Getting a bridle on him!

[PollyP]

Hi all,

Just after some tips please!

I share a shire x cob who is pretty much perfect in every way!

His only vice is that he dislikes having his bridle put on as he was once beaten with one and is now understandably wary of them. Once it is on however he is the perfect gentleman!

Usually it takes me 2 goes to get it on and isn't really a problem but...

Yesterday I must have tried for about half hour to put his bridle on but with no luck! I ended with a nice bump on the head from the boy where he had been throwing his head in the air!

I tried giving him a treat before slipping it on, but no luck, he's just too quick for me! He also can't be tied up whilst having his bridle on so he backs up alot in the stable which makes things difficult!

I'm telling his owner today incase it's anything to do with his teeth but wondered if anyone had any suggestions? I'm going to take it slow today and perhaps just practise with taking it on and off, providing I can get it on in the first place!!

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

My late mare had a young girl pull bridle off her when she was young so got wary of bit.

I had to dissect the bridle I put the bridle on no bit then attached one side and then open mouth and put a rubber bit on not metal and did the reverse taking off.

try just using the head piece only, gradually attach cheeck pieces etc


is he ok with a head collar???

Could you get one of the synthetic bridles which have a head collar as part of them so you can gradually attach the parts build up his confidence but doing it very slowly these are light and softer


Sounds the the fright of being hit scared him badly


it did with my mare, it took ages to get her to accept bridle.

You could try a hackamoor to start with which just slips on just till he is used to bridle being pulled on and you don't need to worry about putting the bit in.

 

[Goldenstar]

I would get an under headcollar for a driving horse these are thin and worn under driving horse bridles so you can remove the bridle in emergency and have the head collar there .
Then I would as above put the bridle on in bits I would use a something to stand on and never do it in a hurry and pracise lots .

 

[PollyP]

He is absolutely fine with the head collar and stands like an angel!

I shall try taking the bridle apart to see if any bits being removed helps him at all.

Thanks L!

 

[ShadowFlame]

Used to know a Clydesdale who did the same thing. Something sweet and sticky on the bit works wonders

 

[tessybear]

Our cob Tessy sometimes plays up but that is more being cheeky than anything. Sometimes we find doing the bridle in different orders so she doesnt anticipate it going on helps


Failing that put some honey on the bit

 

[Dumbo]

My horse used to be a real challenge to get a bridle on, but works much better in the stable.
One method we used was to undo the cheekpiece, slip the headband over the ears then pull the bit up in his mouth then reattach the cheekpiece. Worked really well!

 

[MyBoyChe]

My TB had an ear infection (worth checking) 2 years ago and I still cant get his bridle on without undoing the bit on one side, lowering the headpiece over his ears and then popping the bit in and doing up.

 

[Goldenstar]

He is absolutely fine with the head collar and stands like an angel!

I shall try taking the bridle apart to see if any bits being removed helps him at all.

Thanks L!

Haing an under headcollar should make it easier to hold him while you put on the bridle .

 

[Surreydeb]

Polos worked for our pony who was ridden by previous owners in a bit miles too small for her mouth. Polo given whilst putting reins over her head, then polo in hand with the bit. Persevered with this and she is now a happy girl with the bridle and doesn't run to the back of the stable anymore when she sees it.

 

[Love]

My boys first owners who started him said he hated hated hated his ears being touched (you can do anything with them now, mind) so the bridle had to be totally dismantled to get it on which he got used to. The owner then Said that one day she just had a lapse and forgot to undo it all and whacked it on like she did her other horses and he never blinked! Has been perfect ever since. I guess once he understands with the gentle consistency he'll learn it's ok good luck x

 

[Pearlsasinger]

My very broad-headed mare had been ridden in a too-short brow-band before I got her and was very wary about the bridle, in fact she was wary about all tack because it had just been thrown at her, which is something that I've found before with very big horses, especially the heavies. People seem to think that because they are usually stoical, they don't feel pain!
I didn't take the bridle apart, it was bad enough having to strip the saddle down to put it on every time, but I did do everything slowly and gave her a treat for each step. I use halters rather than headcollars and only took hers off to put it round her neck after the reins were over her head. She did get used to it but is still better to del with if she has a bit of hay to eat while I'm doing the job. She is quite happy to take her head out of the hay to put the bit in, as she is a mannerly horse but it seems to reassure her.
IME, however you actually do it, patience is the key. Good luck!

 

[PollyP]

Thanks for all the suggestions! Going to take it nice and slowly today, armed with some honey and polos!

 

[CatStew]

My horse used to be a real challenge to get a bridle on, but works much better in the stable.
One method we used was to undo the cheekpiece, slip the headband over the ears then pull the bit up in his mouth then reattach the cheekpiece. Worked really well!

