How to fit a Hackamore for Your Horse! (Easy to understand, simple steps & what to look for)

[@dw-qh2fr]

Thankyou for this excellent explanation on fitting. I’m using one for the first time

[@josebarrientes177]

Hey bud you gave a really good explanation on how to fit a hackamore. Thanks

[@Coltonwoodshorsemanship]

Appreciate that Jose! You’re very welcome!

[@lizdaffner]

Thank you so much!

[@Coltonwoodshorsemanship]

You're very welcome!

[@asiriusgeek]

This seems like a question I shouldn’t need to ask, but it would be helpful to see how you tie the hanger. I’m tieing like my rope halter, but it doesn’t seem to be laying properly and I feel like I’m missing something. Thanks for these videos!

[@Coltonwoodshorsemanship]

@asiriusgeek - we’ll get a video done of how you can secure your hanger so it does not slide/loosen and lays flat without interfering with their eye.

[@asiriusgeek]

@@Coltonwoodshorsemanship fantastic, thank you in advance!

[@brittanyritenour4695]

I wonder how you would fit a Saddlebred, we have one for ginger it fits good but she does have light around her nose but she has a very narrow nose and a long slender head so like I feel like it will be too small to get a smaller one, it sits on her nose but there's space in her nose cuz she has a tb like head and her nose intends inward on her nose.

[@Coltonwoodshorsemanship]

One with a narrow nose we’d probably want a bosal that has a shorter nose button so the bosal isn’t too wide. With that being said we’d have to take into consideration how long her head is per se when looking from the top of her nose where to bosal would sit to underneath her jaw to get a more proper fit. That in combination with keeping the bosal shaped in a block will certainly help. Narrow nose horses though may still experience some light coming through just because of their head confirmation. I try to keep things practical and find ways to decrease that light and in turn increase surface area as much as possible while realizing some horses, based on the way their head is shaped, may still show some light under the bosal.

[@brittanyritenour4695]

@@Coltonwoodshorsemanship Her head is pretty long but it's super narrow, especially in the middle of her nose where it intents. Like her halters always have desent space yet she needs more space under like the throat latch, but that's more for halters and head stalls. She is very deep for a Saddlebred but narrow.The bosal needs tightened up, it might fit better, just tried it on. I saw others where they tightened it with the reins, like Rick Gore, etc still fairly loose. Yeah maybe, but she did really good with it, she doesn't like too much nose pressure, she also hates bits, she listens great without bits, We got all three the hackamore, side pulls, and the bosal to see which she does best in. She was real sensitive to the side pulls as she does not like pressure on her nose so she'll never pull through it, that's one thing she won't do. She was pretty quiet in the bosal , she seemed so relieved their was no bit haha, but it was loose, so I just wanted to ask. I am going to see if we can tighten it so it will help. Right, well I feel like if we got a smaller one i'd be too small and still show a little light, but Right. Okay!

[@smlmentorship1969]

So how. Do you know for sure how many wraps to use, as you could be changing the measurement?

[@Coltonwoodshorsemanship]

You’re looking for approximately 1inch of clearance between the top wrap and the bottom of the horse’s face when the bosal hangs in a neutral position. The exact number of wraps will depend on the fit of your bosal. On a good fitting Bosal usually, usually, is about 3 wraps. On occasion I’ve done 4 but much past that I’m getting a smaller bosal.

[@smlmentorship1969]

@@Coltonwoodshorsemanship thank you for your answer I have heard and read lots of different thoughts. On this. Also could you recommend a quality braided would like something similar to the the one I have but a bit smaller. It is 5/8 kangaroo with rawhide nose. Very nice set up. Tks

[@Coltonwoodshorsemanship]

I’d reach out to Brad Tarp, let him know we sent you. He has some great bosals available!

[@drewnelson2855]

If it rubs the hair off the nose or chin how do you combat that?

[@Coltonwoodshorsemanship]

1) I'd first be looking at fit and seeing if the bosal isnt fitting well and if that is causing the excessive rubbing. 2) I'd check my bosal to make sure its not super dry and scratchy which could be causing excess rubbing. If it is you can use a rawhide cream- I've used this one amzn.to/3NVtD4q 3) Perhaps an individual horse may need a softer bosal overall such as one made of latigo or roo hide versus straight rawhide.