Difficulty tacking up new horse

[Mambo83]

Hi I have a new horse (had her a month). I was initially tacking her up in the stable but she hated being tied up in there as she couldn’t see the yard. I then started tacking her up with her not tied up and stood up to the stable door so she could see yard. My trainer said that’s not good practise and to instead tie her up on yard when I tack up.

She is fine being tied up there when being groomed/rug changes but less so when tacking up. The problem starts when it comes to putting the bridle on. Once bridle is on she is fine. No problems with the saddle being put on or girth/ any adjustments etc.

I can get the martingale over her head, the problem starts when I take the headcollar off and put around her neck. She starts getting agitated and pulling back against it. She is strong and I get a little worried about her injuring herself by snapping it or backing up in to the wall/stable equipment etc.

I try to sort the bridle swiftly but calmly but she puts her head up trying to resist it. The only way I have been able to sort the bridle out is by removing the headcollar and having someone stand in front of me to try to get out of the area she is in, so that I can focus on bringing her head down and getting the bit in.

Once that’s done, the rest of tacking up is fine. No problems being untacked or anything. I’m not sure how to handle the situation as at the moment I am unable to tack up on my own and I find myself getting all hot and bothered/stressed. I have carried treats and she gets a small one once the bit is in. Her teeth were done this week. She did arrive with a bit that didn’t fit, but this has been replaced by a better fitting one.

Just wondered if anyone has any tips? I did manage to get it on relatively ok by putting the bridle over the headcollar so that she was properly secure but that then becomes a bit annoying trying to get the headcollar off underneath and all twisted with the martingale.

 

[webble]

If it was me I would go back to tacking her up in the stable untied or if you dont want to do that can you get the type of headcollar that has a buckle noseband and throat. You could then put the bridle on over the headcollar and once it is on undo both buckles and take the headcollar off, re do buckles and put back on

 

[Equi]

Why is it bad practice to tack up in stable unhaltered? I’ve done it for years.

 

[IrishMilo]

I find with issues like this you have to go right back to basics and treat them as if they're wearing tack for the first time again. I'm all for using treats as reward/bribery in situations like this. I taught my youngster to wear a bridle by teaching him that touching the bit with his mouth got him a treat. Then it was bit in mouth, treat. Me touching both ears for 5 seconds, treat. Bridle straight back off again once calm. He now pushes his way into his headcollar and will try to get into the head collar of my other horse WHILE he's wearing it to get a treat!

It doesn't need to be complicated, it's just a lot of repetition and reward.

 

[meleeka]

You could buy a head collar with a buckle on the nose band and remove it after you've put the bridle on. However, I also don't see a problem with tacking up in the stable. I'd also worry about the fit of the bridle and bit if she really has an issue with it.

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

If all else fails trying smearing some nice minty toothpaste along the bit, worked a treat for a difficult one of mine, I did not need to use the toothpaste after half a dozen times or so. But I do agree with others, tack up in the stable I really can't see the issue with doing that. If it works why fix it?

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I have always tacked up with the horse loose in the stable. I like the horse to be cooperative, rather than forced. It could just be that your mare is expecting the bridle to be uncomfortable, if the bit didn't fit previously

 

[Gloi]

It could be worth getting her teeth checked to make sure she hasn't a reason for not wanting her bridle on.

 

[Peregrine Falcon]

Is it the bit she's objecting to? I had a young mare that could be tricky to bridle. I decided to swap the bit. Problem solved. She was uncomfortable and was telling me so. I would 2nd Gloi in getting her teeth checked and maybe trying another bit as well.

 

[marmalade76]

Why is it bad practice to tack up in stable unhaltered? I’ve done it for years.

I do it virtually every time I ride.

OP - do what suits you & your horse, sod what the instructor says. You've only had your horse a month, she's still settling in and you're still getting to know each other.

 

[Mambo83]

Thank you all for your comments. He’d just said it was good practise to take up when tied from a safety perspective. Also she is still rather unsettled in her stable at times still. For example if she hears any new noises, can’t see what is going on, she gets stressed. So I think that’s what he means for safety. She isn’t 100% to tack up in the stable but much easier with the bridle. To confirm her teeth were done this week. Her bit fits well. I like the idea of the Minty toothpaste. When she is focused and not distracted she is very motivated by food - she knows when I have treats in my pocket!

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

I've also been advised about tying up when in the stable with a horse, for safety reasons. Only on one yard that I've been to but it was a more commercial yard compared to RS/livery so maybe coming more from the point of view for handling unknown/unpredictable horses. Current yard (RS) doesn't advise this but riding hat has to be worn when going in stables.

