Horse Wouldn't Take the Bit

[rodriguezpoultry]

Max has ALWAYS had an issue taking a bit. We tried the "force" method, the "trick" method, the "pressure" method, the "molasses" method...nothing worked.

Until today. For the first time, EVER, I was able to get the bit and bridle on Max by myself.

He lifted his head, which just made it easier on me (I'm tall). I know he's supposed to lower it, but lifting helped me get the upper hand. I put the top of the bridle on and put the bit inbetween his lips. I kept a treat right behind the bit, so he HAD to open his mouth for the bit before he could get the treat.

The first time took about 5 minutes to get it through his thick skull. The second time, 2 minutes, the third time, less than a minute. I wanted it to end on a good note...so stopped there. He has no issues being saddled up or mounted, but the bit was ALWAYS a problem!

woohoo! Just so excited that I finally made progress with the bit! he responded well once it was in. I haven't ridden him yet because of his hooves (want to make sure me riding him won't cause harm to his hooves), so will probably hold off or let some lighter people ride him.

 

[glenolam]

He's probably happy to be home with you!

 

[Wynette]

Awesome - Great way to problem solve - thanks for sharing!

 

[michickenwrangler]

It's the little things in life, isn't it?

 

[LauraM]

You don't mention it, so I just wanted to check.........have you had his mouth examined? I have seen this issue resolved many times with an examination because:


The horse had dental problems that the bit was impinging on, such as sharp points that caused the horse to abrade the inside of his cheek when wearing a bit and bridle

Wolf teeth that have never been removed

An infected gum because of a cut or a thorn (though this one is usually accompanied by "he just started doing this")

The bit is too thick, or shaped wrong for the shape of the inside of the horse's mouth, tongue and palette



And, of course, it is not uncommon for it to just be the horse being obstinate about it.

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

Yes, his teeth were floated earlier and his wolf teeth were removed when he was 2.

He's always been this way. Even if you apply pressure to his gumline, you'll likely have to use a wrench and a jack to get his mouth open. He won't move away from you, just refuses to open his mouth.

This seems like a nice compromise. He gets a treat and I get the bit in!


I've only used a snaffle bit on him. The original owner used a curbed bit. I didn't want to be that "harsh" on him when he was green and the snaffle seems to be doing the job.

 

[ducks4you]

- ain't life grand!!

 

[w c]

I'm NOT tall. An old timer showed me the bridling trick. He did it so danged fast I didn't even see it.

You know that horse Parelli got the nega-publicity for trying to bridle? THis old skinny old stove up deaf 83 year old standardbred trainer would of got it on that horse before the horse even knew what happened.

All the pictures in the books and magazines? Nope, he had another way.

We spent about thrity minutes with him going, 'OKAY THIS IS IT IN SLOW MOTION....AGAIN!'

And I STILL can't figure out how to tell you. Sorry. I can say one thing. I put pressure on the horse to open his mouth.

 

[goodhors]

Something we do is wrap the bit in Fruit By the Foot or Fruit Rollups. Then you squeeze the fruit tight to mouthpiece and bridle as usual. I will stick a finger in the side of lips where no teeth are and poke the tongue if needed to open mouth. After a few times getting the fruit on bit, horse OPENS the mouth for bridling. Kind of like feeding baby birds!

You also want to be careful unbridling, not clank bit on his teeth. I unbridle just backwards, have hand on upper headstall to slide forward when mouth opens. I again poke tongue and say OPEN, keep finger in mouth to keep it open. Then smoothly slide off headstall and let bit slide out without any teeth banging.

Just being repetitive, horse learns how to bridle and unbridle easily, with no fights or head tossing to get it off.

Does take about 10 minutes of tongue play to eat the fruit, which can be used up on your warm-up walk and he is not being asked to work yet. Mine like the strawberry best, which gives them red drool, not blood. Son got called over and asked about that on his mare at Pony Club. He explained about fruit, and his OLDER C2 rated friend walking with him said she used fruit too, they always drool red. Pony Club is pretty strict, questioner was an adult, never heard of the practice and thought horse had a nasty bit to bloody her mouth. Adult accepted both kids explanation. Helped that his friend was highly regarded as a good trainer and rider! Bits were regulated then, only snaffle allowed so adult was checking for problems. Old horse was a bit snippy about being bridled by small boy, so fruited bit made things easy for both of them.

All our young horses go thru fruit training with bits and bridles, all end up being very good to bridle and unbridle afterwards.

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

See! That fruit method is a darn cool idea! I hadn't even thought of that!!

He's readily taking the bit now. At the show he acted like the bit hurt him coming out when I was telling him to open. I stood there and let him spit it out...wound up it had gotten hung up on one tooth while he was playing with the bit and I guess it got stuck at an angle in his mouth.

He's responding REALLY well to leg cues and is becoming even better at neck reigning! Loving it!!