I have been lucky enough to only have to use a hackamore with several of my horses along with a low port snaffle..

Not very aggressive, I sometimes wish I had one on them before but it all worked out with patience.

I guess it was good I didn't have a more affressive bit or I might of just yanked it a couple times before thinking about why they were reacting the way they were.

What is everyone favorite bit. I will try and wash of some of my tack and get a couple photos up.

Nice forum idea, I will have to gather up some bit questions I have had. Okay some "discussions" I have had with my wife about them


Spud

My favorite bit, well...really depends on the horse. When I'm starting a young horse, I prefer a very lightweight rope halter, or a plain broken snaffle. No pain, and direct pressure. I do use a hackamore on one of my mares. It is not aggressive and she works very well off of it.

We have enjoyed using Rawhide Bosal to start our young
horse years ago.
I see they seem to still be in style.

Again I have learned so much from Buckaroo John Brand on the
care and maintenance of Tack.
He has put up some informative Videos on You Tube..
One I appreciate is the

"How to tie Mecate Reins"

I'm very interested in learning more about the Bosals. I've never used one. If you don't mind me asking, how are the brakes with a bosal hackamore/how much more aggressive (that's not quite the word I want) are they than just a plain rope halter like a Parelli halter?

I can't help you with Parelli.
But, every Bosal horse I've ridden either pre-train or trained myself. Was extremely sensitive to the Bosal. Have even shown some reiners that way. Of coarse every horse is different and has different levels of sensitivity. The coarser flatter nosed horses, tend to be a litlle less sensitive. as with everything else horse, the more you put in time/effort the more you get back.

I ride my 30 year old in a tom thumb, I have tried to take him back to a plain snaffle but just doesn't like to work off it so at his age he wins this one. But in general all my horse are ridden in a basic d, O, or eggbutt, snaffle. Now I just aquired a Tenn. Walking horse and once the weight is put back on him will we see how he does.

Oops, I suppose I didn't quite explain myself. I am aware of the Parelli level 1-2 bridles and how they work, I am trying to figure out how much pressure the Bosal gives as compared to riding in a regular halter or rope halter. Is it the hardness of the Bosal across the bridge of the nose that horses are sensitive to?

I'll try to explain them as best I can, but someone else may be able to make it clearer.
Bosals are just as tricky as bits;
It is usually made of braided rawhide and is fitted to the horse in a manner that allows it to rest quietly until the rider uses the reins to give a signal. It acts upon the horse's nose and jaw.The bosal has a thick wrapper on top of the nose, called a nose "button," and the ends meet at a heavy heel knot beneath the chin.The rein system of the hackamore is called the mecate, it is approximately 20-25 feet long, tied to the bosal in a specialized manner that adjusts the size of the bosal around the muzzle of the horse. Part of how they work is because of the snugness. Bosals come in varying diameters and weights, allowing a more skilled horse to "graduate" into ever lighter equipment.
So to really answer your question, yes they are more severe than a halter which would just lay flat against the head/nose. It is a combination of diameter/weight/balance/snugness. As they do come in various weights and sizes. When ridden correctly they are very easy on a horse. But if set wrong or jerked on it will be quite severe.
Hope that helped.

Yes thanks very much! I appreciate it. So would you say bosals could actually be painful/cause pain to horses in the hands of an inexperienced rider? If you could compare the severity level of a Bosal to a Bit, which bit would you name (though I know bits themselves are not severe, it is all of the hands of the rider)

I hope I am making sense.

Absolutely !
They are made to be used extremely lightly. I would not recommend for the inexperienced. Although the only way you can learn something is by doing it. And there is a first time for everything. If you go in with the understanding that it is to be used lightly and with sensitivity, go ahead and try one.
All of my bosal horses, go in a straight bar very bendable [not metal coated with rubber] snaffle. The finished horses ride in a small spade-with 8' reins that are never used.