any ideas on how to bit the pony?

StormyMoments

StormyMoments

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basically my 3 year old needs bitting the problem is in her short life she has someone do something nasty to her mouth so wont let you see her teeth or anything like that, we tried her today with the head piece on with the bit attached one side and she did open he mouth at first but once it was in her mouth she ran backwards with her head in the air so i didnt have the chance to do it up so i left her for a bit and took the head piece and bit off and put a bit of treackle on it to see if she would show any interest, still no, tried feeding her a treat with the bit in my hand everything and still no. im not going to force her and im not going to gang up on her as i dont want it to be a bad experience for her... i have bitted horses before and none of them have ever been a problem so im a bit stuck really and would appriciate any ideas really. she has a tendancy to rear up and go over if she is frightened or doesnt like something so dont want her to rear obviously

would just doing it up like you would a normal bridle and just getting the opportunity to stick it in and then leave her or am i looking for trouble or is it just going to be a long and consistant process of putting the bit in taking it out everyday?

i have never had this problem before so that why im asking im not an idiot, i know what im doing and i have an instructor helping too so just any ideas really

i was using a straight bar happy mouth loose ring snaffle if that helps offered her a french link but she didnt think much of it either

thanks ben and jerries ice cream for any replies
 
A pony my friend had a few years ago hated the bit due to bad experiences and we used to smother it in toothpaste and then dip it in garlic and mint so she associated it with yummy food and just used the head piece, put it in and let her lick it all off and take it out, slowly reducing the amount and lengthening the time in and now she takes it like a dream :-)
 
my only problem is she is super fussy (she doesnt like mints, carrots, honey, apples, parsnips or swede) shes a bit of a pain really we were going to put some mollasis on it but she isnt keen on that either shes such a pain!!
 
I think before bitting her you need to work on getting her happy with having her mouth touched/ messed with. Forgot doing anything with a bit until she is confident with you touching her mouth & sliding your fingers in. Start rubbing in a place she is happy with, progress closer until you find the resistance area, rub quietly and then retreat back to her happy spot. Eventually you should progress to getting near her mouth eventually.
 
Does she need a bit?
I can fully reccomend a Dr Cooke bitless bridle and they have a 30 day money back guarantee.
I hack, school and jump in one and my horse came to me in a Pelham and legs just meant go faster! We have reschooled and now bend and halt!!
:-)
 
she is happy with her face being rubbed everywhere its just inside her mouth i need to work on which sometimes she lets me sometimes she doesnt :o will have to get her to become more consistant!
 
Waltzing Matilda said:
Does she need a bit?
I can fully reccomend a Dr Cooke bitless bridle and they have a 30 day money back guarantee.
I hack, school and jump in one and my horse came to me in a Pelham and legs just meant go faster! We have reschooled and now bend and halt!!
:-)
Click to expand...

i think although i wouldnt mind her being bitless if i were to sell her people may find it strange that she never had a bit in when sheis perfectly capeable and also cant do dressage bitless which is unfortunate, i just need tostart working on things like long reining and walking out on the roads etc which i cant do in a head collar... well i wouldnt want to do in a head collar :rolleyes:
 
Could u start her work in a bitless, whilst u do tge desensitation work with her mouth? Just so it doesn't hold up ur progress. U can lunge and long line in them.

V frustrating that they r not dreassage legal as my mare can work in a lovely out line and collect/extend on one!! We do fab flying changes too and piroute type circles (not sure if that the correct term as I not really dressagey!!).

Hope things work.out for u. X
 
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