Introducing the bridle after backing

[Wagtail]

Has anyone else done this? In the past I have followed a very formulaic way of breaking horses. I introduce them to lunging in a head collar or lunge cavesson, then introduce a bridle and roller then loose side reins, then long reins, then only when everything is well established with that and the saddle do I begin the backing process. However, my young mare has forced me to turn everything on its head and I am backing her without a bridle; in just a rope halter. My reason for doing this is that although she learnt to lunge far quicker than any other youngster I've trained, she doesn't enjoy it one bit and a bridle and bit makes her even worse. She's had her teeth done (two wolf teeth removed over a year ago. She is just completely irritated by the bridle and bit (both traditional and the micklem, and I've tried several different bits). So I decided this was all distracting her so much that our progress was really suffering. So last year I just backed her in a rope halter. She was fab. I have since been off through injury and illness but have started rebacking her the same way and she's brilliant. We're only in the early stages, but my question is, has anyone else done this and then introduced the bridle once riding in a halter is well established? Were there any problems?

 

[FfionWinnie]

Sort of. I rode in a hackamore on a horse which appeared bridle lame she was so fussy in her mouth. After a while I put a bit on the bridle but still rode off the hackamore. I did that for a few months before I started riding from the bit. I then discovered she liked the hackamore on top to stop it moving around. The breakthrough was when I got a micklem and a myler low ported snaffle which she went well in. Took a long time tho!

 

[Wheels]

I introduced the bridle to one of mine during the backing and early training process by way of classical in hand work. It meant that he learned to understand the action and pressure of the bit for bending, turning, contact, stopping etc without other things going on. Starting with flexions in halt, moving on to introducing walk, stop, turn, back up, trot transitions

I don't use any gadgets lunging, the only thing I will use to educate my horses mouth is my hands, anything else is just not subtle enough, especially to a soft or fussy mouth

 

[Wagtail]

Sort of. I rode in a hackamore on a horse which appeared bridle lame she was so fussy in her mouth. After a while I put a bit on the bridle but still rode off the hackamore. I did that for a few months before I started riding from the bit. I then discovered she liked the hackamore on top to stop it moving around. The breakthrough was when I got a micklem and a myler low ported snaffle which she went well in. Took a long time tho!

That's a very good idea. I may well do something similar.

I introduced the bridle to one of mine during the backing and early training process by way of classical in hand work. It meant that he learned to understand the action and pressure of the bit for bending, turning, contact, stopping etc without other things going on. Starting with flexions in halt, moving on to introducing walk, stop, turn, back up, trot transitions

I don't use any gadgets lunging, the only thing I will use to educate my horses mouth is my hands, anything else is just not subtle enough, especially to a soft or fussy mouth

I completely agree regarding the hands being the most subtle and effective training aid. I will certainly be doing some in-hand work and straightness training before using a bit whilst I'm on board.

 

[MotherOfChickens]

I've no personal experience of it but it wasn't unusual back in the day to bit a horse but then back and do the early riding away on a cavesson (Europe-google academic bridle) or a bosal (Western) and then to introduce riding with a bit later on.

Whats her mouth conformation like and what do you want to do with her (ie does something have to be dressage legal)?

I had one pony that simply wouldnt tolerate any sort of jointed bit, hated a single joint and double jointed bits of all sorts. Even on the ground it was obvious he hated them but on picking up the reins would have him stick his head in the air and rush off.
Then he liked a little mulham pelham that I found although not so keen on other mullens/Cambridge bit and eventually got him a peewee bit which he loved. He was very green when he came to me and I wouldnt have necessarily have thought of going to a more 'advanced' bit straight off but it worked for him.

 

[Wagtail]

I've no personal experience of it but it wasn't unusual back in the day to bit a horse but then back and do the early riding away on a cavesson (Europe-google academic bridle) or a bosal (Western) and then to introduce riding with a bit later on.

Whats her mouth conformation like and what do you want to do with her (ie does something have to be dressage legal)?

