I'll preface this comment by saying that I am not a hackamore man. I have used them and I think I have a cursory understanding of their origin and function, but I am limited to a couple dozen hackamore horses where some others have trained many more. I know this though, the hackamore is only necessary if one is concerned with adhering to the California traditions. That being said, a hackamore has a lot of value and a well rounded horseman should have a few in his tack room and he/she should understand how a hackamore works and when to use it. "The Hackamore Reinsman" by Ed Connell is a good resource for info. It's old, but the principles are timeless. It's important to remember that a traditional hackamore functions opposite from a snaffle. In other words, when we pull on the left rein in a snaffle the right side of the bit contacts the right side of the horse's face and pulls the horse to the left. The hackamore is opposite.
Richard Boatwright
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23 Jan 18:45
When the left rein is pulled the hack rotates to the right so that the horse must interpret the meaning and learn to turn into the pressure rather than come off the pressure. Of course most horses are smart enough to figure it out. For this reason, I want my colts to neck rein a little before I transition into a hackamore. This is a deep rabbit hole and we could spend all night talking about how the hackamore came into being, why it's a part of the tradition, and what type of horses and riders can benefit from it. The spade bit is another subject entirely!😅