Now won't let me put his bridle on

[Karenpd]

I have a horse on trial - have had him for 5 weeks now - and he has just started to object to having his bridle put on. Is this a phase of 'messing about' that all new horses go through? Today I put it on and took it off 5-6 times - but he objected throughout. Any ideas for a strategy please?

[mellie]

:( mine does this although he does have a good excuse,
But you could try putting some treacle on the bit,there fore it may help lower his head.Or,just any thing he likes so he asociates the bridle with good things,eg..his fave food.

[Ryoko]

mellie has a good idea. you are putting it on from the side arent you? because me being silly got so used to cracker allowing me to put it on when i stand in front that when i tried to do the same with my 4yo he started hating it and putting his head up. just a suggestion :) hope he stops it soon :D

[Karenpd]

Yep, from the side. I hold his head down with my right hand and get the bit into his mouth with my left hand, then he nearly pulls my arm out of its socket lifting his head! He knows exactly what he's doing - keeping his ears just out of reach .......

[Ryoko]

any past bad experiences hes had with bridles? or maybe hes decided to test u a little bit. :rolleyes: some horses do after a while. maybe he need to be told no or to be coaxed to put his head down.

[kedwards]

Although we can't always account for why horses suddenly develop habits, if it's a new one, it's worth checking to see if there isn't any pain or discomfort causing the change. Is the style and size of bit comfortable for him? Any problems with his teeth?

My Bud was always good about putting on his bridle, but developed the habit of turning his head over this winter. When I switched to his old bit, he started accepting it happily again. Until I switched back, I hadn't realized that it was the bit that caused the problem, because he'd been using it for quite some time before he started objecting.

I should add, I'm a sucker for making the bit as fun and comfortable as possible. I always warm it in a heating pad if it's even a little cold and I sometimes put a little molasses on it so it seems like a treat. If he's just being fussy and the problem isn't from discomfort, something like that might help him start accepting it again.

[Ryoko]

aww kedwards!! u spoil your horses! :D lucky things :D

[western]

My horse used to resist the bride and the bit when i got him. so i taught him the poll trick . Its when i put my right hand ontop of his head between his ears and put pressure until he lets his head down. It took him about a few weeks to figure out what to do so he finnaly catched on. Just to start out i would do it then when he let down his head i praised him and gave him a treat or a carrot.

[kedwards]

aww kedwards!! u spoil your horses!

I know, it probably sounds like I'm a bit excessive sometimes. I'm really not that bad. I do expect and demand good behavior, but it comes more easily when you can make that be the path of least resistence.

[Karenpd]

I'm coming to the conclusion he is just out to be difficult. His teeth were checked by the vet 2 weeks ago and are fine. I think hes just out to push me around. Guess I just have to stick with it!

[galadriel]

Are you using the same bit and bridle that he had before?

If you're using a different one, there are lots of ways that it could be fitting badly; the bit might feel different, the browband could be too tight, the bit could be sitting higher/lower in the mouth.

If you're sure it's not discomfort related, then you could always get a chair or stool and stand on it to put the bridle on. If he can't keep you from bridling him by pulling away, he may stop doing it. In the meantime, you can work on teaching him to lower his head on cue, so that you can actively prevent the pulling away in the future.

[nat17]

Podge sometimes does this but I cut a long slice of carrot and put it in the same hand as the bit as I am trying to get the bridle over and bit it. ;)

I would say he is just messing , and taking the micky if everything else is ok!:)

[Karenpd]

His bridle definitely didn't fit when he first arrived, but I've adjusted it and it seems ok now. It fitted fine for a couple of weeks before this nonsense started.

I've tried the 'standing on a box' trick but it hasn't been a great success. I guess I'll just have to persevere.

[western]

Have you tried where u put pressure on the horses poll , to get the trick to put their head down ?

[entreat]

Originally posted by Karenpd
It fitted fine for a couple of weeks before this nonsense started.

It can sometimes take a a little while for the horse to figure out what's not feeling right, and then how to tell you.

But if you're sure it's not his bridle, then try using bribery! Push down on his poll (not hard, most horses will give if you just leave you hand there) and when he drops his head, give him a small chunk of carrot. Do this without the bridle until you can get him dropping his head quite low, and then introduce the bridle slowly. And it might be worth considering taking the bit out of it & see how he reacts. But always reward him with carrot chuncks when he's done what you want.

[DITZ]

mine did this when I first got him, he just used to snatch his head up all the time. My instructor saw me struggling one day and showed me how to apply pressure to his nose (with the right hand, the one in which you are holding the top part of his bridle) and to release the pressure when he drops his head. He stopped it after a couple of days. I dont know if you are doing the same but I was basically letting him throw his head around!

[Zingy]

If all else fails, cheat! This is a bit of a pain but can work well. When you're putting the bridle on, unhook the bit at one side. That way you can put the bridle straight over his head, no hassle, like putting a headcollar on. Then ask him to open his mouth for the bit. You might have to lengthen it a little the other side so you have enough room, but then hook it back up both sides and adjust it to it's normal height. That way when you put the bit in his mouth you're working with something lower than his ears! Let me know if you don't understand what I mean - one of those things of trying to explain something when you know what you're meaning!

This way might show up as well whether it's mouth or ears that he doesn't like. Some horses really dislike their ears being touched and pulling them through the bridle is a fate worse than death to them!

[Karenpd]

I've just been riding and today he let me put his bridle on without too much fuss.

HOWEVER, unpredictabled as these beasts are I'll no doubt need a strategy tomorrow - He is fine accepting the bit, then I hold his nose down with my right hand, but I had been keeping the pressure on - I'll try releasing the pressure from now on. In the past he has thrown his head up (wrenching my arm half out of its socket), and keeping his head just out of reach. I just touched his poll this morning and it was like a magic button. Press once and fit bridle....! As I say, it'll probably be a different story tomorrow, but I have loads more ideas of how to tackle the problem.

Zingy - I think you may be right - don't think he likes his ears touched at all. I understand what you mean about fitting the bridle 'bitless' and will use this method if I have to -

Many thanks for all your input.

[western]

If it is a different story tommorow then practice it everyday. Even when you are not riding, thats what i did and it is so easy now to go and ride and not have to struggle. Hope everything works for you . :)