Refusing To Take The Bit...

Graceful Landin · 03-11-2009, 08:42 PM

always be careful when you take your bit/bridle off. make sure you don't bang his teeth on the way out, cause it HURTS!!! they learn to anticipate (sp?) the pain and then they won't even take it. don't know if thats what wrong with your guy, but just something to be aware of.

LindaMM · 03-11-2009, 08:53 PM

My gelding had a similar attitude the other day. Sometimes they do have "off" days that might not be related to a physical cause. But never make that assumption, always rule out something mechanical.

If you do think it is truly attitude, try to give him some variety. If he is stalled, give him extra turn-out. If he is pastured, do some lunging, maybe over ground poles, something to get attention. Instead of riding him while you wait for the new bit, hand-walk him, or even hand-graze him. Play music. Give him an all-over body rub. If he is unclipped, trim up the extra long hairs, make his face pretty. Anything to just "be" with him.

IIIBarsV · 03-11-2009, 09:00 PM

1) Does this horse have a trained "head down" cue from the halter? If not, start teaching him.

2) Don't be in a big rush to get the bit in his mouth. Horses don't like fingers and people prodding and shoving things in their face anymore than you would. Get the bit up, and just let it lay gently against his lips. Do not force it in. Do not allow him to evade or toss his head around. Just wait, with the bit on his lips. I can almost guarantee that once he realizes you are not going to shove it down his throat, he will start picking it up by himself with his lips. It might take 30 minutes the first time of you standing there with the bit resting, but I will guarantee you, the time will get shorter and shorter every day.

sunrisegurl146 · 03-11-2009, 11:32 PM

Something I read about in one of my horse magazines....I believe it was Horse Canada..LOL I can't remember

practise bitting up except not in his bridle. If you have one put a rope halter ( a normal halter is fine also) and a lead rope. Practise with him accepting the the lead rope into his mouth (make sure its cotton or something soft). Than you have an easier time having him lower his head to the "bit" b/c his halter is on (if he doesn't know how to "give" his head start there).

I found this helpful with my filly, as she was VERY scared of the bit. stubborn little pony she was!

One note though is that DON'T use molasses or treats! B/c the little ****** learns to spit it out just as your putting their ears in!!

Also some of them (my filly included) learned to associate the molasses smell with the bit..*sigh* anyways. Just try other things than treats...specially with "naughty" or smart horses. LOL

Good luck!

AmyZ · 03-12-2009, 01:09 AM

I think this is a tricky problem, because if the horse does 'good' and accepts the bit then he doesn't get rewarded but instead has to put up with a bit in his mouth. My girl was like this when I first got her. I would stand for ages trying to get the bit in her mouth. So I started giving her a small bit of apple as soon as the bit went in her mouth so she associates the bit with something positive. Now she is perfect and even puts her head down for me.

Arabian1713 · 03-12-2009, 04:38 AM

My mare used to be just like that! We would just sit there for minutes at a time with me just pressing the bit against her teeth. I realize now that it was a matter of respect, because I had first gotten her. I tried molasses and patience. Patience seemed to work better for me. Yesterday I tried putting the bridle on while on my knees. She did that too! And remember what Graceful Landin said, train the horse to drop the bit, not you yanking it out. A lot of people have already said something like this, I just thought this might help back up what they said.

Red roan rider1 · 03-12-2009, 05:24 AM

This sounds like a manners & respect issue. I would spend some time on this one. You can have a halter on with a lead and either have somebody hold the lead tight or stand on the end of it and then just put the bridle on, take it back off on....off....on off. And then put the horse away. But only after he lets you do this several times w/out resistance or trying to raise his head. Leave him be for several minutes and then repeat the whole process.

Luna9 · 03-12-2009, 06:22 AM

Thanks for the help/tips guys I will give some of this stuff a try and see how it goes

spinandslide · 03-12-2009, 07:20 AM

would he just refuse to open his mouth or was he raising his head too?

Luna9 · 03-12-2009, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spinandslide

would he just refuse to open his mouth or was he raising his head too?

He was just refusing to open his mouth.

