Bridling issues

[nicolaj]

I have a small problem with my new pony (and hopefully the only one!).

She objects to being bridled, attempt to put the bridle on in the usual manner, ie right hand holding bridle and left guiding bit towards mouth method, once bit in mouth, pulling it up and pop over ears.

However, don't manage to get bit too near mouth before head up and it becomes a bit difficult and she really doesn't seem to like the process. Today she flung her head to one side and threw the bridle off before I managed to get it to her ears.

Teeth being done on 29/05 (earliest could get dentist!). Once the bridle on and riding, she is fine, doesn't toss her head around and will let me do it up.

I'm not sure if it is her ears that might be the problem and she generally isn't too keen on them being touched.

Any ideas would be appreciated about what the 'problem' could be and how to make the experience less 'stressful' all round!

Thanks:)

[bexj]

is she the same with a headcollar?

[nicolaj]

Not really, she will sometimes stick her nose in the air, but not so 'violent' reaction and can flip the bit that goes behind the ears over and buckle up easy enough.

Maybe see how she goes after the dentist has been.

Sometimes you don't know what has taken place previously that you aren't aware of that might have made her a bit 'head shy', but a bit of patience should help.

[Vez]

First I would get the vet to check her over just to rule out that possibility. My horse , Willow hates having her ears touched so I undo the cheek peice and lower the bridle over her ears. Then I would swing the bit into her mouth. ( I have a hackamore so I don't need to put bit in). I find this causes way less head tossing and Willow also got to the point where putting the bridle on meant having to get her ears touched and I wanted her to avoid thinking like that so this method was better. I would also advise you to make sure you are safe. I wore my hat for a while to avoid injuries. It used to take me ages to tack up and sometimes put me off riding her but this method really helped me. I hope this helps!

Good luck as I know exactly what your going through as had same problem :)

Vez xx

[Vez]

Hi, This is a link to a thread I started with simular problem. It might be of some help.

http://www.newrider.com/forum/showthread.php?t=95376

[Joyscarer]

I would look at going back as far as you can and do each bit of the process slowly so you can work out at what stage she isn't happy.

Maybe try the process without the bit for instance?

The other thing see have noticed which is fairly common is that many people bend the horses ears back when they put on a bridle. I guide Joy's ears in forwards which she finds more comfortable. :)

[chickflick1066]

Stumpy used to do that. It used to take us 2 hrs to bridle her. At the time, I thought it was naughtiness, but she was actually in pain as her saddle and bridle didn't fit, I was still too novicey to notice :o

I found changing her bridle for a manky/mouldy grackle leather bridle with a waterford bit, to a Thorowgood Conform Bridle with french-link snaffle helped loads too.

We sorted it out by breaking a large carrot into three. Giving her one chunk of carrot whilst holding bridle near her head, we'd then give her the second chunk, and whilst she was munching, slip the bit into her mouth, and immediately followed with the final chunk.

We repeated the process and she now is happily bridled :)

It's funny though, when un-bridling, Stumpy can panic if you go to pull the bit out of her mouth before she's ready. You have to wait about 10 seconds for her to spit it out. I think she's actually had issues when tacking up before I got her.

[Bobbin]

Mol does the same.

Just be patient and don't loose your temper with her. I have tried both treats before and after the bit is in aswell as putting honey on her bit.

She was getting loads better but since it hasn't been done I've noticed her regress, ever so slightly.

[nicolaj]

Thanks Guys!

I'm trying the treats, one just before the bit to lower her head, one to slip the bit in and one after to distract to get headstall over her ears!

Am also looking at getting a head collar that unbuckles at the nose so I can slip the bride on over this, which should hopefully stop her throwing her head up too high, and then unbuckling it and slipping it off once the bridle is on.

Like all of these things it's just time and patience. I was spoilt with my last horse who would quite happily open his mouth for the bit. Ho hum, we'll sort it out and hopefully in a few months she should be a lot better, especially as she begins to learn I'm not going to hurt her!

[Whatanejit]

Clicker training can help.

Start off by training her to touch a target such as a bottle.

Then make the target the bit.

Click and reward (C & R) every time she touches it with her nose.

Put bit in her mouth (C & R)

Take it out and repeat at least 10 times until she is happy to accept the bit.

Don't bridle her on the first go.

Then,

left head piece over ears that are bent forward - C & R

Take bridle off a few times and repeat before actually leaving it there and riding.

All of the above is recommended in my clicker training book.

Good luck with whatever you do :D

[Palomino Mare]

hi,

tiffany did this when i got her. i put it down to the fact that she had just been imported but then she did it at the same time the following year so i just called her a mare;)

anyways i took the bridle apart. i took the cheek pieces with bit off, reins off, and undid half the nose band i.e where it attaches to itself along the side of the face. i left the headpice and noseband still threaded through the browband. so step by step i:

1) put the headpiece over her ears and in place (not touching ears)
2)brought the noseband round and attahced it back onto the headpiece
3)attached one cheek piece back on and brought the bit round and into mouth (this way if she tosses her head up etc then you still have a hold of the bit in her mouth) then attach the other side of the cheek piece back.
4) do up the noseband as usual
5) attach the reins

i did this for a while but its really gentle and in offensive as fights generally dont last because tehhorse wont be pulling your arms apart with the traditional left hand putting bit in mouth, right hand holding bridle.

i'd give that a go for a while until she gets used to you putting her bridle on.

amz x