The Comfort Hackamore by Delange's Single Tree Products LLC
This rope hackamore is great as a training tool, or just to give your horse a break from the bit.
What Makes Jack's Manufacturing Different?
Co- Creator of Delange's
Single Tree Products, LLC shares how the comfort hackamore was created:
Jay and I have had horses for many years. It was during the training clinics we have done, that the ideas for these products were born. While observing the sensitivity of a horses’ head, Jay came up with the idea of the hackamore. With a lot of trial and error, the comfort hackamore is his answer. It is relatively soft so as not to "sore" the nose or jaw on the horse. The rope that we use transmits movement very nicely so as to “que” the horse with as light a touch as possible. The more that you work at it with the horse, the "lighter" they become. We do a lot of trail riding in the mountains and sometimes on very tough trails. With the hackamore being made of rope, if the horse was to fall, there is no bit in the mouth to hurt the horse. From our customers, the most common remark that we get is that “the horse is so much calmer than when being ridden with a bit. It's as if they have had an attitude adjustment”. We not only use the hackamore for trail riding but we've done cattle sorting and have started both our horses in lower level reining. Most recently we are competing in competitive trail riding.
Comfort HackamoreThis rope hackamore is great as a training tool, or just to give your horse a break from the bit. Best of all, it is great for pleasure riders who want to ride their horses bit-less. It is light weight and will not rub your horse. This is not a leverage hackamore. Instead, it works off the nerve endings under the jaw. Ride with confidence and control, with a light feel.
Comfort Hobbles
The comfort hobble is made of braided nylon rope. When we do long stays in the mountains, hobbling twice a day, leather or flat nylon hobbles leave some bad rubs around the pasterns. With the flat braided nylon they do not rub. They are not only strong and adjustable, but very light weight and easy to carry.
How Do I Train My Horse To Switch To The Comfort Hackamore?
Start in a round pen or other safe fenced area. Start on the ground by flexing the horse left and right using a very light bumping motion. Once the horse is giving to the pressure you can get on and do just like you did on the ground. Remember the horse learns from the Release of pressure not the pressure itself. Start at the walk and practice one rein stops. Do not release the horse until he gives with his head. When he is doing good at the walk progress to the trot doing the same. When you have the one rein stop mastered start asking for turns, remember to ask as gentle as you can and still get results. As you ride remember to ride with as little contact as possible. (light hands make for light horses)
What Do You Mean By Use A "Light Touch?"
One way to picture a light touch is to envision your reins as garden hoses. you have water in your hoses and don't want to lose any, if you pull too hard out goes the water. So keep some drape in your reins. You can shorten the reins and still keep slack by moving your hands forward. Think of this, if I hold your arm gently for 5 minutes and then start to squeeze you won't feel it until I have squeezed quite hard because your arm is numb. I have ridden my horse in the hackamore for 7 years now and I have to use almost no pressure because I constantly try to get lighter and lighter.
Says Ann Pruitt, From InfoHorse.com...
I have tried several hackamores-- even ones purported to be kind and forgiving-- after a few days, my horse would typically become "dull" or even rebellious from the light pressure on her nose. NOT SO with the "Comfort Hackamore"... I was Amazed at her responsiveness and acceptance of this hackamore. I would recommend this Hackamore to everyone!
Order Your Comfort Hackamore and Comfort Hobbles Today!Make sure your horse is riding in a Comfort Hackamore. You'll love the difference and so will your horse! For more information about these products and to place your order, please call us today!
What Is The Comfort Hackamore?
The Comfort Hackamore is a bitless rope hackamore handmade by Delange's Single Tree Products, LLC of Pagosa Springs, Colorado. Unlike a mechanical or leverage hackamore, it carries no shanks and no curb action; instead it works gently off the sensitive nerve endings under the horse's jaw. It is deliberately soft so it will not "sore" the nose or jaw, and the rope is chosen because it transmits the rider's movement cleanly, letting you cue the horse with as light a touch as possible. The makers describe it as a tool that asks rather than forces, so the more you ride in it, the lighter and more responsive the horse becomes.
The Story Behind the Brand
The hackamore is the creation of Jay and Sally DeLange, lifelong horse owners who developed their products during the training clinics they ran together. While studying how sensitive a horse's head really is, Jay conceived the hackamore and refined it through a long stretch of trial and error until the Comfort Hackamore became his answer. The DeLanges still ride in it themselves across backcountry mountain trails, in cattle sorting, in lower-level reining, and in competitive trail riding, so the design is proven in the same demanding conditions they sell it for. The site's photography and design are credited to Larry Williams Photography & Design, Inc.
