Odd behaviour when bridled

[planete]

Coblet came to me with a panicky response to having bridles put on the orthodox ways (he is not head shy). He used to throw his head around like a battering ram at the approach of a bridle and would also grab head collars. We have now come to an agreement. I face him holding the bridle by the cheek pieces, he opens his mouth and grabs the bit into his mouth, rather aggressively. At this point I lift the headpiece to his ears and slide them into place. Once the bridle is in place he gets a sugar cube. I just have time to whip the reins out of his way while he is eating it as he will frantically try to grab the reins if given a millisecond opportunity to do so. Teeth have been checked and rechecked. Once ridden he has a responsive quiet mouth. He does not head shake or show any signs of sensitivity to his face being groomed or even scrubbed. I have done away with broadband and noseband. He shows normal responses to an ordinary knotted halter. Any suggestions to help him gratefully received.

 

[Kaylum]

What about his ears do they have aural plaques, is his browband too small, bit too small? Any photos?

 

[planete]

No brow band, no aural plaques, quite happy to have his ears massaged and fingers stuck inside. No areas of abnormal sensitivity on his head. Lets me clip his beard and long cheek hairs or scrub away any tear marks. He does tend to like holding something in his mouth but gets totally manic with reins. Once the rider is on board holding the reins he is absolutely fine on a contact or on a loose rein providing the reins are not left to dangle and swing about or he will grab them. The bit is the right size, I will hunt a picture.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

It may be a remembered pain response but it sounds like you have made progress with it maybe just give it some time.

What is the Head piece like that you are using as some can pinch the back of the ear or cause poll pressure.

 

[planete]

It may be a remembered pain response but it sounds like you have made progress with it maybe just give it some time.

What is the Head piece like that you are using as some can pinch the back of the ear or cause poll pressure.

It is an ordinary head piece, I do not use a brow band so can put it well clear of his ears. Surely the head piece only puts the weight of the bit on the poll as he is in a snaffle with no noseband? His poll is rather well cushioned by the thickness of his abundant forelock hair too and he shows no reaction to pressure on his poll from a hand or a rope.

He was rescued at four by the RSPCA and had a few homes before ending up with me and yes, we are making progress, but I am worried I may be missing something. He tends to nip when nervous and started actually biting after an over zealous instructor hit him across the face but we have got over that now. He has been thoroughly MOTed by my equine vet in case he was in pain anywhere and got the all clear, he is also now good to hack out on his own and becoming a very reliable sane chap, just this problem.

 

[exracehorse]

My horse will grab the reins and chew when he’s anxious. Hardly does it now. But used to a lot

 

[charlotte0916]

My mare tends to have similar anxious responses following ulcers. She came to me with grade 4 and we’re currently in the process of retraining with clicker training - literally from the stage of walking in with tack and asking her to come over when she feels ready. It’s been a slog but she’s gone from teeth and feet everywhere to calmly being tacked up loose in her stable and coming over to be tacked up when you come in. I found the key was stopping before she got stressed - so just coming over to the tack positively was initially rewarded and then teeny baby steps - e.g. lifting it up as if to put it on her. For her it seemed to be anticipating pain -> anxious -> defensive ->offensive

 

[AmyMay]

Any chance he’s an orphan foal?

 

[Gloi]

Has he got colty habits? Was he gelded late?

 

[Sossigpoker]

This sounds like anxiety to me.
If he likes having his face brushed and being handled etc i would start doing things he enjoys whilst having the bridle over your shoulder. Don't make any attempt to put it on. He gets so anxious about the bridle coming that I feel you should just do nice things so he learns to relax with the bridle somewhere in his vicinity.
Once this is OK, I would then carry on doing those nice things but just move the bridle a bit - not necessarily towards his face ,but maybe from one shoulder to another. He needs to learn that seeing the bridle doesn't mean it will go on and therefore whatever awful thing has happened to him in the past. It sounds like he's more worried about the bridle than riding so if you can remove some of the stress around seeing the bridle, he should start to relax.

 

[Melody Grey]

Mine is keen with the bridle and always has been- as soon as you get it near him, he’s reaching for the bit. It’s as if the bridle has to go on ‘on his terms’. He’s a bit of a monkey generally, so i put it down to probably having been grabbed a bit aggressively in the past. He is mouthy though, literally everything has to be in his mouth. He lifted my son clean off the floor once by the hood of his coat, legs swinging! ?‍

 

[planete]

Any chance he’s an orphan foal?

Has he got colty habits? Was he gelded late?

As he is a rescue it is impossible to know about his early days but he was probably gelded only when picked up by the RSPCA at four so gelded a bit late perhaps. I suppose I could find out if I got in touch with the rescue centre. He has exhibited very coltish defensive moves when anxious like rearing and grabbing people. He is only 13.2 and has a curious habit of rearing to his full height when he wants to see something behind an obstacle or on higher ground. He has not done it under saddle though.

Many thanks for all the suggestions, you are confirming my feeling that it is linked to a state of anxiety and given me some good ideas. I have not had him scoped for ulcers yet. The vet and I agreed to wait a few weeks and see how he reacted to training before deciding to do it. He has been responding so positively to everything else that I was beginning to feel it was unnecessary. I am going to concentrate on the bridle desensitisation training first (thanks Sossigpoker and Charlotte) and see how it goes. I will also try riding him in just his knotted halter and see whether the anxiety is to do with the bridle or the idea of being ridden, but I need to make sure he is not going to think that leaves him in charge. He is so good on the bit I gave up on the idea of bitless bridles some time ago.

 

[TPO]

It sounds like he has had some less than ideal handling in the past regarding bridling

Rather than fully bridle him perhaps spend some time just putting bit in.and then taking it out. Just slow and calm even if it takes 200 goes and perhaps use a word for him to associate with at each stage (in/out?). When doing my horses I also say "ears" when putting on/taking off bridles and halters just so they know where I'm going next iykwim

I would keep working away until he is comfortable and not grabbing the bit to get it over and done with in a panic