Can't get bridle on

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svincent

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A friend of mine has posted this problem in another group. I will let you read it. Any suggestions?

As you all are aware by now i have just moved yards and now have a problem in that i cant get Herbs bridle on. He has allways been difficult to get it over his ears putting his head way up in the air as high as he can.Up untill now and as i am quite tall its not been to bad a few mins battling in his stable and we were sorted. The problem is now i cant do him in the stable they are not quite as high as the old ones and while fighting to get it on this morning he actually banged his head no damage done but i couldn,t risk it any more and out side was no good because he can just keep moving around. I gave up in the end but will have another go tonight in the field shelter which is a bit higher. He is very sensitive around his ears and has probably been hurt at some time by being bridled rougthly he,s ok taking the bit but throws his head up when you come to put it over the ears if you manage to get one ear in theres no way you get the second unless he is confined a bit silly great brute. He stands just over 17hh and if he says no he means it lol. Any ideas however silly i will try.
 
Undo one side of the head piece, Put the bit in to the mouth, supporting both side, flick the head peice over and do it up...

Dont use with a browband till you are well practised at this and eventually build up to the bridle being put on fully..

Lou x
 
Hi, you could try undoing the near side cheek piece so you just place it at the back of his ears. then put the bit in his mouth and do up the cheek piece once the bit is in. This worked well with a horse I knew.
 
Mine gets like this in the summer - could he have infected ears from midge bites?

I try to make sure that after getting the bit in the mouth, I pull it high up and over the ears, so it barely touches them. He absolutely freaks out if you try to 'force' an ear through.

If you can't do this (it has a knack to it) then try lowering the bit, rather than taking it off, that'll let you lift the headpiece high enough to go over his ears, then just raise it again once it's on.
 
Someone I once knew used to put a polo in the hand that was steadying the bit. Ned gets interested in the polos and a gentle hand guides the bridle on softly while he's crunching. I think it would be worth your friend spending time getting the headshy thing sorted, then the bridle won't be an issue.

Advance and retreat, advance and retreat. Stay patient and calm. Polos and nose rubs for rewards and encouragement. The aim is for ned to see the bridle coming and drop his nose for it, knowing (a) it doesn't hurt or frighten him and (b) he gets a friendly rub on his nose or a polo.

My Sunny is a self-bridling horse, honest to god! By the time I've undone the various straps and start to hold it up, he dips his head and opens his mouth as if to say, oh DO get a move on mother! I wish I could say I taught him this but I didn't - he just does it. I could lend him to you for demonstration purposes lol!
 
Thanks for your advice everyone. I will pass it on to her. I have never had this problem myself (yet) and like Sunny above, our pony mare virtually bridles herself! I do have to handle horses with this problem though, getting them to and from the field. They fuss when the headcollar goes near their ears but they know the difference between that and a bridle so they reluctantly give in if it means they are going out for some grass. the wily devils!!
 
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