Bridle

[amz]

Hi, I wonder if anyone out there could give me some advice please.

I got a new pony four weeks ago. He is very loving and will let me do everything and brush him all over. However when I ride him he tosses his head about and pulls the reins. Also over the last week and a half he has been very difficult to bridle, lifting his head high although I have managed in the end to do this. However when I got on him yesterday he refused to move and threw his head around. I managed to walk him around a couple of times but he was very stubborn and throwing his head around so I decided not to push it!

When we bought him he was unshod behind and was much more willing to ride. However since I have had him shod he has been dragging his back heels a bit when grazing and I am having trouble getting him to work. Is he just trying it on or has he back pain etc. He is very good to lead and has good manners and I feel we have bonded well, however I am not sure whether to be firm with him if he is being naughty. I have a vet coming on Monday to check his back and teeth and an instructor coming next week to assess him.
Should I persevere and ride him or leave him until the instructor comes.

Thanx in anticipation for your advice.


__________________
Amz
:) XxxX

[IrisSilverMoon]

when was the last time you had his teeth checked? or do you know when they were last floated? that could very likely be the problem so bring a dentist out as well to see if there is anything going on there.

[amz]

Thankz I have had his teeth checked on monday and also his back his teeth were rasped but other than that hes fine. We have also been giving him some sweeds n stuff to help them is there any other reason??????????????

Thanx :D

[epernay]

Hello,
I had the very same problem with my Paso Fino 4yr old this summer. Upon the 5th bridling with a snaffle bit his behaviour began to change. Examples: head tossing/shaking, backing up, tense, unwilling to move forward, lowering head to ground, excessively chewing on bit. He is a very sensitive horse and I felt that he just wasn't happy in a bit. No problems were identified with his teeth. I purchased the Dr. Cook bitless bridle (bitlessbridle.com) and all of the behaviours resolved. He stops without problem in this bridle. We still have much work to do with turning due to his young age and lack of training.
I figured that it couldn't hurt to try the bitless bridle, they have a money back guarantee! I hope this is helpful to you.
Regards,
Sharon Wentz
Carson, New Mexico USA

[chev]

It really does sound like a mouth problem. Was it a vet or an equidentist who checked his teeth? Did they use a gag? It might be an idea to get a qualified horse dentist to have a look if he's just been rasped.

Check his bit too - make sure it's not banging his teeth, pinching anywhere and that it's a good fit and a type he's happy with. Check bridle fit too - if it's pinching behind his ears or something it could cause those symptoms.

If none of that helps, check saddle fit and have someone look over his back too. The difficulty you're having bridling him makes me think it's far more likely to be a head/mouth/bit problem though. He won't be doing it through naughtiness - something somewhere is bugging him. Hope you find the cause soon. :)