Fear of Bit

[belle]

My pony has a deep fear of the bit, will not take any kind of contake and gets scared at the slightest tweak on the reis.

I have recently found out that before I had her, she was ridden badly, and her mouth was so often pulled on that it would bleed.

She used to be a scared pony, and didnt trust anyone, but she now trusts us. I would like to bring her back into work, but dont want to lose her trust.

How should I do this? Would a hackamore help?

[lamprellsarah]

i think that this fear is properly set very deep, personally instead of worrying about her always panicing about taking up the reins, and putting pressure, i would't use a bit. I mean what happens if she bolts and if you try to put pressure on, she may well do something even worse!!!
i would try and use a hackmore and see if you can train her to this!!! a lot of horse do go well in this and i think she would properly perfer it, and as long as you train and teach her to go by the pressure, then i think it will make it more enjoyable for both u and her!! :)
also her mouth is properly still very sensitive and damage may have been done!!

[ros]

Is does sound like a case for a bitless bridle. If you want to see how she might react, you could ride her in an enclosed space with the reins attached to the side rings of a headcollar.

[Paul C]

she was ridden badly, and her mouth was so often pulled on that it would bleed.It really saddens me to hear about things like this. Am I being too sensitive or is it cruelty?

Good luck Belle, and well done for taking the time to earn your pony's trust.

Paul

[Sharon H]

Don't forget that a hackamore can be quite severe. I spotted an advert for a synthetic bitless bridle that, by all accounts is similar in action to the very expensive leather ones that they sell in the US.Some of the people on another site that are really into bitless bridles have used them and say that they are very good.
www.htsequestrian.com

[larri]

Sadly Paul it is all too common, there are some people out there with horses who I wouldn't leave in charge of a hamster - ignorant, idiotic bullies and some of them are supposedly famous riders. :mad:

[taffy]

i hate cruely treated horses. at my old barn there was a horse that was scared of ground poles and u couldnt jump him coz wen he was small(not at my old barn) he was made to pull poles across a field all day everyday.

[ros]

The English patterned Scawbrig is, I think, about the mildest of the bitless bridles. The true Hackamores are more severe. But like bits, they're only as severe as your hands. Don't forget they must be carefully fitted.

[ponyvet]

I would always advise anyone against using a hackamore as a first bitless bridle. They work very well in experienced hands, but can be dangerous. For a start they are actually more uncomfortable for a horse than a bit, as the pressure is applied across their face, and for a horse which is headshy or dislikes a bit this can be just as stressful, if not more so. Also if fitted incorrectly the pressure applied can produce painful sores or even damage to the delicate bones of the face.

A scawbrig bridle works simply as a bridle shaped headcollar, with no bit but reins attached to the cheekpieces. Thus the horse is directed by simply pulling gently on either side of the face. You can buy a synthetic one from Robinsons for about £25. I think a properly fitted hackamore would be more expensive.

[lamprellsarah]

the one from robinsons is really nice!!! as well and fantastic price. :D

[Dizzy]

I would be tempted to persevere with a bit, but very gently.

You could try a flavoured happy mouth, and attach your reins to your head collar side rings (not the bit) just have it there and take her for walks, do inhand work etc. and if she becomes happy and relaxed you could then long rein (in an enclosed space). Have someone up front leading, just ask for walk on and halt, starting with the leader giving the commands, then you both give the the command and halt aid until she's happy and the leader can fade out.

If she'll accept the above, you can then attach your riens once again to the head collar side rings but thread them through the bit rings also, so that she'll feel the rein but the contact is on the head collar, and repeat the same exercise.

After that you could put side reins onto the bit starting with virtually no contact, attached to the side rings of a roller or the girth straps of your saddle and lunge her. Once again with someone leading and once she settles have the leader fade out and have her lunge alone.

I wouldn't long rein her off the bit, I'd put a strap through the front D rings on the saddle and ride her with once again someone leading. Have a loose rien and hold the front strap. Again I'd work on, walk on, and halt with the leader giving the commands but the rider giving the ridden aids without using the rein. Get her used to your halting seat aids so reads your signals clearly, then you can very gently squeeze and give the rein a split second before she stops, halt for just a second and walk on. You can move from being led, to being lunged so that eventually you are initiating the commands.

I know it'll take time, loads of patience and buckets of praise, which quite obviously you are willing to put in. But even if you do decide to go bitless, at least you'll have taught her that a bit is not a means of torture but just a communication line.

Another thing to think about is, quite often horses and ponies who have been abused like this have had no proper schooling, and are bullied, kicked, whipped and yanked around by these ignorant s**s, because they have absolutely no idea of what they are meant to do. So you may find she'll be to start right back at the beginning, to gain her trust and understanding.

Good luck

Lesley

[belle]

UPDATE

In the end I decided that the hackamores looked evil and would perhaps put too much pressure on her face. I have persevered with the bit, but instead of a metal one I bought her a rubber, mullen mouthed snaffle.

I have made a habit of putting this on and grooming her, or taking her for short walks etc. She is accepting it much better. I have even been able to get on and off of her, which is now as far as her training has gone.

Thanks for everyone who gave advice!:)

[Dizzy]

Well done, thats brilliant news.

Look forward to the next update.

Lesley

[jUmPingIsLifE]

use a hackamore on my horse because his mouth is very soft and he hates the bit and i only use him for the trails anyway. try using a hackamore for a while BUT i would also check your horses teeth, you know she had a bad past but she could also have problems with her teeth.
i was once told to let a horse eat super with a bit in his mouth so he can learn its not a weapon it wont hurt him.