[peppy89]

my horse has a problem with me putting his bridel on... i think that maybe he might have been abused or someone just might have ripped his bit out of his mouth. he trys to object it and someone stronger than me has to put it on him but when its on him he's fine. for the past two days i've been riding him without a bit just his reins hooked to his halter.but i know that i don't have as much control that i should have. so will someone give me advice as to what i should do about this problem? thank you

[jazzyjumper]

well the horse im riding at the moment has issues with that too. he lifts his head higher and higher until he knows i cant reach anymore. i stand on the left side of his head and put my right hand under his neck with the bridle in my hand. this kind of prevents him from raising his head so high. i hold the bit in my left hand and gently insert it into his mouth. it takes lots and lots of perseverence (sp?). does he lift his head really really high or does he just not open his mouth for the bit? if he does the second then if you poke your finger in the corner of his lips (thats where its only gums) he will open up his mouth and then you can put the bit in.

hope this helps! :]
and good luck.

[haunani]

When's the last time his teeth were checked? What kind of bit are you using (and what type of reining do you use - 1 rein or 2 rein)?

Those are a few basic questions you can answer that can help us.

I'm going through something similar with my gelding, Mars. Only thing is, when he lifts his head up, there is no reaching the top of his head if my arm is under his neck. With his head up, I even have to walk over to the other side just to put it over his ear (and I'm not exactly short at 5'7).

[peppy89]

yes he does raise his head and closes his mouth so tight. umm as far as reins go i'm using 1 rein. his bit fits him perfectly. and the guy who sold him to me gets him checked regularly. at first i thought that i should let him get to know me first before i break him of this habit. i decided to buy a smaller bit that way he doesn't get annoyed because i honestly think something happened to him. but thank you for all of your advice

[JBandRio]

Originally Posted by peppy89

my horse has a problem with me putting his bridel on...

More like you have a problem putting it on I'm have fun here, please don't take offense

i think that maybe he might have been abused or someone just might have ripped his bit out of his mouth.

It doesn't really matter what did, or didn't happen - as long as there is no physical reason for him to be objecting, the training issue still has to be resolved. Horses generally object to being bridled for 3 reasons - because they can and no one has said otherwise, teeth bothers him, ears bother him.

he trys to object it and someone stronger than me has to put it on him

What does this stronger person do that you can't/won't?

but when its on him he's fine.

This says it's an issue with putting it on, not being on, and that usually takes a bit longer to resolve.

for the past two days i've been riding him without a bit just his reins hooked to his halter.but i know that i don't have as much control that i should have.

Lesson #1 - the bit is not for control If you don't feel comfortable riding him bitless, than the bit is only going to serve to "control" him, meaning there is a hole, or multiples, in his training. Riding bitless will help you find those holes. If you can't stop or steer him in a halter, you will be relying on a great deal of discomfort, or outright pain, by using a bit to do those things

so will someone give me advice as to what i should do about this problem?

I take it you can easily halter him? Does your halter go over his ears just like the bridle? If so, that rules out issues with his ears. With his halter on, can you stick a finger in his mouth, where the bit goes? What sort of reaction does that elicit from him? If it makes him throw his head up, that's where you start - he has to accept your finger there without moving his head. But first, you have to teach him to lower his head - something that needs to be done regardless. EVERY horse needs to understand how to lower his head in response to pressure - that all but eliminates the issues with horses pulling back when tied

Once he learns to lower his head from pressure on his poll, then you work on your finger in his mouth. Once he has both of those down, then you progress to a bridle with a bit.

Originally Posted by peppy89

at first i thought that i should let him get to know me first before i break him of this habit.

Habits that you don't like don't need to wait. The longer you let him get away with his learned behavior, the more ingrained it becomes and the harder it is to undo. You're also teaching him, in the meantime, that you aren't fit to be a leader, and horses don't have a lot of respect for a human who doesn't take on the role of a leader. Horses have to have a leader - if you don't take the role, they will, and that leads to behavior that we don't tend to like.

i decided to buy a smaller bit that way he doesn't get annoyed because i honestly think something happened to him.

Not sure I follow this logic Smaller which way - length, or diameter? What bit do you use now?

[IIIBarsV]

JB said it all

The head down cue often gets missed in training, and having a solid one makes so many things so much easier... trailer loading, clipping, deworming, bridling, haltering... it is also an "adrenaline killer"- meaning, if you a have horse who is nervous, high strung, or fearful, asking them to drop their head and keep it down for a few minutes will help get them to relax.

[SaddleUp158]

Once you have ruled out any possibility of pain, when you go to bridle him put your right arm over his poll and using your left hand give the bridle to your right hand and put the bridle on that way. You will use your left hand to guide the bit into his mouth while your right hand puts the bridle on his head and keeps the head lowered. I use to ride a lot of school horses that had figured out that if they just raise their heads straight up, then the kid couldn't put their bridle on. Silly boys!

EDIT: Though if the horse knows nothing about giving to pressure at the poll, then this probably won't work, he will just resist the pressure you are applying by putting your arm up there. So start off just getting him to lower his head when you apply pressure to his poll. Good luck!

[i_love_Red]

my horse has the same problem

[TB Jumpers]

Originally Posted by JBandRio

Horses generally object to being bridled for 3 reasons - because they can and no one has said otherwise, teeth bothers him, ears bother him.

In agreement with JB, but there are a couple other things to look at. One is bridle fit. A too small bridle can put a great deal of pressure behind the ears and on the poll. Too high bit can also be uncomfortable. We have one gelding in our barn that sounded much like this. I knew I was bridling with consideration -- don't let the bit hit their teeth -- but he still objected. He's quite sensitive and I found by really slowing down my techinque and spending lots of time just rubbing his head gently prepares him for the bridle. And while no one wants to hear it, including me , sometimes we have to pay attention to our riding. If you are riding with too much hand, or too tight a rein or grip, your horse may be saying it hurts. If you hvae help get someone to hold a flashlight and look into your horse's mouth. Run your hand inside and feel for any rough spots. Look for any raw spots especially towards the back of the mouth. If teeth aren't smooth or sores in mouth carrying a bit won't be comfortable. You are going to have to be the detective and figure out what your horse is saying. And if it is truly past experiences causing this negative behavior, JB gave you great advice.

[sladesaddleshop]

what exactly is he doing?
is he tossing his head? just won't open the mouth? is he ear shy?

Try sugar cubes WITH the bit. I had to rehabilitate an abused horse this way. Of course I had to introduce him to sugar cubes first, but once he figured out that they tasted good, I would give him one before bridling, with the bit (holding it behind the bit so he has to take the bit to get the cube), and after the bit. After a while of doing that I didn't have to use the sugar anymore but still gave them to him as occasional positive reinforcement.

I like sugar instead of treats because it melts easy (so he's not fiting the bit to eat it), there's no colored goo that your horse will produce to get all over the bit and bridle (and you), and they're cheap.