Every modern training exercise out there and all the old ones too…ALL OF IT! Just remember to keep in line basic hackamore principles:
1. HANDS UP AND “IN YOUR BOX”
The hackamore works in an up/down fashion, not lateral. Keep in line with the tool you’re using and hold your hands up. This will get the most out of the hackamore.
2. BUMP AND RELEASE
Do not hold that hackamore. The whole idea of training with one is keeping the bluff alive. The way that bluff is there is by bumping and releasing to never show the horse how strong you are (and how much weaker you are than them).
3. PULL AS HARD AS THE HEAD
Do not pull harder than the horse’s head or try to force. Pull accordingly and conform to their needs. Light horses should be handled very lightly, heavy horses may need a firm hand before returning to softness. If you find a horse needs to be forced to do something, there is a hole in training or the horse needs you to slow down! Hackamores train as fast as the horse learns, they do not, will not, and cannot rush anything.
CLOSING
Keeping these things in line, a hackamore horse can learn dressage movements and reined cow-horse drills just fine. It unlocks a whole treasure trove of training exercises for the average hackamore horse and aspiring buckaroo!
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