Help with bridling problems?

[karabella]

Hi i've just purchased a rising 5yr old the previous owner only had him a couple of week she bought him sold from field as a broken horse but sold him to me as unbroken and not thinking he'd even been bitted he had been left in a field for 2yrs previous, i've had him a couple of weeks now and have since learnt he is broken and is bombpoof on the roads but has bridling problems the 1st time i managed to get it on not that easy but managed now i put the reins over his head but he will avoid the bridle at all costs not kicked or bit as yet but with constantly move away or lift head up even as soon as you move you're hand to prepare to bridle him i've used a carrot alined with the bit and managed that way but he's getting worse so not alway's possible easily with carrots once the bridle is on he's absolutely fine and will work in a contact with no issues whatsoever and a perfect hack but once we get home again i struggle to also get it off as soon as i reach to his ears he's again avoiding me taking the bridle off as much as possible he'll also barge to get away from the problem he is having his teeth done next week but do't think that this is the issue any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated thankyou

 

[Meowy Catkin]

My gelding is pretty headshy, especially around his ears so he is tricky to bridle. I have found two ways of doing it without upsetting him.

The first (which i started with) was to put his headcollar on and then - using a sliphead attached to the bit - put the bit in and then do the sliphead up. To take it off, I undo the sliphead as he gets very upset if you squash his ears.

The second way, is to use a bridle headstall with clips that attach to the bit. I take the bit off and carefully place the headstall over his head and do the throatlash up. I then clip the bit on one side, put it in his mouth and then clip the other side. I do have one of the cheekpieces slightly long and shorten it once the bit is attached. To take it off, I loosen the cheekpiece nearest to me by a couple of holes and then unclip the bit. Then undo the throatlash and remove the headstall.

 

[travelmad]

Honey or molasses on the bit so he starts to like it!

My 11 year old is horrid to bridle and having tried evything I now have a system - reins over neck, then having noseband open and bit detatched on left side I put it over his ears, then ask him to open mouth and out bit then, then tie up the bit, noseband, throat lash etc

 

[WelshD]

Personally I wouldn't try again until after his teeth have been checked then take it from there based on the dentist/vets appraisal of his teeth

 

[maccachic]

Dentist first.

Could you start out riding bitless? he will get used to a bridle and them may make bitting easier?

Try a stock / different type bridle worked like magic for a rebreaker I was doing (i also had a wee chat with said horse so it could have been that too).

Out stubbon them - if he lifts his head keep it up there with your hand etc it soon becomes a bit too much effort and they eventually drop there head and give up the fight - won't happen over night tho.

A rubber bit might be a good idea if banging/touch teeth is a concern when removing or putting on.

 

[Princess P]

My 4 year old TB was difficult to bridle when I first got him. Had teeth checked and were fine so my instructor helped me cope with it and this is what I did:

Tie up with headcollar quite short so he can't move away and have him next to a wall so he can't side step away
Stand on a crate next to his head
right hand around his nose and firmly squeeze his nose on top of his nostrils, while left hand is holding bit near his mouth with a thumb poking in hehind his teeth gently asking him to open his mouth
As you are holding his nose firmly it restricts the air
He will soon open his mouth and as soon as he does let go of nose with right hand and pop the bit in at the same time
Make sure you don't squash his ears
You will need a headcollar that undoes at the nose, then you can take off the headcollar from under the bridle

It sounds harsh but I did this under my instructors supervision to start with and it only took about a week for him to not need this routine, he now gives me no problems at all

Once he had had his teeth checked we knew he was taking the mickey and he realised as I'm 5'1 ish if he put his head up there was no way I could get his bridle on!

Good Luck