What is the difference between a side pull and a Hackamore?
A hackamore is a bridle with no bit. A mechanical hackamore is a bitless bridle with shanks. A bitless bridle without shanks is called a side pull. Rather than pressure being applied inside of the mouth, the hackamore places pressure over the nose and other points of the head.
What is the difference between a side pull and a bitless bridle?
Basically all bitless bridles are a variation of either cross-under or side-pull. Cross-under bitless bridles have two straps that cross behind the jaw (hence the name) and apply pressure around the whole head while side-pulls have the reins attached to the sides of the bridle and apply pressure to the nose.
Can you neck rein in a side pull?
Steering is usually direct reining, although you can neck rein with a side pull. When the reins are pulled back, pressure is placed on the bridge of the horse’s nose. When one rein is pulled to turn, the horse’s nose/head is pulled in the direction of the rein.
How tight should a bitless bridle be?
CORRECT FITTING FOR THE CROSSOVER BITLESS BRIDLE In an average-sized horse the bottom edge of the noseband should lie between 3.8 and 5.0 cm (one-and-a-half to two inches, or about two fingers) above the corner of the mouth (Fig. 1). At this height there is no danger of the noseband obstructing the airway.
How does a bitless bridle work?
The traditional bitless bridles (i.e., the Hackamores, bosals and sidepulls) work primarily through pressure on the nose. The Bitless Bridle, on the other hand, allows the rider to communicate by painless pressure that is distributed around the whole of the head.
Is a Hackamore better than a bit?
The hackamore has more weight, which allows for more signal before direct contact. This allows the horse a greater opportunity to prepare. With a snaffle bit, you can do as much as it takes to get the job done, whereas the hackamore helps you can learn how little as it takes to get the job done.