Bridle for sensitive horse

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Karenchol

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I have a mare that doesn’t like bridles or head collars on her head. Shes very sensitive.
Any suggestions greatfully received, as I’ve two ergonomic bridles that she still doesn’t like. As a test I lunged her with a rope around her neck tonight. She did not shake her head like she does in a headcollar, rope halter or Bridle. Help! 🤷🏻‍♀ She’s far too sassy to ride with a rope around her neck (so please don’t suggest it!) I’d be in the next county!!! Even though she clearly prefers it. 🤦🏻‍♀️
 
Has she had any checks done? Not tolerating head collar or bridle would suggest something underlying to me, perhaps an old injury or teeth problems (even without a bit, tooth pain can make the outside of the jaw sore).
Have you tried padding the head collar? Is she better/worse/the same with the noseband taken off the bridle?
 
Definitely get her checked out, teeth and ears at the very least. Mine occasionally shakes her head in transitions and I spoke to our vet about it and she also mentioned TMJ discomfort and trigeminal neuralgia as possible causes. Also could be neck or back related, or anywhere that is causing them to compensate with a head toss or shake, weakness behind or loss of balance etc.
She recommended also trying riding with a nose net to see what difference that makes. It’s worth a chat with your vet as lots of possible causes. We had ours checked thoroughly as she was having investigations anyway and they found hock OA which has now been medicated.

In the end we have changed to a different bridle and she’s stopped doing it. Could also be because we've hopefully helped her other physical issues so may not be just down to the bridle! We’ve got a Henry James grackle that she seems happy in. She was worse in her anatomical shires bridle with a flash x
 
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Fiona1967 said:
I am also having the same problem with welsh D he will not bring his head down for a bridle to go on please help
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This doesn’t sound like the same problem, does he also head shake in a bridle and head collar? If so, the above advice is good.
 
Fiona1967 said:
no he just puts his head up so high when putting bridle on I can't reach him to bring his head down
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In that case I’d also get him checked out in case the bridle is causing discomfort. Vet for the head/neck, dentist for teeth. Maybe a chiro and bit fitter to cover all bases.

After that I’d work on training the horse to lower his head when asked.
 
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everything has been checked and all is clear. Being a welsh he is taking the mickey and if you have any tips on how to train him to bring hi head down it is much appreciated
 
my mare has an issue with her right ear, I've had the vet check her and couldnt find anything, the dentist also says there no issue. she has physio every 8 weeks and there's no tightness there! I give her treats when I do her bridle and that helps but when the flies are bad she is quite reactive! her old owner said she'd been like it since day one! she got her from Germany and wonders if she was ear twitched! but she's 11 now, so surely that isn't the memory? I was thinking of getting a bridle with a head piece that is set back further to see if that helps! but i've not tried it yet! she doesn't headshake when ridden, its just with the bridle going over her ear..
 
Have you checked for plaques in the ears. They hate them being touched if they have those. You need to take the bridle apart and hoop over the ears so you don't touch them x
 
I think first you need to work out exactly what she is reacting to and why. If she is happy for you to hop on minus bridle/headcollar then there must be a head related underlying reason.

So it’s time for the vets, and one with expertise in head type traumas and the ability to image the area. It might be you can find something that is workable/treatable, it might be she isn’t going to but cut out for ridden work
 
Fiona1967 said:
everything has been checked and all is clear. Being a welsh he is taking the mickey and if you have any tips on how to train him to bring hi head down it is much appreciated
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Various Welsh Ds including two of my stallions used to try this irritating game, it’s not an uncommon game:
leave headcollar on, tie up, remove browband, any nosebands, martingales, reins from your bridle - just the bit, head piece and cheek pieces til you get the hang of him (can add all these once the basic bridle is on, simply less straps and bulk for you to manage while ironing out the issue, but if you only need a cavesson noseband, I’d leave that out),
Slather bit with honey, plenty chopped bits of fruit or bread or whatever; your right hand holding the bridle around the far side of his nose to draw his head and mouth round towards you, and offer the treats LOW, the bit in your left hand holding some treats so he takes both, keep lowering the offering, even drop treats into a floor level bucket if necessary, so you can get his ears under the headpiece while he’s still hoovering up.
Practise, you can achieve almost anything with Sec Ds and bribed food, and probably keep giving the occasional treat along with his bit even after the ‘game’ has stopped.
 
I have been in exactly the same position with my mare. Got her as a 2 year old, born on the yard I got her from so knew full history. After loads of investigation she ended up having her tmj medicated as she had bone spurs on the joints. She is soo much better now. I got a horsemanship saddlery headpeice for her and ride without a noseband and do still take the bridle apart to tack up and take off but once on she is happy. I also have to put an arm over the top of her neck when putting her headcollar over her neck as having pressure on her neck prior to the headcollar gets her ready for the new sensation. Happy to tell you more about my journey if it would help
 
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