Meet the new boy....and advise please

C

Cathey

Active Member
Joined
2 May 2004
Messages
49
Visit site
Introducing monty, my new(ish) summer project :) What do you think? And, in your opinion, how much do you think hes worth?

This evening after loose schooling:
monty8thjuly.jpg


Just after he arrived, only picture of that side i have!
photo.jpg


Hes 15.1 ish and turned 4 in April. I bought him off a novice who owned him for the last 12 months and had done little with him. Previous to this he was backed and ridden away and seems to know the ropes. Hes an angel in every way, and seems far older than his 4 years.

However....im having a bit of trouble bitting him. Basically, he sees the bit coming, clamps his mouth shut and no amount of jam, honey, slices of carrot or apple or bits of food can persuade him otherwise! If you keep trying he gets frustrated and starts lifting his front legs and waving them around, so it all gets a bit dangerous and frustrating for both of us. The only way iv been able to bit him so far is to twitch him. After the bits in hes fine, no excessive mouthing etc. Hes a bit headshy, although this improves everyday, so i have to slip his bit in after the bridles already on.

He had his teeth done the end of May but iv got him booked in again just to check theres nothing making him uncomfortable. Hes in a loose ring french link sweet iron bit currently. My feeling is that something happened to put him off when he was originally bitted, and i just need to overcome it.

Any advice is very welcome as i keep hitting dead ends!
 
To be honest i just normally shove my hand in the side of the mouth (or get someone else to help and do this) so they have to open their mouths. Put bit in with lots of praise and maybe a nice treat afterwards! My sister's horse was like this and still can be like this although he doesn't care once the bit is in and actually holds on to it when you're taking it out so you just have to let him drop it. Funnily as well, he is perfectly happy to put a whole load of thing you don't want him to, in his mouth!!!
 
Backed as a 2 year old?

The less fuss the better. How do you position yourself when putting the bridle on i.e. from the side, stood infront on him?

I just put my finger in the side on the mouth whilst making sure the bit doesn't bash against the teeth.
 
From what i can make out he was backed not long after turning 3, and had 12 months ish turned out with other youngsters before i bought him at the start of June. I have to put the bridle on by undoing the noseband, throatlash and one side of the bit and then sliding it up his neck as although improving with his headshy-ness, its easier than going over his ears. So then one side of the bits attached and i do the other up when its in his mouth. I stand to the side as much as possible without getting squashed up the wall/fence!
 
My chap was a real pain to bridle, I found holding a polo in my hand under the bit did the trick (although this technique would probably be frowned on by many), he's fine now! Have you watched the video of Michael Peace posted by JanetGeorge a couple of days ago?
 
attheponies said:
My chap was a real pain to bridle, I found holding a polo in my hand under the bit did the trick (although this technique would probably be frowned on by many), he's fine now! Have you watched the video of Michael Peace posted by JanetGeorge a couple of days ago?
Click to expand...


Was not able to view this video, but give it a try, the other posts were very favourable about it.

Pony looks nice type, he may have been treated roughly (while bridling) before and just needs some time and patience. I would get him really used to you handling him all over but esp. round the face and mouth, so that he gets really relaxed with you. Try letting him allow you to slip your fingers in and out of his mouth, rubbing his face, and lots of snacks in between. (No bit in sight).

You want to try and break the pattern. Can you ride him in a bitless bridle for a while so that you can take the whole bit thing out of the equation while you get him more comfortable with you.

I have a mare that hates being wormed, rears and carries on, normally she does this once or twice, and then lets me give her the wormer. Last time, she was immpossible, so I left her that day (my daughter just spent some time touching face and head and getting her to relax).

The next day I put the wormer in my pocket and played with her face and mouth (she gets headshy when worried) and gave her handfuls of oats in between, rubbed her face and mouth slipped my fingers in rubbed her gums, approach/retreat for about 30 minutes. Soon she had forgotten all about being worried and let me give her the worning paste without an issue, no reaction at all, just relaxed and hoping for more oats. Because what I normally do was not working I changed what I was doing to help break the pattern. (rearing and backing).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top