How do you teach a youngster to lower head?

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gailt

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I have been bitting my lad who is 18/19mths old, he is now lifting his head really high to avoid it, any tips..hes about 14.2 at the mo but grows to 17hh when the bit comes out..lol...
 
Put tooth paste on the bit sometimees works. Or hold a polo in your hand and get them to lower it before you put the bit in. Is the bit metal? Is it possible they find it cold or it bangs them slightly? Maybe try with a happy mouth so you know they are not getting banged as it goes in.
 
I've just had my mare broken and she has been taught (with a pressure halter) to lower her head if you put your hand between her ears. That was before the trainer started trying to put a bridle on her. Now there is no issue at all, you lower her head to start with, then put the bridle on by holding the headpiece with your hand over the top of her head between her ears giving her a signal to keep her head low.
 
Good thing I read the other posts, I was going to say exactly what Jemima has. Teach him. A signal such as your hand on his poll/neck/nose, wherever it suits you, pressure on the halter etc, and as soon as he lowers the slightest bit remove the pressure/signal and make a fuss of him, it takes a little time but it's well worth the effort. He'll soon figure out that life is easier all around.
 
Me too. Jemima has said the best way of teaching them this, in my opinion. Another way is to stand above their heads - they soon learn that there is no point in avoiding the bridle.
 
I do similar but use a thumb nail behind the ear - they realise that high head = pointy digging nail and low head is nice. The nail only comes into contact when they raise their head and they dig it in, not me.

My first TB had issues, for her it was a case of stand her in a corner and use a bucket to get high enough. Once she lowered her head she was given a mint and then the bridle was tried, every time she raised she was asked to lower and rewarded with a mint. Within a few months she was great to bridle.

Cairo is excellent - he puts his head down and opens his mouth for his bit. Chancer needs a finger put in his mouth to encourage him to open up but now no longer raises his head as he quickly realised a pointy finger awaited him.

Once his bridle is on he gets a fuss and I hope with time will be a good as Cairo.
 
I didn't with our baby - he puts his head right down and opens his mouth over the bit! Bless him. The other three need finger in the corner of the mouth although mine will lower his head and take the bit himself if you let him smell a mint first.
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