Bridle Trouble with young horse....?

Question

I have a 2+ year old that I am trying to train... have trained several horses, but never had this problem where nothing I tried worked... wondering if you had any suggestions.

He refuses to take a bit... he is fine with halters, even fine with things in his mouth such as ropes, sticks, etc.... but if he even sees a bridle, he leaves.... if you catch him and try to put it on him, he raises his head to where you cant reach him... if you are still getting close, he runs through you... over you, whatever he has to do... He rides ok with a halter and lead rope or bosel but it is the point of the matter.... Any suggestions on getting him to mind. Also, I have had it on him before, and when I was driving him and attempted to turn him, he would literally fall over due to fighting me... what do I do about this? I have had him since he was a baby, so I know he hasnt been abused with a bit or anything... Please only experienced people answer....

I have already tried the honey thing... it doesnt work... and this horse isnt scared or spooky of anything... he just doesnt want the bit in his mouth... he is fine with the bridle going over his head... but if you try to push the bit in his mouth... he starts the acting up...

Answer 1

Hey, sounds like what my horse was like... anyway, I suggest you (if you aren't) use a really mild bit. I've heard of happy mouth bits, don't know much about them. They could help. Anyway, what I did was have someone hold my horse, while I got my hands between his ears and then I just held the bridle on his face. When he finally lowered his head and calmed down, realizing it wasn't gonna hurt him, I praised him and petted him. Another thing (Clinton Anderson) is on the top of his head between the ears your horse has a little sorta bump. Gently apply pressure by squeezing, gradually build up more. The SECOND he drops his head release all pressure. Then ask a little more. Don't make him put his head really low at first though. Praise him when his head is a good level. Another thing, I'm using a synthetic bridle, it's really easy to get over his ears, he doesn't have to sit while the bridle is in an uncomfortable position and I fix it. It works well. Hmm, about the trying to get him to turn thing - this works with me- Bob Avila talks about it - If your horse is fighting you that much, 1 - get a really mild bit, 2 - use really light rein contact. Often the lighter you are the more responsive they are. Use leg pressure to. And if you get frustrated when something isn't working, just stop. Even get off, take the bridle off, put it back on, and get back on. By the time you've done that you'll both have calmed down, the horse will have cleared his mind, and if you play with his bridle for a distraction you'll be training him further. My favorite quote from Monty Roberts 'Act like you've got 15 minutes, it'll take all day. Act like you've got all day, it'll take 15 minutes.' That has helped a ton with me. Keep playing with bridles - with patience, you'll get it. 6 months ago it took 15 minutes and 2 people, almost 3 to bridle my horse. Now he doesn't even have to be haltered and I can put it on by myself. You'll get it!

Answer 2

Try attaching the bit to the halter, once you have the halter on your horse. I had a 2 yr old Appy colt with a wall eye that did this also and that worked for me. He was scared of the bridle going over his head. After a few weeks we could put a bridle on him but we had to let the check straps out so the bit sat really low in his mouth and then we could slowly tighten it up.

Answer 3

If your horse doesnt want a bit in his mouth it may be that he has a soft mouth and the bit actually hurts him or has hurt him in the past. If he rides fine with a halter then try a hackamore. There isnt a bit to them and they seem to work just fine. My gelding has a soft mouth and did not like a bit. He would take it but he wouldnt listen to me when it was in his mouth cause it hurt too bad. Now that i am using the hackamore on him he is the best horse you could ever ask for. He will do anything and everything i ask him to do. Hope this helps and good luck.

Answer 4

This horse has your nuber and he knows it.
If he raises his head up or acts up you do not get the bit into his mouth and he wins.
Pick a day where you have all day.
Halter and lead rope him up and tie him to your post then get your birdle and attempt to get the bit in. Once you get it up to his lips insert your finger into his mouth where there are no teeth and press down on his tounge firmly his mouth will open. Slap the bit in a you win. It will take time and many tries at this before he accepts the idea that he will wear a bit. But if you let him win a few times you will teach him that if he risists he does not have to do what you want. If he is to tall get a milk crate or something to stand on.
I would teach him to lower his head on command so you can ask him to lower his head and he will. Also a time and patience thing.
Sounds like this little guy is really green and needs some serious work and training. Much time and patience will be required.
Babies are soo much fun but then it comes time to break them and it is so much work.
Good luck.

