Bridling

[Jay.o]

Mysy is making a point about being bridled.
Her point..? You may ask, yes her point is that she obviously doesnt want to be bridled :(

I dont understand though to as why? When she is bridled, she isnt 'worked.' Once shes bridled shes an angel. I take her for a walk in the woods and on the roads and her ears are forward the whole time. She bounces along thoroughly enjoying herself everytime.

So, seeing that this is 'fun' for her, I tohught that she would accociate being bridled with the 'fun.' But obviously not.

At the moment, I am having to hold a treat nearly on the floor with the bit in my hand aswell hoping shell eat the bit and the treat together.

Is there an easier way for my stroppy teen to get over her tantrums?? ;)

[Horseyheaven]

I had the same problem with my 5 year old gelding

he hates excepting the bit I belive the cause to have been that he doesnt like the coldness of the bit metal!!!

so what i've done is changed to a rubber covered gag for hacking and placing his schooling bit in a bucket of warm water for ten minutes!

its the only way i can put his bridle on without a hughe fuss of barging and head throwing around

its a pain to do everytime but neither of us become all frustrated and on edge, in turn his is even much calmer when being hacked or schooled!!!

because he was so used to the cold sensation it took a while mentally for him to realise that it was warm and not uncomfortable now he just opens his mouth straight away.
before it took us a awful lot of bribery and fuss over something so simple!

[ChristianRider]

The rubber bit Horseyheaven mention sounds like a good idea:) Maybe your horse is head-shy? Does he mind having his head handled at other times?

[stephydoo]

you could try puting toothpaste on the bit

[horsefreak]

Try warming up the bit, or putting some fussy-eater liquid on it - you can get different flavours and they do help!

If not that, then maybe the bridle is hurting her? Is the bit too tight, or is it putting pressure on her poll, and that's why she doesn't want the bridle on?

I'd try warming her bit up first ect, as if she was in pain she would be mis-behaving when she had it on when you are taking her out.

Hope this helps :)

Ax

[Jay.o]

Horseheaven - I will try warming the bit up first. Dont really want to shell out for another bit but will if i have to.

ChristianRider - She is the least headshy horse ever (i hope). Shes loves to be fussed and no problem being caught or anything.

Could do stephydoo, thanks.

I checked the bridle today, its not tight and she doesnt flinch when peices are fiddled with, pulled or pushed about. She doesnt misbehave when out on a wlak which is why i find it hard to believe shes refusing it, just makes me annoyed with myself as i dont know why shes doing it.

[Shiny McShine]

What exactly does she do when you are bridling her that causes the problems? Does she throw her head up? Pull it to the side? Jam her mouth shut? Shake her head? Is the problem getting the bit in her mouth? Or getting the poll band over her head? Or something else completely? It would help to know exactly what the problem is in order to find a solution.

There are alot of horses that object to having a bridle put on yet are perfectly fine once it does get on. For some horses it's probably to do with the fact that they can try and avoid the bridle, and sometimes they will, but once it is on there is nothing they can do and they have no choice but to accept it.

For some horses difficulty with bridling may be caused by pain or discomfort they have experienced either with wearing the bridle or with how it has been put on (Perhaps you are bumping her teeth or so forth when bridling). There is also the head shy horse who avoids the bridle becauses they are afraid of being touched around the head or constrained (Just as an example, I know you said she isn't head shy). Then there are horses who just don't respect the rider, they avoid the bridle because they feel they can do as they please, and wearing a bridle isn't on their "to-do" list :p.

In any case I would suggest working on things slowly... she isn't going anywhere is she? Perhaps start by teaching her to lower her head using clicker training or pressure and release (whatever you feel will work). Then you might ask her to lower her head and while it is down have you put your fingers in her mouth and open her mouth. Next you might try asking her to lower her head and then holding the bridle up to her face. Next ask her to lower her head, open her mouth and let you slide the bit into and out of her mouth... you can keep progressing until you can get the bridle all the way on without a fight at any stage. The idea is to avoid tantrums by taking things slowly... also if you do things in a step wise manner you may just come across where the problem really lies.
Anyway just a vague suggestion that you might like to try... good luck with it :).