Hackamores and Bosals have been a tool in the tack room for centuries. While these aren't the answer for everyone, they have been a great technique for many riders. The bitless headgear is used in various riding disciplines and for different reasons. The point is to work off of external pressure points, but you need to be cautious when utilizing a hackamore or bosal. If used incorrectly, they can be more harsh than bits. You have to make sure you have them placed properly on the nose and not too far down on the soft spot. In some cases, people have actually fractured their horse's nose by using a hackamore wrong. They can be a great piece of tack to have, it is just important to use them correctly and take time to introduce them to your horse. 

Bosal: 

A bosal is a noseband used on a classic hackamore of the Vaquero tradition. It is usually made out of braided rawhide and comes in various diameters. The more skilled the horse becomes, they can move down in weight. A bosal is most commonly used for training young horses. It can be used on finished horses and some riders prefer the look/feel of continuing them in a bosal. A bosal is to be used with mecate reins, but it does not have shanks to attach the reins to. You have to tie the mecates onto the bosal. It then will rest on the horse's nose until the rider signals with their reins. It acts on nose and jaw pressure. 

Mechanical Hackamore: 

A mechanical hackamore is any type of hackamore with a shank. They will also come with a curb chain (for woah) and your reins will attach to the shanks. It is commonly used in many different disciplines, from barrel racing to trail riding. Mechanical hackamores will also work off of nose pressure and usually consist of a leather, rawhide, or rope noseband. They do come in a variety of styles, including long or short shanks. The shank length will be similar to a bit. The long shank hackamores will provide more leverage when signaling. Just because there is no bit, doesn't mean a mechanical hack can't be harsh. Depending on the material, shank length, and placement, a hackamore can actually be more damaging than a bit. A horse's nose is a very sensitive area and you should be cautious when using the noseband. You also need to make sure the hackamore is sitting further up and not down on the soft spot of the nose. A mechanical hackamore is not recommended for starting/training young horses due to the pressure being so different than a bit. They can be a great tool, but can take time to get used to and may not work for every horse. 

Indian Hackamore: 

An Indian hackamore is a very unique piece of equipment. It is very simple and similar to a rope halter, just with more control and communication. It is becoming very popular within the bitless riding world and natural horsemanship. Typically, they are made out of paracord, yacht rope, or rawhide. They do have a flat noseband and they are very adjustable to fit different horses. It widens or narrows, which is a great feature! The ends that connect to your reins are crossed, allowing this to work off of nose pressure. Basically, when you pull on your rein to go right, the pressure goes under the jaw and to the opposite side to bring the horse's head to the right. It is also good for any level of training. One thing to keep in mind, there is no curb strap. So just make sure when you are testing things out that you are doing it slowly and safely. 

Hackamores can be a game changer for some riders, especially if you have a horse with a very sensitive mouth. They can be a great option, but it is not a "fix all" for everyone. Some horses may not respond well to it, so just keep that in mind. There are many different variations of hackamores so it is just important to take your time and do your research. 

I found this great article from Jim Warner, a successful Futurity Barrel Horse Trainer. He has developed one of the most popular barrel racing hackamores around. It is a very cool design, but I love his outlook on the hackamore. He makes an outstanding point that I think everyone could benefit from. As always, we are here to help with any questions and huge shoutout to the customer request on this blog, we appreciate you guys! 

“I don’t think a hackamore is something you can stick on a horse and just go run them in it unless they’ve been ridden with a bit with a noseband before,” Warner advised. “If you take a young horse that’s only been ridden with a snaffle or a bit of some type, that’s never worn a noseband of any sort, and you put a hackamore on them and think they’re going to work right off the bat, I don’t think that’s going to happen. It’s totally different pressure on their face. It’s something they’re not used to, and you’ve got to work them in it some. If it’s an older horse that’s used to some type of noseband, I think you have a better chance of going right away.” 

-Jim Warner Barrel Horse News Article