horsey wont open mouth for bit

Firehorse

Firehorse

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any tips pls. i'm sure he's jst trying it on, but its becoming a pain as it takes ages to tack up sometimes! i've tried using a titbit on my hand holding the bit, he somehow manages to get the titbit but still not open his mouth wide enough to get the bit in. i've waggled my finger on his tongue and gums, but this makes no difference. sometimes he will open all of a sudden and then the bit goes in too quick and bangs his teeth. vicious cycle now, me thinks.
 
I used to slid thumb in and push hard on gums, worked a treat but you can't tickle them
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I've got a pony who did everything to evade putting his bit in despite being totally happy when it was in and whilst ridden. By chance one day I had to use another bit (one of those Salox / goldy ones) and he hesitated then took it, and now just opens up for it. It's the same mouthpiece just in a different metal - so I presume he didn't like the stainless steel for some reason.
 
thx for that. i'll give the honey a try. he didnt do it when i first got him, then gradually started. for a while i changed his bit to a neue schule and he took it easily, but it didnt stop him!!! then when i went back to his yucky gag, he refused it again, altho it does the trick with the stopping! cant win with this one. his teeth were done in nov so no prbs there and once its in and we're riding, he's fine.
 
My mare did this when i first got her, she also used to put her head up really high so she was out of reach!
Both together was a nightmare.
To get her head down i put my hand around her nose and squeezed her nose and pushed down (gently) and she lowered her head, with the bit i squeezed the sides of her mouth where theres a gap and then she opened her mouth, she soon got fed up of doing this and now shes no problem.
Also it maybe worth getting the teeth checked incase your horse is uncomfortable in the mouth
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[ QUOTE ]
Maybe he is telling you something important!

I ride all my horses without bits, have done so for years.
Much nicer for them.

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We have so much in common SMID
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I have a rescue pony that wouldn't open his mouth for the bit. I re-trained him. I offered him the bit & he clamped his teeth together & turned his head away but I put my thumb in & prised it open & slipped the bit in & immediately gave him a mint & told him he was a good boy. It has to be immediately after the bit is in the mouth (so don't let it drop out) as pony has to associate taking the bit in his mouth with getting the reward - mint/good boy. I did this every time I put the bridle on & eventually he realised that when presented with the bit he got a mint/reward as soon as he took it. I kept this up for a long time after he started to take the bit himself, occasionally the reward was just good boy. Now he takes the bit every time, gets his good boy reward every time & sometimes still gets a mint. It works for me.
 
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To get her head down i put my hand around her nose and squeezed her nose and pushed down (gently) and she lowered her head, with the bit i squeezed the sides of her mouth where theres a gap and then she opened her mouth,
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This the correct and most effective way to put a bit in. Stand with your back to the horses near (left) shoulder put your right hand under the horse's head and round the nose, holding the cheekpieces in that hand and the bit in your left hand. As the horse takes the bit draw the leatherwork up the face and over the ears.
I would accept what the horse is telling you and use the metal that he prefers. You can get a version of most bits in a variety of metals and can loan most of them from one bit bank or another to find the most effective.
 
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