Modificaions to the "S" hackamore

[guest@endurance.net]

PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO GUEST@ENDURANCE.NET!!!
You must post replies to the actual sender listed below.

From: Barb Peck 
Email: bpeck@together.net

To all of you who use the little "S" or
other lariat rope noseband, shank hackamores.. I will 
share with you 2 modifications some of you may want
to try:

1) Remove that piece of cable (wire) that
holds the bottom of the shanks together and
replace it with a lip strap or laced 
piece of latigo. 
(A lip strap is exactly
the right lenghth.)
Then take a couple of small rings or  closed S hooks and raise
the strap above the chin, attaching it to the curb
strap.  This will keep the shanks together
and raise the lip strap above the chin
so it doesn't touch the horse, but
it does the job of keeping the
shanks together if you pull one rein
laterally.

2) Have a shoe repair guy (or saddle maker)
take flat belt leather about 1 or 1 1/4"
wide (but not thick) and place it UNDER the lariat rope nose band
bringing the ends around the top part of the S
shank and then down back over the top of
the rope... sew it together.  
This makes a noseband that does not
mark up the horses nose, and
does not leave any leather ends to
rub under the top of the shank.

I use a beetle hacamore, which is almost
identicle to the little "S", but
with straight 6" shanks.
I modified mine like this and solved
the problem of the cable wire and the thin
rope noseband, both of which
can do damage (especially that thin
wire cable)

Barb