bitting youngster

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Echo Bravo

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I'v decided to back my 3year old Welsh Sec D. My problem is getting him to except a nylon bit. He's not frightened of it, in fact I think he's trying it on. the girl I bought him off says he had a bridle with bit when shown at the Welsh cob sales in 2008 and she used a chifney to walk over 1/2 mile to my place, on quiet country road. I hadn't bought him then, just helping her out as he was so thin. I've tried the sliced apples round the bit, but he uses his top lip like a hoover, the next is bread with sugar, if that doesn't work black treacle, which I hate as I tend to get it mostly over me, mane, my hair and bridle. so if anyone has any good ideas would be most gratefull. and have you noticed non of the books about breaking in youngster every mention how to get them to except the bit.
 
Hello

I have a Welsh Sec D X TB he is 2 at the moment and I used a happy mouth snaffle with a nut in the middle and put honey all over the bit and just left it on him in the stable for half an hour and he loved it!!

Thats the best way
smile.gif


You can also put the bit with Keys on that was great for the 1st few times I put a bit in his mouth.

Claire x
 
Hi Claire
Tried the mouthing bit with the keys and he wasn't having any of it. never heard of a happy mouth snaffle will inquire at the saddlers tomorrow, never tried honey before but will tomorrow morning, I've tried getting him use to the bit by bringing it in from the side instead of pushing on to his teeth, it's always worked with my other youngsters that I've broken in in the past.
 
i think the fact yr pushing it onto his teeth may be the issue.

no desrespect but i really dont think you have the experaince to be starting a youngster alone, can you not get some help?
 
Jhoward. Oscar is the sixth youngster I'm breaking in and and over the many years of owning horses, i've found each youngster differant to mouth. My old mare easy, one of her daughters ditto her second daughter a nightmare. Oscar I've been informed from the girl I bought him from had an in-hand bridle on plus bit at the welsh cob sale 2008. I think at the moment he's trying it on as he's not frightened of it at all, all tho he will throw up his head if I put my finger in the side of his mouth. I'm always looking for good advice if I hit a problem, also go back to book from so called experts and if you read them no way do give you any advice on mouthing and some of them I have go back to 1940's. but you could be right I've only owned horses for the past 35 years.
 
I had a similar problem with my 2 year old. Initially tried her with a metal breaking bit with keys but she reacted violently against it. Like yours - not afraid, just beligerantly not interested in having it in her mouth. I switched to a straight bar Happy Mouth and it was a great improvement. She still tried it on initially but not as determinedly and I was able to slip it in. Once it was in that first time, she happily accepted it after that. I don't know if you are already doing it, but I found using a plain slip-head with clips to attach the bit onto, easiest to use. I used the one from my old Chifney. Once the filly had accepted the bit I was able to quickly clip the second ring onto the slip-head.

There are a whole range of Happy Mouth bits to suit whatever your needs are:
Happy Mouth bits

There are 'flavoured' bits of a similar type. Apple flavour, if I remember rightly. If your boy is food orientated, something like that might help persuade him to be a little more co-operative... ?

Ah, here's one. This one's rather expensive but you can get cheaper ones of a similar type.... Apple Flavour snaffle
 
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