Eta - not saying that as a suggestion for what you should do, more that I can see where trainer might be coming from. I wonder if this horse has pulled back against a headcollar while being bridled in the past? With that in mind and assuming you have a bit of an idea of how she behaves in the stable now, I would have thought better to adapt to her preference for and then work on the training bits suggested.

 

[maya2008]

For ease as you get to know each other…do you need the noseband? If it is just a cavesson you could take it off for now and put the bridle on over the headcollar. That’s what we do with young/new ones. It makes it easy to tack up and to untack. Then when they know us better we start taking the headcollar off and the noseband goes back on the bridle (well, sometimes I just leave that off until we’re going out and about because it is more leather to clean!).

 

[Flowerofthefen]

It's not bad practice to tack up in the stable. It's only bas practice when the horse walks all over you. If you tack up on the yard could you not leave her headcollar on and put the bridle over the top?

 

[marmalade76]

It's not bad practice to tack up in the stable. It's only bas practice when the horse walks all over you. If you tack up on the yard could you not leave her headcollar on and put the bridle over the top?

I've known yards that didn't allow tying up outside stables for safety reasons.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I've known yards that didn't allow tying up outside stables for safety reasons.

Sounds as though OPs yard is ok with liveries tacking up outside though so it is an option for her.

 

[marmalade76]

Sounds as though OPs yard is ok with liveries tacking up outside though so it is an option for her.

My point is that her instructor says it's bad practice to tack up inside while some might say it's bad practice to tack up outside.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I tack up inside and I don't think I have ever tied one of my horses up inside other than to clip maybe. I really don't understand why it's bad practice.

 

[smolmaus]

I suppose tacking up loose inside the stable maybe horse will spin if spooked and the confined space means you will get knocked over or stood on. That's fair tbh. But tacking up outside means you might still get knocked over if the horse spooks and now also there is a horse loose on the yard. Pick your poison? Or rather, do a risk assessment based on your own horse and do what keeps her calmest and therefore, keeps you safest.

Mine always gets a treat for putting the bit in too. I absolutely cannot have a horse Giraffe-ing when bridled, I hate it.

 

[marmalade76]

A horse can swing round and knock you over when tied up.

 

[Mrs G]

If she was happier being tacked up in the stable looking over the door I'd go back to that. She's still very new to you/the yard and feeling a bit insecure. Once shes more settled and you have got a bit of confidence back you can work on tacking her up elsewhere. Baby steps OP x

 

[Nocturnal]

She’s still new to you and settling in, she’s been through a massive change in her life and is likely still unsettled by it. If she’s happier being tacked up in the stable do that. No need to add more stress to an already stressful situation.

 

[Surbie]

Our RDA policy is all horses are tied in their stable while being tacked up. Yes a horse can still move fast and no one can guarantee the volunteer will be safe, but perhaps this kind of policy might be where the instructor is getting this from?

That said I prefer to tack up loose - I've rarely seen someone tie up their own horse to tack up in a stable on livery yards. And I would do what keeps your horse more relaxed.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I imagine it's quite hard for a new owner with a new horse at a new yard to go against what the professional is telling her to do though. Different for one of us with our own established ways!
In your situ OP I think I'd be inclined to try the suggestion about about getting a headcollar with a buckle on the nose. That way you can try tying outside, popping the bridle over top and then just whip the head collar from underneath. I think that may work.

 

[Titchy Pony]

For getting the bridle on, I would go with @IrishMilo 's way and teach her to do it willingly. As you say teeth are already done, I would also try a few different bits in case she happens to have taken a disliking to the one you're using, and also check bridle fit. Also, as a thought, did the dentist mention anything about wolf teeth? My mare has apparently got two wolf teeth on her lower jaw that haven't come out but are close to the surface of the gums. My dentist said to be delicate putting in and taking out bit to not bang them, though not an issue once the bit is in.

As for best practice regarding tacking up, I can see where your instructor is coming from. I personally will not shut myself in a stable with a horse, whether loose or tied up. So I will only tack up loose with a horse I can trust not to leave the stable if the door is open / ajar, which is fine with mine but not necessarily with an unknown or young horse or if there is no extra barrier between the stable and a road for example. On the other hand, some horses don't tie up well, so in the end it's down to your own judgement on the horse, the environment and your own and the horse's safety.

 

[Mambo83]

Thank you all for your replies. We have had a week of lots of practise. Popping it on whilst I’m doing jobs, checking all pieces are fitting well and also gone back to tacking up in stable and it is now a one person job!! The only thing I’m finding is that I’m having to pop bridle on over headcollar (although not tied up) and then undoing headcollar and slipping it off. We have changed two parts of her bridle as well. It’s been baby steps and still takes a bit longer than it should. But with time I’m hopeful we will get there!