Horse not wanting to be bitted.

metalmare

metalmare

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Kes used to be fine about being bitted but recently it has become an issue and he is really reluctant to be bitted.

I am often riding bitless, which he loves, but I don't want to give up the bit for schooling and I'd like to get to the bottom of the behaviour anyway.

He has had the dentist out recently, his back has been treated, he has a new saddle, I ride with light hands and I think we can rule out a sore mouth as he had 6 weeks off work and was mostly ridden bitless before the time off and in recent weeks, so he has done little bitted work in the last couple of months.

I have stopped using his Waterford as I no longer feel I need it, but have tried a straight bar, French link and single jointed. Once the bit is in, he does relax.

I can only think he came to dislike his Waterford, so now he doesn't want a bit in and it will take him a while to realise it's not his Waterford and to readjust OR he loves bitless so much he just doesn't want to take a bit OR he doesn't like stainless steel and I should try another material.

What do people think?
 
Some horses really do not like having metal in their mouths. Mine is one of them, and I just accept it now and have just changed to permanently using the hackamore . We do everything bitless, including schooling, that we would do ridden.

You could try again in a few months, and see what happens. :)
 
Yes, a break might help, or I thought rubber might help. He goes really well in a Wilkie, the poll action seems to get the best out of him and he seems happy once we get going, but something somewhere down the line has put him off and he will have to break the habit I guess now of trying to avoid being bitted.

I can't yet see how I could ask him to work in a more correct outline bitless. He goes forward and active in a nice natural way on a light rein, but I'm not sure I feel confident to develop his top line in it, though I'm sure it's possible. I'm also concerned that in the summer he will struggle with the sheepskin noseband - I usually don't ride in a noseband as it seems to be the cause of his head shaking.
 
metalmare said:
Yes, a break might help, or I thought rubber might help. He goes really well in a Wilkie, the poll action seems to get the best out of him and he seems happy once we get going, but something somewhere down the line has put him off and he will have to break the habit I guess now of trying to avoid being bitted.

I can't yet see how I could ask him to work in a more correct outline bitless. He goes forward and active in a nice natural way on a light rein, but I'm not sure I feel confident to develop his top line in it, though I'm sure it's possible. I'm also concerned that in the summer he will struggle with the sheepskin noseband - I usually don't ride in a noseband as it seems to be the cause of his head shaking.
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Schooling wise there is no reason why a horse can't work 'correctly' without a bit, it should essentially be no different. There are some remarkable videos on youtube of horses doing dressage in rope halters and they work absolutely beautifully, and more 'correct ' than in a bit even.
 
Hmmm, well all I can suggest is that you give it a try. I got my hackamore off ebay for £10, plus the curb chain, which you may not need, and off we went. Our schooling is probably more precise than bitted tbh.

The main thing is not to worry, go with the flow. Try bitless ( Shy hated the cross under types, Dr Cook and stuff, and would just fight), but loves the hackamore. I use so much less pressure than with a bit for the same effect.

If it doesn't work, try another bit - Shy's best were/are a copper cherry roller D ring, and a sweet iron eggbutt. But both he ended up mouthing with.
 
I have been riding bitless for a few months now in a flower hackamore and he loves it.

I've only used it on a very light contact though. The horse has a really active walk, but I'm not confident about asking him to contain the impulsion and stretch his top line in the same way as I would in a bit.

I'm hoping though to have some lessons with a local instructor who rides bitless once the paddocks dry out.

Brakes and steering are brilliant in the bitless and he's clearly happy in it, I just don't know how to take it to the next level.

I have seen some fan videos on YouTube of horses doing dressage bitless and bridleless but I need some advice just to get the basics in place first, especially as the horse needs re-schooling.
 
metalmare said:
I have been riding bitless for a few months now in a flower hackamore and he loves it.

I've only used it on a very light contact though. The horse has a really active walk, but I'm not confident about asking him to contain the impulsion and stretch his top line in the same way as I would in a bit.

