The Art of Hackamore Training: A Time-Honored Step in the Bridle-Horse Tradition
Old-time California vaqueros left a fine legacy to horsemen today—the bridle horse, the ultimate in finesse and control. Time-tested practices passed from generation to generation go into the making of a bridle horse, and hackamore training is an important step in the process. To understand the hackamore and its use is to understand its history, origin, and development, as well as the use of such equipment as the bosal, mecate, and more.No two men are more qualified to provide fresh insight into hackamore skills than Al Dunning and Benny Guitron, who, as young men, learned hackamore horsemanship from the masters. These two multiple world champions have claimed numerous titles in American Quarter Horse Association, National Reined Cow Horse Association, and National Cutting Horse Association competition.InThe Art of Hackamore Training, Dunning and Guitron, with the help of award-winning Western photographer Robert Dawson and writer Deanna Lally, explain how to develop the hackamore horse, from groundwork and key points under saddle to advanced horsemanship maneuvers and cattle work. To Dunning and Guitron, guiding a young stock horse through hackamore training means not only mastering such skills, but also executing them with such proficiency that horse and rider seem to be of one mind.