore. Is the S-hackamore more of a western
style hackamore? Do I neck rein? Can I half-halt when I need to? My
horse will neck rein and is very responsive to my leg and weight aids,
so I think I'll be fine riding Western style. Any tips on hackamore
technique would be appreciated. Thanks!
Chelle and Dy (ready to chow down on trail without a bit!)
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