03-11-2009, 08:42 PM	#11
Graceful Landin Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: In the dirt Posts: 438 Images: 1	always be careful when you take your bit/bridle off. make sure you don't bang his teeth on the way out, cause it HURTS!!! they learn to anticipate (sp?) the pain and then they won't even take it. don't know if thats what wrong with your guy, but just something to be aware of. __________________ "To Feel the wind of freedom, one only has to ride on the back of a horse to spread their wings and fly." -Melinda Meyers

03-11-2009, 09:00 PM	#13
IIIBarsV Senior Member+ Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Eastern Ontario, Canada Posts: 3,371 Images: 27	1) Does this horse have a trained "head down" cue from the halter? If not, start teaching him. 2) Don't be in a big rush to get the bit in his mouth. Horses don't like fingers and people prodding and shoving things in their face anymore than you would. Get the bit up, and just let it lay gently against his lips. Do not force it in. Do not allow him to evade or toss his head around. Just wait, with the bit on his lips. I can almost guarantee that once he realizes you are not going to shove it down his throat, he will start picking it up by himself with his lips. It might take 30 minutes the first time of you standing there with the bit resting, but I will guarantee you, the time will get shorter and shorter every day. __________________ Three Bars The Fifth Jags Fleeting Rocket Wish I'd Get Lucky Chipped In Stone Zip Code Bay B Suns Eternal Flame

03-12-2009, 04:38 AM	#16
Arabian1713 Full Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 185 Images: 4	My mare used to be just like that! We would just sit there for minutes at a time with me just pressing the bit against her teeth. I realize now that it was a matter of respect, because I had first gotten her. I tried molasses and patience. Patience seemed to work better for me. Yesterday I tried putting the bridle on while on my knees. She did that too! And remember what Graceful Landin said, train the horse to drop the bit, not you yanking it out. A lot of people have already said something like this, I just thought this might help back up what they said. __________________ Cheyenne ~ An 18 year old Egyptian Arabian mare

03-12-2009, 05:24 AM	#17
Red roan rider1 Senior Member+ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: SD Posts: 1,370 Images: 35	This sounds like a manners & respect issue. I would spend some time on this one. You can have a halter on with a lead and either have somebody hold the lead tight or stand on the end of it and then just put the bridle on, take it back off on....off....on off. And then put the horse away. But only after he lets you do this several times w/out resistance or trying to raise his head. Leave him be for several minutes and then repeat the whole process. __________________ IF YOU'RE TRYIN' YOU AIN'T ~ Toby Keith

03-12-2009, 06:22 AM	#18
Luna9 Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2008 Location: South Carolina Posts: 5,070	Thanks for the help/tips guys I will give some of this stuff a try and see how it goes __________________ Roscoe ~ 4yr Paint - 15.3HH Luna ~ 1yr Quarter Horse - 14.2HH Sunny 1yr Paint - 14.1HH Sydney 7m - Yellow Lab Jasper ~ 6m - Cat & Im a Mommy & a Wife! I Have Been Gobbled by Thom Turkey!!!

03-11-2009, 08:53 PM	#12
LindaMM Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 1,395 Images: 121 Blog Entries: 2	My gelding had a similar attitude the other day. Sometimes they do have "off" days that might not be related to a physical cause. But never make that assumption, always rule out something mechanical. If you do think it is truly attitude, try to give him some variety. If he is stalled, give him extra turn-out. If he is pastured, do some lunging, maybe over ground poles, something to get attention. Instead of riding him while you wait for the new bit, hand-walk him, or even hand-graze him. Play music. Give him an all-over body rub. If he is unclipped, trim up the extra long hairs, make his face pretty. Anything to just "be" with him.

03-12-2009, 01:09 AM	#15
AmyZ Full Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 155 Images: 35	I think this is a tricky problem, because if the horse does 'good' and accepts the bit then he doesn't get rewarded but instead has to put up with a bit in his mouth. My girl was like this when I first got her. I would stand for ages trying to get the bit in her mouth. So I started giving her a small bit of apple as soon as the bit went in her mouth so she associates the bit with something positive. Now she is perfect and even puts her head down for me.

03-12-2009, 07:20 AM	#19
spinandslide Senior Member+ Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: northwest Texas Posts: 1,698 Images: 22 Blog Entries: 2	would he just refuse to open his mouth or was he raising his head too? __________________ So I ask you, will you be a constitutional watchdog. The time has come to bark and to bark loudly. -Glenn Beck

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
refusing the bit	livelovelife693	Horse Training	4	05-08-2008 02:50 PM
Help! refusing bit	PreppyxCowgirl	Horse Training	24	08-31-2006 12:03 PM
Refusing, a way through it...	JumpsxGlory	Horse Training	8	07-23-2006 07:29 AM
Help refusing bit!	pddog	Horse Training	24	02-12-2006 12:11 PM
Refusing	Horse_Lover92	Horse Training	23	07-29-2005 08:47 AM