Materials And Build Quality
Both signature products are built from rope rather than leather or hardware, which is central to how they perform. The Comfort Hackamore is made of rope so that, should a horse ever fall on a tough trail, there is no bit in the mouth to injure it. The companion Comfort Hobbles are made of flat, braided nylon rope and weigh only about 4 ounces, so they are strong, adjustable, and light enough to carry on a long ride. The DeLanges adopted the braided nylon specifically because, on long mountain stays where they hobble twice a day, leather and flat-nylon hobbles left bad rubs around the pasterns while the flat braided nylon does not rub or burn the horse.
How To Transition Your Horse To Bitless Riding
The DeLanges recommend starting in a round pen or other safe, fenced area and working from the ground first, flexing the horse left and right with a very light bumping motion. Once the horse gives to that pressure you mount and repeat the same exercise, always remembering that the horse learns from the release of pressure, not from the pressure itself. Begin at a walk practicing one-rein stops, never releasing until the horse softens his head, then progress to the trot and finally to turns, asking as gently as possible while still getting a result. Their guiding image for a light touch is to picture your reins as garden hoses full of water you do not want to spill, keeping drape in the line and moving your hands forward to shorten the reins without losing slack.
Who It Fits Best
The Comfort Hackamore suits trainers who want a humane schooling tool, riders who simply want to give a horse a break from the bit, and pleasure riders who want to ride bitless with real confidence and control. Because it is light weight and will not rub, it fits everything from quiet trail rides to cattle work and entry-level reining. InfoHorse.com's own Ann Pruitt tried it after several other hackamores left her horse dull or rebellious, and reported being amazed at her horse's responsiveness and acceptance, saying she would recommend this hackamore to everyone.
Pricing And How To Order
The Comfort Hackamore is priced at $80.00 plus S&H and the Comfort Hobbles at $29.95 plus S&H, both made to order by the DeLanges themselves. To ask questions or place an order, contact Jay and Sally DeLange at 766 Saddleback Drive, Pagosa Springs, Colorado 81147, by phone at (alternate ), or by. Because each piece is handcrafted, calling ahead is the surest way to confirm current availability and arrange shipping.
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The Solution Section (FAQ)
What is The Comfort Hackamore?
Per Delange's Single Tree Products, LLC: a rope hackamore great as a training tool — or just to give your horse a break from the bit.
Per the company: "Jay and I have had horses for many years. It was during the training clinics we have done, that the ideas for these products were born."
How does the Comfort Hackamore work — what's the design?
Per Single Tree Products: relatively soft so as not to "sore" the nose or jaw. The rope used transmits movement very nicely so as to cue the horse with as light a touch as possible.
Per the company: "The more that you work at it with the horse, the 'lighter' they become."
Bonus benefit: with the hackamore being made of rope, if the horse falls, there is no bit in the mouth to hurt the horse.
What do customers say about the calming effect?
Per Single Tree Products: the most common customer remark is that "the horse is so much calmer than when being ridden with a bit. It's as if they have had an attitude adjustment."
Per the company: used for trail riding, cattle sorting, lower-level reining, and competitive trail riding.
What's the Comfort Hobble?
Per Single Tree Products: the Comfort Hobble is made of braided nylon rope. Per the company: "When we do long stays in the mountains, hobbling twice a day, leather or flat nylon hobbles leave some bad rubs around the pasterns. With the flat braided nylon they do not rub."
Specs: strong, adjustable, very lightweight, and easy to carry.
How do I train my horse to switch to the Comfort Hackamore?
Per Single Tree Products: start in a round pen or other safe fenc[ed area] with the horse already accepting basic groundwork. Per the company: introduce the hackamore in a controlled environment so the horse can learn the new cue system without bit-related fall-back habits.
How do I order?
Per Delange's Single Tree Products, LLC: Phone 970-903-9335, email [email protected], website http://www.singletreeproducts.net/. Pricing as quoted is subject to change.
What is the Comfort Hackamore by Delange's Single Tree Products?
It is a bitless rope hackamore handmade by Delange's Single Tree Products, LLC in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. It is used as a training tool and as a way to give a horse a break from the bit, and it is also popular with pleasure riders who want to ride bitless. It works gently off the nerve endings under the horse's jaw rather than through leverage.
Who created the Comfort Hackamore?
It was created by Jay and Sally DeLange, lifelong horse owners. Jay came up with the idea while observing how sensitive a horse's head is during the training clinics he and Sally ran, and the Comfort Hackamore is the result of a great deal of trial and error to perfect a soft, effective bitless design.