I had an 18.3 shire on loan years ago who was earshy - this is the only way I was able to put his bridle on without being thrown halfway across the yard. The bridle literally only consisted of the headpiece, cheek pieces, bit and reins and no brow band or nose band - which may not be ideal

 

[Singing Dawg]

.... and if you wear your hat while you work on him, it won't hurt so much if he does bump you

Time and patience should sort this one, its always nice to read peoples experiences.

 

[Kaylum]

we had a tb like that she had problems inside her ears. Had to undo it all and do it up quickly, she was fine with a headcollar.

 

[ZoeF]

My loan mare is very funny about have her bridle on from where her last loan 'mum' yanked on her mouth! We changed her bit to a nylon jointed eggbutt, put on a wider brow band, and take it very slowly with lots of encouragement and mints once on some days she's better than others but normally after one 'heads up' shes fine! You can also buy flavoured wipes for bits which I am going to try with her, might be an idea

 

[JCWHITE]

Check the ears to see if little black flies are in there,
Which is what happened here yesterday!

 

[SonnysHumanSlave]

My pony is a bit mouth shy as his canines are coming through and he has had issues with it.
I found the other day putting a headcollar on first and then the bridle, and not putting my hand underhis head, but instead putting it on from the same side (closest ear first) He was alot better.

 

[jess31]

Ive had two horses that where apparently "impossible to bridle" and yes they where hard work but i found that starting from scratch like a nervouse baby worked a treat, one of them I used to have to take it apart and buckle it all up once the bit was in a piece at a time, we got there in the end.
I also found covering bit in toothpaste or something that they love, warming iot up etc helped with accepting the bit, trying different material bits and obviously checking teeth and also in the summer one of mine was a bitch purly thanks to the flies in her ears so kept a hood on her which stopped the ******s gettin gin...not that thats an issue this time of year. Good luck hope it all goes well.

 

[EGB]

My horse was terrified of a bridle and used to go up at the sight of one.. I got a leather headcollar and unclipped the side part and left the buckle done up...every morning and eve at turn out and bring in I put it on like a bridle.. In a week or two he was used to it and a couple of months later he now accepts a bridle with no probs!
He is 16.2 so it wasn't easy but we got there! Lol xx

 

[luckyoldme]

Im another fan of bribery!
We had the same issue with my horse and he would just stick his head in the air , at 16.2 that was out of my reach..quite funny though when i look back. We put molasses or held a mint/carrot in the bit hand. He has a whitel line across his poll so he must have had some pain in that area associated with the bridle or head collar at one time, Anyways he actively puts his head down for the bridle now.
He was also bribed to stand for mounting in the same way. he used to walk off as soon as i mounted,,, but stands for his treat now. I have to add im eccentric and middle aged..the horse is just a happy hacker and is with me till he meets his maker.. im not sure the real horse world would approve of my tactics..im just for an easy life

 

[Happytohack]

Have a look at these
http://www.pioneerendurance.com/head-shy-range/pioneer-head-shy-bridle.htm#.UNK_4qXDM5Q

I have a bridle from Pioneer that is basically a head collar and then you clip a headpiece on to it. Zoe will make you anything you want in any colour too

 

[Alyth]

Approach and retreat.....rub the bridle on his shoulder and slowly go forwards and backwards up and down the neck. Around the ears, nose, cheeks, mouth.....doesn't anyone do prior and proper preparation nowadays????

 

[EGB]

We are obviously not as knowledgable and perfect as you Alyth...

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Approach and retreat.....rub the bridle on his shoulder and slowly go forwards and backwards up and down the neck. Around the ears, nose, cheeks, mouth.....doesn't anyone do prior and proper preparation nowadays????

I usually use the method which works for me and my horse.

luckyoldme - I'm with you as far as an easy life goes - easy for me and the horse preferably! I always give a treat after I've adjusted girth/stirrups/gloves/whatever before we move off. I taught a poor mounter to stand at the mounting block by using treats and eventually, she stood with her legs at wierd angles, making herself as short as possible, for me to mount in the field after I'd broken my leg.

 

[xMoodyMarex]

One method we used was to undo the cheekpiece, slip the headband over the ears then pull the bit up in his mouth then reattach the cheekpiece. Worked really well!

Used this method when I couldn't get a bridle on my mare...worked very well

 

[Amaranth99]

Licorice laces

 

[teresagarsden]

I have had this twice, once with my welsh cob and we had the take the bridle apart and then put it on him piece by piece, 6 months later he was perfect to bridle.
Second time was an ex racer tried allsorts but 2 weeks later was worse not better got the vet out and the poor girl had ear mites and her ears inside were seriously infected and sore but this could not be seen without special equipment! poor girl - a few weeks later lots of fights to get drops in and she was much better.
good luck hope this helps.

 

[Echo Bravo]

How tall is the horse and how tall are you?