Bitless riding with the wheel of fortune hackamore
The wheel of fortune hackamore is considered the all-rounder among bitless bridles and is essentially a gentler version of the classic hackamore. However, it has a unique selling point that sets the wheel of fortune hackamore apart from other types of hackamores: it can be fastened in a variety of ways, ranging from no leverage to significant leverage. This is due to its 6 spokes, into which the reins can be fastened at various points. This allows it to be adapted to the personal needs and preferences of both horse and rider.
Find out below whether a wheel of fortune hackamore can make you and your horse completely happy when riding bitless.
Is a wheel of fortune hackamore harsh?
With a wheel of fortune hackamore, you have numerous fastening options, which is why it can have varying degrees of effect. In principle, however, the wheel of fortune hackamore exerts even pressure on the horse’s nose, chin and poll. This is caused by the rotation of the wheel of fortune hackamore when the reins are shortened. As a result, it is less harsh than a hackamore with shanks, where the leverage is generated by the length of the shanks.
Fastening the wheel of fortune hackamore correctly – step-by-step guide
For the wheel of fortune hackamore to work effectively, it must fit correctly. The wheel of fortune hackamore consists of a wheel with six spokes and a chin and nose strap. You can therefore use your usual bridle, simply removing the noseband. However, you should fasten the headpiece at least two holes tighter than usual when using a bit, as the wheels sit higher than the bit rings.
When you fasten the wheel of fortune hackamore into the existing bridle, the cheek pieces should sit in the upper, central spoke, leaving one spoke free on either side of the chin strap and noseband. This ensures that the wheel sits centrally on the side of the horse’s head and is approximately the same distance from the bridge of the nose and the lower jaw. At the same time, make sure that the cheek pieces do not slip into the eyes. If this happens, you can also fasten the chin strap to a spoke directly behind the cheek piece to create more space between the eye and the cheek strap (see photo). However, this already creates a slight lever effect.
There should be a gap of one to two fingers‘ width between the wheel and the cheekbone. This is because the wheel may slip upwards as it rotates and then press against the lower cheekbone. As the nerve endings run close to the surface, this is extremely painful for the horse and must be avoided at all costs.
Once the wheel of fortune hackamore is correctly positioned, it simply needs to be fastened tightly. It should fit more snugly than the noseband of a standard bridle with a bit. Instead of two fingers, only one finger should fit under the noseband. The reason: if the wheel of fortune hackamore fits too loosely on the horse’s head, it wobbles back and forth, causing the signals to reach the horse indistinctly and also rubbing the coat on the bridge of the nose. However, there must still be at least one finger’s width of space so that the horse can continue to chew.
Different levels of leverage with the wheel of fortune hackamore
Now comes the real magic of the wheel of fortune hackamore: fastening the reins!
Depending on where the reins are fastened into the spokes of the wheel of fortune hackamore, you can achieve varying degrees of leverage.
The basic fastening creates no leverage at all and therefore acts like a headcollar or sidepull. For this, the reins are fastened into the spoke between the cheek piece and the chin strap. This variant is suitable for sensitive horses and for getting used to the leverage effect.
The other variants create a leverage effect which, like all bits with leverage, is reserved for advanced riders with steady hands.
- Leverage level 1: Starting from the basic fastening, the reins are fastened into the spoke in front of the chin strap.
- Leverage level 2: The cheek piece is fastened one spoke further back, so that the cheek piece and chin strap lie directly one after the other and one spoke remains free between the cheek piece and the noseband. The reins are fastened into the spoke in front of the chin strap.
- Leverage level 3: The cheek piece is fastened one spoke forward, so that there are now two spokes free between the cheek piece and the chin strap. The reins are fastened into the spoke in front of the chin strap.
- Leverage level 4: The cheekpieces, noseband and chin strap are fastened into the three upper spokes one after the other, so that three spokes are free at the front and bottom. The rein is now fastened into the front, middle spoke, leaving one spoke free on either side of the chin strap and noseband. The strong rotation caused by pulling the reins now exerts a significant lever effect on the horse’s head.
The principle of fastening is as follows: The further away the reins are fastened from the noseband, the less pressure is exerted on the bridge of the nose and thus the less leverage there is. Conversely, the closer the reins are fastened to the noseband, the greater the pressure on the horse’s head, because the rotation of the wheel of fortune hackamore is then also greater.
The advantages of bitless riding with the wheel of fortune hackamore
Bitless riding in itself has great potential. But why exactly should you switch to bitless riding with a wheel of fortune hackamore? Let’s summarise the advantages of the wheel of fortune hackamore for horse and rider:
- An all-rounder among bitless bridles
- A variety of fastening options are possible, so only one bridle is needed
- A gentler version of the classic hackamore with shanks
- Easy for the horse to understand
- The wheels sit close and flat against the horse’s head, ensuring very precise contact
- Makes it easier for horses to chew and swallow
- Low, gentle leverage, making it suitable for transitioning to bitless riding, leverage bits and for sensitive horses.
Ultimately, you must decide for yourself and your horse which type of bitless riding works best for you. Don’t be afraid to experiment and try out all the fastening options on the wheel of fortune hackamore. And the biggest advantage of the wheel of fortune hackamore: you can adjust the fastening again and again if it no longer suits you properly after a while.
Who is the wheel of fortune hackamore suitable for?
In principle, the wheel of fortune hackamore is suitable for every horse and every riding style, as it can be individually adjusted and adapted to any headpiece.
It is suitable for riders who wish to gently transition their horse to riding with leverage bits or bitless riding. The wheel of fortune hackamore is also ideal for riding horses with mouth problems or following dental treatment.
The wheel of fortune hackamore is less suitable for horses with small heads, as the wheel can be quite large and may therefore press against the cheekbone. The wheel of fortune hackamore is also not suitable for dressage riders at competitions, as bitless riding is still not permitted in dressage tests according to the British Dressage handbook and FEI guidelines.
To find out which other horses a bitless bridle is suitable for and which ones you might consider, read our guide on bitless riding.