I had one pony that simply wouldnt tolerate any sort of jointed bit, hated a single joint and double jointed bits of all sorts. Even on the ground it was obvious he hated them but on picking up the reins would have him stick his head in the air and rush off.
Then he liked a little mulham pelham that I found although not so keen on other mullens/Cambridge bit and eventually got him a peewee bit which he loved. He was very green when he came to me and I wouldnt have necessarily have thought of going to a more 'advanced' bit straight off but it worked for him.

Yes, I want to do dressage with her eventually. I'm not even sure it's the bit because she doesn't like the micklem, even bitless. I think she just hates the feeling of anything snug around her face. She spends the whole time head shaking and working herself up so much she stands up. She doesn't seem to mind the rope halter though, even when there's a firm hold on it. I bought one with the two rings to attach the reins and she's cool with that. The only thing that worries me is the possible lack of control I may have when we start doing things independently from a person on the ground. She's very wilful and energetic sometimes in-hand so I expect she may be similar under saddle once free of the handler. Nothing malicious, just gets very excited and enthusiastic!

 

[FfionWinnie]

I think I would be putting the bridle on every day but not working her in it, until she accepts it as something normal.

Separately, working her however you need to, to make progress under saddle then hopefully down the line the two things will come together.

 

[Wagtail]

I think I would be putting the bridle on every day but not working her in it, until she accepts it as something normal.

Separately, working her however you need to, to make progress under saddle then hopefully down the line the two things will come together.

Thanks. She's fine with the bridle until being asked to work. I'll persevere with it separately to working her. Maybe incorporate it into her clicker training which she enjoys.

 

[teddypops]

I always back and break in bareback with a headcollar. I put bridle on regularly though. When I start to ride in bridle, I put it on over the headcollar and still use the headcollar, gradually starting to use bridle instead. Have had no problems when I eventually leave the headcollar off.

 

[Wagtail]

I always back and break in bareback with a headcollar. I put bridle on regularly though. When I start to ride in bridle, I put it on over the headcollar and still use the headcollar, gradually starting to use bridle instead. Have had no problems when I eventually leave the headcollar off.

Thanks, that's good to know. I've always been quite traditional in the past but the more I think about it, the more I think that it's probably the right way to do it in any case. Should I break in another, then I will probably do the same. I do use a saddle though. My bareback days are over, lol. My mare is fine with the saddle.

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Is it a certain part of the bridle she doesn't like? Can you pinpoint what is causing her the discomfort?

I ask as there are quite a few different bridles on the market now with different pressure relieving ideas.

Saw a weird and wonderful one at Somerford Premier League which was cut back away from the ears, but with padding so the bridle didn't touch the top of the poll where the last vertebrae are, with the idea that this would be more comfortable to the horse.

So if you could narrow down what she doesn't like and then go from there, is it poll pressure, pressure around her cheeks onto her teeth (I'm assuming its not this due to her dislike of the micklem which should relive this), etc.

 

[Wagtail]

Is it a certain part of the bridle she doesn't like? Can you pinpoint what is causing her the discomfort?

I ask as there are quite a few different bridles on the market now with different pressure relieving ideas.

Saw a weird and wonderful one at Somerford Premier League which was cut back away from the ears, but with padding so the bridle didn't touch the top of the poll where the last vertebrae are, with the idea that this would be more comfortable to the horse.

So if you could narrow down what she doesn't like and then go from there, is it poll pressure, pressure around her cheeks onto her teeth (I'm assuming its not this due to her dislike of the micklem which should relive this), etc.

No idea. I am going to ditch the micklem with her though and try a bog standard headstall with no noseband. I originally bitted her in the stable with this and she wasn't bothered, but I never worked her in it as I just went straight to the micklem due to its lunging ring. But she was a nightmare to lunge in it and lunged fine in a rope halter (although she gets fed up pretty quickly with circles so we don't do much of that).

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Good plan, and I'd also double check the browband is also loose and not putting pressure on as I think this was one of the area's fairfax's research found to be a pressure spot bizarrely.

 

[ester]

I think you are on the right lines, I would literally stick a headslip on with a bit and ride off the halter still for starters.