The Pros & Cons of Mechanical Hackamores

A mechanical hackamore is a bitless device that controls a horse by applying pressure primarily across its nose with additional pressure placed on the poll and chin. The mechanical hackamore should not be confused with traditional, bosal-style hackamores; the only thing the mechanical hackamore has in common with the traditional hackamore is the lack of a bit. Its application and purposes are very different.

  1. Pro: It's Bitless

    • One of the main reasons horse owners choose a hackamore is because it does not have a metal bit that goes in the horse's mouth. Some riders believe that the lack of a bit makes the hackamore more pleasant for the horse, especially horses with dental problems or that have very sensitive mouths. It can also be useful if a horse has been injured around the mouth or tongue and can not use a bit while healing.

    Con: Steering

    • The mechanical hackamore does not work the same way as a traditional bridle does, in that it controls the horse using leverage and pressure. Mechanical hackamores do not deliver a good, clear direct rein signal to the horse, which can make it difficult for horses that are not extremely well trained to understand where they are supposed to be going, especially if the rider accidentally gives unclear signals.

    Con: Risk of Injury

    • The primary problem with a mechanical hackamore is that, in the hands of an inexperienced or heavy handed rider, it can be an extremely severe tool. This piece of tack controls the horse by applying pressure across the noseband, if used improperly it can apply a lot of pressure and cause the horse significant pain. It is not unheard of for an inexperienced or harsh rider to choke a horse or break its nose with a mechanical hackamore.

    Experience Matters

    • The mechanical hackamore should only be used by very experienced riders on well-trained horses.

      On the one hand, inexperienced riders run the risk of injuring the horse if they use the mechanical hackamore improperly, and untrained horses may not understand cues from the hackamore, as the bitless bridle does not provide good contact for steering and relies heavily on the horse understanding and responding to the rider's seat and legs.

      On the other hand, an experienced horse and rider team can use the mechanical hackamore effectively. The tack gives horses a good amount of head freedom while still encouraging proper position and gives the rider adequate control over the horse. In the right hands, the mechanical hackamore can be a useful tool.