Answer 5

try using a d-ring instead of a curb at first. instead of showing him the whole bridle, just show him the bit and see what his reaction is. if he's ok with it, just rub the bit on his nose and over his lips. id he starts to fuss, have a bottle of honey with you and put some on the bit. if he doesn't take it right away, just keep working at it.
after you get him used to the bit alone, bring out the bridle without the bit to show him (he may be scared of the reins and other loose parts). if he causes a scene, gradually rub the bridle on his neck and front legs (making sure it doesn't fly anywhere) and eventually work around his face. every time he does something good, reward him with a treat-if he does something negative, correct him.
once you can approach him with the full bridle, try putting honey (or baby toothpaste) on the bit before he takes it.

Answer 6

Have you had a vet check his mouth?? maybe his wolf teeth are coming in or he has an issue with his bars.
Do you HAVE to use a bit? If he does well with a hackmore, cant you just use that? What about a bitless bridle. I know several people who use them, and love them.
If the physical exam from a vet doesnt show anything, I would have him x-rayed. There may be something going on inside that would cause him to be so uncomfortable.

Answer 7

I don't have much experience at all with breaking horses, but as far as turning problems- I saw an excercise with an unbroken 3 year old to "mouth him". They put his saddle and bridle on, and using side-reins, tied his head to the stirrup leather, lets say, the near side first. His head wasn't turned so hard that he was uncomfortable, but his neck was flexed to his inside. The outside rein was still attached as well, but with alot of "give." We walked away and left him in the arena, then went to the other side of him where he couldn't see us and clapped. In order for him to see what the noise was, he had to turn around, but since pulling to straighten his neck didn't work, he had to give to the pressure and circle. i think that he was left that way for a few hours, just to let him get the idea that he has to give to the pressure, not fight.

I'm not sure if I've helped much, but that's something that I saw and it worked very well for this horse.

Answer 8

First check his mouth. He's 2 years old - he isn't fearful of having things in his mouth but doesn't like the bit. What causes fear - misunderstanding or pain. Eliminate the pain. If he's got teeth causing issues the rest won't matter.

The other issue I'm hearing is total and complete disrespect of you. NO EXCUSE for running through/over you. That has to stop. Put a western saddle on him. Take him to a roundpen. Have a lunge whip there...touch him and handle his muzzle, get him relaxed. Hold the bridle...but don't try to put it on. Focus on handling his head and him being relaxed. When he runs past you back out of the way, pick up the whip and DRIVE HIM. Make him work - lope for a bit, trot for a bit, reverse, trot, reverse, canter. Get the edge off, but don't just let him run around...MAKE him go...*YOU* direct the speed and direction he goes. Make him USE himself. When he starts dropping his head and "asking" to come in drive him out and on again for a few minutes. Then you ALLOW him to come in and stop. Ask for his head again...handle his head, muzzle, stick fingers in the corner of his mouth as if you were going to bridle him. Work one small step at a time and praise him when he's trying. When he acts up drive him out and make him work some more. NEVER end on a bad note -- always wrap it up with him doing something good.
Gradually in small steps raise the bridle up and - eventually - VERY carefully cradle the bit in your hand and guide it in without banging his teeth. DON'T freeze it - that will NOT make him eager to have it in his mouth again. Once you get it in his mouth quickly put the headstall over one ear. If he raises his head don't force it down...but let him "voice" his objections...don't give in to him but you can't stop him.
Be equally careful unbridling - don't let it drop down and bang his teeth.

The issues fighting you in driving is another one that points to distrust/disrespect. Learn to read body language and USE IT during these early lessons...it will build on it and automatically reduce the resistance later.

Answer 9

my horse did the same for 1 thing if its a male make it become a geldiing ( i worded that oddly srry) put the halter on and put it on a lead tie it to a post/tree with only 5 to 10 inches of slack so it cant pick its head up higher then you. then ut the bridle on over its halter. u can ride with both on or then slip the halter of carefully. but do that (keeping the halter on) for a few eeks without riding and then u can ride and take off the halter. it works trust me.

Answer 10

Try Coating the bit on honey or or molasses and freeze the bit,let it thaw out a bit before you put it in his mouth.I had a horse who would literally go over backwards to avoid having the bit in his mouth.He was abused and was fearful of metal in his mouth.I tried several things,and the honey trick,along with patience worked well for me and the horse.Best of luck to you.