I'm hoping though to have some lessons with a local instructor who rides bitless once the paddocks dry out.

Brakes and steering are brilliant in the bitless and he's clearly happy in it, I just don't know how to take it to the next level.

I have seen some fan videos on YouTube of horses doing dressage bitless and bridleless but I need some advice just to get the basics in place first, especially as the horse needs re-schooling.
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There are some great bitless dressage and riding pages on facebook, you can always ask questions on there and they are happy to help and give advice. Regards to asking to work correctly, long and low don't treat it any differently to how you would in a bit. My ex racer responds well when I ask for her to round and work lower in her dr cooks by slight hand adjustments and asking for impulsion with leg and seat aids.
 
My pony is very forward, which is great, but I worry about bringing him between 'hand and leg' in the bitless as it would mean riding with a light contact and I'm pretty much at the buckle end at the moment and not containing the forward movement at all as I'm worried that riding with a contact will confuse the effectiveness of the gentle pressure and release that he's reponding so well to. I'm sure that's what I need to do though.

I don't think I'm explaining this well or making much sense :-). I have emailed my instructor to sort a lesson as she rides bitless and will be able to help.
 
I mentioned on a previous thread the Myler Comfort. I have not read reviews online, as I tend to put myself off everything as someone always has a horror story about something I want to try. So as far as internet reviews go, I've opted for ignorance is bliss in most cases.

So I am just going off what I have read and 3 horses I know who are ridden in a Myler combination (can't remember the mouth piece or cheek though)

If you can 'borrow' one to try, it could be of benefit, as they're not cheap new. Below is a link to them for sale on the bit bank and more information on the Myler website itself.

http://www.horsebitbank.com/combinations-2-135.dhtml

http://mylerbitsusa.com/bit_combo.shtml


Also, have you tried any of the Nathe bits? Link below:

http://www.horsebitbank.com/nathe-9.htm?page=2
 
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Tiffany Blue said:
I mentioned on a previous thread the Myler Comfort. I have not read reviews online, as I tend to put myself off everything as someone always has a horror story about something I want to try. So as far as internet reviews go, I've opted for ignorance is bliss in most cases.

So I am just going off what I have read and 3 horses I know who are ridden in a Myler combination (can't remember the mouth piece or cheek though)

If you can 'borrow' one to try, it could be of benefit, as they're not cheap new. Below is a link to them for sale on the bit bank and more information on the Myler website itself.

http://www.horsebitbank.com/combinations-2-135.dhtml

http://mylerbitsusa.com/bit_combo.shtml


Also, have you tried any of the Nathe bits? Link below:

http://www.horsebitbank.com/nathe-9.htm?page=2
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It's definitely worth looking into, I'm willing to try anything and I could perhaps find one on eBay. I did once ride a horse in a level 1 Myler and she always seemed very relaxed in that. I was also wondering about trying nathe. I'm starting to look a bit like gill's bit bank :-)

This morning I'm going to school bitless. I think until I can get my instructor out and get another opinion I'm going to play it safe and go with his preference.
 
jhoward said:
Could it be the way the bits going in?? As you say once in he's ok??
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Good question. I wondered whether there has been an occasion where perhaps I have jabbed him in the mouth or something, but historically he has been good to bit so I don't see why that should be so. Although certainly as it stands now it's not a particularly pleasant experience for either party as it's a real thumb in the mouth and force it in job. Perhaps I should treat him like a youngster and smear something tasty on the bit? If anything will bring him round it's food.

I've also bought him a 2nd hand sabre bridle which is softer, looser and gives more room around the poll to rule out discomfort there. But I need to give things time- I tend to expect an instant transformation which is silly really :-)
 
I wouldn't rule out a sore mouth just because he's seen a dentist recently. They sometimes do miss things such as a sore gum or slightly uneven wear.

That would be my first thing, tell the dentist you think there's a problem and go from there
 
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