Bridle = rearing horse

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jess2353

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I've had my mare about 8 weeks. she was broken to drive when I brought her(so she is used to tack & the bit), she is 3 an a half years old. I've recently backed her, & she's coming along great. Getting tack on is no problem, but taken it off is becoming a nightmare, as soon as you start to take the bridle off she rear's up before you can get the bit out of her mouth & she'll continue to rear & shake her head until finally the bit drops out :(((

I saw her on several different occasions before I brought her & she never did this then. :/

Any ideas would be great :)
 
It sounds like someone has accidentally smashed her in the mouth when taking the bit out. First thing I'd do is get her teeth checked and then work on the issues once you have ruled out pain. I can't see any reason why a horse would do this other than pain being there currently or previously,whether that is from an issue with her teeth or just having been smashed against her teeth by the bit previously. Try turning her head at an angle as you go to remove the bit to stop her throwing her head up and offer her a treat as a distraction and see if it helps.
 
I've had one come to me that did this, we assume as some point he got knocked by the bit. I like to break things down...take the bit off the bridle and put the rest on - do it up, then take it off, do that till she can cope with that, then stick a rubber straigh bar happy mouth in and do the same (won't hurt if it bashes her when she's rearing), then go back to normal bit.
 
my mare did exacty this around 3 times and when she reared she wasnt acting naughty it was as if she was panicking

i un did the bridle in bits then after a week of doing that i took it off normally by accident and touch wood we've never had a problem since, i always stand at the side of her now just incase ;)
 
Her teeth are being checked Friday. That was the first thing I thought of, She's only been doing it for about 2 weeks, another thing she's started doing it shake her head when your riding,checked her ears & bridle fits fine. but I've taken her out of work anyway just until Friday.

argh really, if nothing improves il try that thankyou.

She's taken to everything really well considering she had only been plucked out of a field 6 months ago :)))
 
I don't think she's had any bad expirence's with the bit,shes only been lightly mouthed as she follows voice commands more from her driving.

I shall try taking the bridle off bit by bit but as soon as that saddle comes off or you put your hands on the bridle to take off she's up in the air.
:/
 
Sounds like a baby who's been smacked in the teeth by the bit when taking the bridle off. Suggest putting a clip on the left cheekpiece which attaches to the bit ring (assuming a snaffle at this stage?). Unclip the bit ring and slide it out of her mouth sideways before you take the rest of the bridle over her ears until she no longer panics. You can also try slipping the headpiece off while still supporting the cheekpieces and bit in her mouth then slowly let her "spit" the bit out herself and slowly take it out of her mouth. Give her plenty of time and she should become less frightened.
 
yeah she's in a snaffle with cheek pieces. il try that,maybe that will make all the difference. If I was to hold the cheek peices i think she'd panic & rear regardless. I'm still just wandering why she's now all of a sudden shaking her head aswel, it's like something is irratating her. I just can't figure out what it is & this is all happen at roughly the same time :/
 
yeah she's in a snaffle with cheek pieces. il try that,maybe that will make all the difference. If I was to hold the cheek peices i think she'd panic & rear regardless. I'm still just wandering why she's now all of a sudden shaking her head aswel, it's like something is irratating her. I just can't figure out what it is & this is all happen at roughly the same time :/
 
Were I used to work we had a horse who was really difficult to put a bridle on and off. In the end a scoured the tack room and found a bridle with clips and just clipped the bit in and out.
 
together with the headshaking it sounds like she has a tooth ache, or just something is not right with teeth. How does she react if you put your hand on her poll and press around there?? If she's ok with poll, ears etc then my guess is teeth. I'd also try her in a staight bar happy mouth snaffle :)
 
Touch her without the bridal on she's fine, can touch her anywhere & she's more than happy to have it. Put the bridal on & touch anywhere on her face she sticks her head right in the air & pulls away. yeah I might try change the bit, it's a snaffle used for breaking in, but the bit doesn't seem to bother her once it's in :/ she chews & licks alot playing with the loose rings she's happy to have it in her mouth only coming out is an issue.
 
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