Is the Comfort Hackamore a leverage or mechanical hackamore?
No. The makers are explicit that this is not a leverage hackamore. It has no shanks or curb action; instead it works off the nerve endings under the jaw, so it cues the horse through light, direct rope contact rather than mechanical leverage.
What is the Comfort Hackamore made of?
It is made of rope. The DeLanges chose rope specifically because it transmits the rider's movement nicely for very light cues, and because if a horse were to fall on a tough trail there is no bit in the mouth to injure it. The rope is also relatively soft so it does not sore the horse's nose or jaw.
How much does the Comfort Hackamore cost?
The Comfort Hackamore is priced at $80.00 plus shipping and handling. Because each one is handcrafted to order by the DeLanges, contacting them directly is the best way to confirm current pricing and availability.
What are the Comfort Hobbles and what do they cost?
The Comfort Hobbles are the companion product, made of light weight braided nylon rope weighing approximately 4 ounces. They are strong, adjustable, easy to carry, and designed not to burn or rub the horse, which the DeLanges discovered was a problem with leather or flat nylon hobbles on long mountain stays. The Comfort Hobbles are priced at $29.95 plus shipping and handling.
Why would I ride my horse bitless?
Riding bitless can give a horse relief from the pressure and discomfort a bit can cause, and many riders find their horses become calmer and more relaxed. The DeLanges report that the most common remark from customers is that the horse is much calmer than when ridden with a bit, almost as if it has had an attitude adjustment. It is also useful for training, for sensitive-mouthed horses, and for safety on rough terrain where a bit could injure a falling horse.
What does the maker mean by using a 'light touch'?
The DeLanges describe it with two images. First, picture your reins as garden hoses full of water you do not want to spill, so you keep drape in the reins and move your hands forward to shorten them without losing slack. Second, remember that a horse, like a numb arm, will not feel light contact, so by constantly trying to get lighter you teach the horse to respond to almost no pressure at all.
Why does the horse learn from the release of pressure?
In the DeLanges' method, the horse learns from the release of pressure, not from the pressure itself. The moment you release as soon as the horse softens or gives, you reward the correct response, which is why they stress not releasing during a one-rein stop until the horse actually gives with his head.
Is the Comfort Hackamore safe for trail riding?
Yes, and safety on the trail is one of the reasons it exists. The DeLanges do a lot of trail riding in the mountains, sometimes on very tough trails, and because the hackamore is made of rope there is no bit in the mouth to hurt the horse if it falls. It is also light weight and will not rub the horse on long rides.
What disciplines have the DeLanges used the Comfort Hackamore for?
They use it well beyond trail riding. The DeLanges have done cattle sorting in it, started both of their horses in lower-level reining with it, and most recently have been competing in competitive trail riding while riding in the hackamore.
Will the hackamore or hobbles rub or sore my horse?
The products are designed specifically to avoid this. The hackamore is relatively soft so it does not sore the nose or jaw, and it is light weight and will not rub. The Comfort Hobbles use flat braided nylon rope because, unlike leather or flat nylon, it does not rub the pasterns even when a horse is hobbled twice a day during long stays.
How long has the maker personally ridden in the Comfort Hackamore?
One of the makers states they have ridden their horse in the hackamore for seven years and now uses almost no pressure at all, because they constantly try to ride lighter and lighter. This long personal use is part of why they are confident recommending it to other riders.
What did InfoHorse.com's Ann Pruitt say about the Comfort Hackamore?
Ann Pruitt wrote that she had tried several hackamores, even ones said to be kind and forgiving, but after a few days her horse would typically become dull or even rebellious from the light pressure on her nose. She said this was not so with the Comfort Hackamore and that she was amazed at her horse's responsiveness and acceptance, adding that she would recommend this hackamore to everyone.
How do I contact Delange's Single Tree Products to order?
You can reach Jay and Sally DeLange at 766 Saddleback Drive, Pagosa Springs, Colorado 81147. Call 970-903-9335 (alternate number 970-264-4616) or email
[email protected]. Since the products are handmade to order, calling is the most reliable way to ask questions, confirm availability, and arrange shipping.
Is the Single Tree Products website still active?
The original website at www.singletreeproducts.net is no longer online, so the best way to reach Delange's Single Tree Products, LLC today is by phone at 970-903-9335 or 970-264-4616, or by email at
[email protected]. The product information and pricing above were drawn directly from the company's own published materials.
