Difficulty putting on bridle

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bluewhippet

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I have posted a question further down that no one has answered

to be brief - my new horse has very itchy ears - vet looked at them and said to cover them up when turned out in summer - wondered if fly mask with ears were the only option for this? And if so is Equilibrium a good one and what size for 15 hh Arab?

But, because of his right ear being sensitive he is becomingly increasingly difficult to bridle. He is not generally headshy, is very friendly and cuddly kind of horse and doesn't mind the rest of being tacked up although he can't stand still. He opens his mouth for the bit and keeps his head down for the noseband and for the headpiece to go over his left ear, but with his right ear is becoming very hard to handle. His head goes up so high that I think soon he would actually rear up to avoid having the headpiece put over his ear and his forelock pulled out etc.

I think this is mainly an overreaction, a memory of pain, and perhaps a way to test me as a new owner (his last owner was a very bolshy no nonsense teenager and I am quite soft!). If I now handle his poll and his right ear gently he is okay about it but with the bridle is getting worse.

I want to find a way to change his behaviour by changing the routine - I think it is already becoming a habit. I wonder if anyone has any suggestions? Rewarding him or distracting him or something. I would welcome some advice as he is my first horse and I don't want to let a problem develop unwittingly...
 
I think the main thing is to make sure that his ears arent hurting anymore. If they definately arent, maybe try rubbing both ears, some horse's like being rubbed behind the ears, and this way he can learn that its not going to hurt him. So get him to lower his head, and give him a scratch around his ear, gradually getting to moving your hand over his ear, making sure he stays relaxed. It could just be that he THINKS its going to hurt him, so its about getting him to understand that it wont. So if u handle his ears for a while before you put the bridle on, he should get better. Another thing ive done with a horse who didnt like being bridled because of his ears, i took the bit off, and just worked on getting him to accept the bridle touching his ears. If u run your hand over his ears, from front to back, and back to front, so he doesnt mind the bridle going over them. I like doing this because you dont need to worry about the bit, and when he will accept the bridle being put on, reattach the bit. Hope this helps a little.
 
Mine was the same when I got him (5 months ago) right ear was an 'issue'!! someone suggested loosening the cheek piece but I found putting a looser browband on made it easier, as the bridle slipped over his right ear quicker. I also stood and stroked his left ear, then each day stroked further across his poll until I eventually stroked his right ear from the left side (if you understand that :-)) All is fine now :-) can stroke right ear from the right! He has white hair behind his ears so has prob been left in a head collar :-( so think he had reason to act the way he did.
 
There is no quick fix., you need to do quite a few handling exercises using a training halter. I would be rubbing and scratching his head and neck by hand so that he starts to relax with you. When you have him turning with you, and lowering his head with the halter then you can think about the bridle.
Put bridle on over the headcollar so you have control of him, put near side ear on first, pop the bit in and wait for him to relax, and lower his head, then you can slip it over, you must have the bridle loose rather than tight, and I would avoid a browband or noseband at this stage. You must avoid him running back with the bit in his mouth, as this is a frightening experience. Alternatively he may accept the bridle if you split it at the near side cheekpiece and put the bridle on by slipping it over the offside of his head.
 
I take it there's no pain while the bridle's on?

The mare i ride had an ear infection when she was young and is the same. Fine to brush the ear etc (no pain) but doesn't like bridle being put on. Things that work for me are using a treat while putting the bridle on which distracts her long enough to get the bridle on before she knows what's happening. Also try holding the nose and putting the 'difficult' ear in the bridle first (if that makes sense!).

Good luck
 
Thanks. Incredibly helpful replies.

I don't think he is now in pain because he lets me handle his ear when I have no agenda with the bridle whereas before he would flinch away. I don't know whether it something he has always had to a certain extent and has surfaced because he is in a new place or if it is a very recent thing.

He is fine to ride - lovely - so I don't think the bridle hurts him at all. It is just that initial lift over the ears that scares him. I will try a combination of all your techniques and it is also very comforting to hear what a common problem it is.

Thanks so much.
 
When one of my ponies came back from a producer I couldnt get her bridle on as she reared up away. Couldnt understand as she had worn a bridle since she was three with no issues. On investigation she had had her ear twisted to hold her when she was clipping her head out! She was aged about eight at the time this occured. The only way to overcome was with patience and kindness. I undid one cheek piece for a while and dropped the headpiece and browband over her ears and she opened her much for the bit happily. Easily enough fastened. Once she was happy with that it really was just patience working quietly and time. I knew I was winning once she only flicked her ear when I was bridling her. She is now fifteen and has no problems.
 
As others have said, really time and patience are the answer but you could try varying the routine by putting the bridle on from the other side. I guess that you stand to the left of the horse, most people do, so that the horse's right ear is out of your sight.
If you stand to the right, you will be able to see the right ear, and the horse may well appreciate the change. Which ear do you usually put into the bridle first?
 
Has your mare those itchy white spots in her ears?? If so, spraying olive oil into them, (if she'll let you), softens it and you can scrape it off with your fingers. Even when it's gone, it takes time for them to realise it doesn't hurt anymore, and as previously said, time and patience work wonders!!!
 
I used to ride a horse who'd been ear-twitched (not by me - horrible practice!) and was very unhappy with right ear being touched. For him taller people found it easier to reach around (Arab so head in air by default). I got in the habit of popping one ear in and then walking around to the other side and sliding that ear in very gently. Lots of very calm practice helped too.

Good luck.
 
Thanks so much. Every reply very helpful. I'm going to have to write a list and stick it up outside his stable. And very glad that all the replies are of the kind variety - was a bit worried someone would tell me to be firm and that I was letting him get away with it etc!
 
My 17 hander has ear plaques (caused by blackfly bite allergy) and also was ear twitched as a youngster in Ireland we think so is very ear shy. At his height if he throws his head up theres no chance of reaching his ears!

The RVC (who were our vets) told us not to bother with miracle cream cures or anything prescribed (tho olive oils pray sounds harmless) as rubbing in creams etc can make them more ear shy than the original problem. We tried ear covers/fly masks with ears but he just rubs them off; you might have more luck.

We split our boys bridle at the cheek pieces so browband is just loosely placed in place, and then bit/noseband/reins/bottom half of cheekpieces section is attached by putting the reins over the head, putting the bit in the mouth and then doing up the split cheekpieces.
It sounds a faff but is guaranteed to arrest the deterioration in behaviour as you cant hurt them this way and means you know you will bridle without discomfort or a fight.

This is the means routinely used for bridling Headley Britannia (the little mare who won Badminton/Burghley), she has so many plaques they protrude out of her ears, much worse than my boy's. Reckon if its good enough for Brit it'll do my boy!

Good luck with it, it's very frustrating, but the good thing is it doesnt kill them and you can always find a way to work round it even if you cant cure it.
 
I have had some success in bridling a horse from the opposite side, so, if you normally stand on the near side, try the horse's off side instead. If you have another horse you could practice this on first, it would help.
 
Thanks, I used a combination of all your suggestions: split the bridle, stroked his ears for ages before when grooming him, gave him an apple, put the split bridle onto his right ear first and held his nose gently, and it was a tricky but much less fraught experience.

Thanks
 
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