The hackamore or bitless bridle, as the name suggests, does not have a bit. Its purpose is to provide an alternative means of how to control a horse or pony. The english hackmore bridle has metal shanks or cheeks and sometimes has a curb chain that fits under the jaw. Hackamores are normally used on horses or ponies which have damaged or injured their mouths or on horses which, for some reason, will not accept a conventional bit. The horse's mouth area is totally unaffected by the hackamore bridle which works by exerting leverage pressure on the horse’s nose, poll and chin groove instead of on the bars of the horse's mouth.