Pain in the bum bridling new horse

Box_Of_Frogs

Box_Of_Frogs

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Any ideas please? Just bought super little 13.2hh gelding. A superstar, safe, slow, chilled. I watched him being tacked up before I bought him. Piece of cake. Had him few days now and he's being an absolute MONSTER about having bit in his mouth. Exact same bit (French link) as before and I can't believe he's suddenly developed a tooth problem inside a week. I know he's testing the boundaries, I thought patience, do it over and over. I stood with him and managed to get it in his mouth SIX times and the 6th time was as bad as the 1st. He puts head on the floor, then in the air, back on floor, yanks to right, on floor again, clamps mouth tight shut over and over again until I get furious with him and the whole thing becomes an ugly battle. Once bridled up, he's a delight to ride. Any tips? Similar experiences? Thanks X
 
I had a horse that was the same, would throw his head up in the air and back off when I tried to put the bridle on, I used to have to stand on a saw horse to reach and if I missed getting it over both ears in 1 go I was in trouble, when I finally did get it on he wouldn't even let me untuck his forelock so he looked silly being ridden around with it all stuck under his brow band. Then one day I was holding the bridle and talking to a friend not looking at him, next thing I know he's sticking his face in himself. Turns out he likes to put the bridle on himself not have it put on, so from there I would just hold the bridle out for him and he would lower his head and I could easily slide it over and he would keep his head down while I hooked it over his ears and fixed his forelock, maybe yours is the same?
 
Wow - haven't seen you about for a while!

Have you tried coating the bit in something nice? Could it be it is cold and he is objecting to that? Has he accepted it at all since you have had him and if not, how did he arrive with you - could he have had a problem during transit?

My horse is generally a star to bridle, so when he became difficult, I had him checked over. Turned out to be a TMJ problem.
 
Box_Of_Frogs said:
Any ideas please? Just bought super little 13.2hh gelding. A superstar, safe, slow, chilled. I watched him being tacked up before I bought him. Piece of cake. Had him few days now and he's being an absolute MONSTER about having bit in his mouth. Exact same bit (French link) as before and I can't believe he's suddenly developed a tooth problem inside a week. I know he's testing the boundaries, I thought patience, do it over and over. I stood with him and managed to get it in his mouth SIX times and the 6th time was as bad as the 1st. He puts head on the floor, then in the air, back on floor, yanks to right, on floor again, clamps mouth tight shut over and over again until I get furious with him and the whole thing becomes an ugly battle. Once bridled up, he's a delight to ride. Any tips? Similar experiences? Thanks X
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welcome Back B of Frogs so nice to see you again :)

Have you tried disecting the brdle so head piece is o then bit and maybe try hackamore for a while??
 
Mine was the same but 16.1 and would just stand there with his head in the air. Had seen him tacked up twice when viewing and he was sensitive around the ears but nothing dramatic, turns out he had:

a) developed a tooth problem in the week that I'd had him
B) hurt his poll pulling back when tied up

Fixed both of those and he's back to normal

What's he like with you taking it off? We knew Sid wasn't just trying it on when he nearly knocked himself out trying to escape when we took it off.
 
Get the teeth checked and as another poster has said it could be an issue with TMJ so physio might be required too
 
Lol, stopped riding for 7 years after breaking my leg and wrecking my knee. Just enjoyed miniature Shetlands. But got lured back into riding 18 months ago. Long story! Was reluctant to bribe him into the bit. Not cold. Temp around 27C! He's had the bridle on without a hint of a problem when dealer delivered and tacked him up. It's me, I know that, testing boundaries xxx
 
Hiya! See above chick. Left riding, just miniature Shetlands for 7 years after nasty accident leading my horse down steep muddy hill. Too old for it now really but hey you only live once! I did think seriously about dissecting his head but yes, taking bridle to bits is a possible solution. But I e seen him accept it without a blink, my bridle, put on by dealer in my stable. So it's not the bit, not the bridle, it's me. I know that! Just don't know how to deal with it xxx
 
Do you have one hand on his nose and the other under the chin bringing it around? My two like to have the bridle put on in completely different ways. Big guy isn't too fussed, prefers if you just put it straight on his face from the front, not keen on your hand pinning down his nose. Wee guy hates it that way, needs you to cuddle his face, bridle in one hand round and underneath. Can you remember which way the old owners did it?
 
Yes, good idea. I don't have previous owner's phone number. Dealer had him two months and she's advised never a moments problem. But previous owners kiddies rode him so it might be a trick he learned to evade small, kind humans. Small I'm not ha ha but I know my energy might be saying something to him so he's seeing if he can get away with it. As I said, on and off six times yesterday and 6 th time as ghastly as 1st! Will try again today then maybe ask friend/YO to have a go xxx
 
worth trying to swap your hands round, I've found quite a few don't like the whole head hug thing but if you (standing on the left) hold the bridle in the left hand and the bit in the right so the don't feel confined then often they're better and don't throw their head as much
 
I am 5 ft 8 and my 16.1 hh ID mare has a high head carriage and I had to buy this lovely stool to stand on as her head is just below the clouds when trying to tack up. She was MEGA head shy when I got her and has a huge injury to her nose just below her eyes in the centre from past trauma maybe a hit with a hard objects or a kick.



My late mare had someone taking of the bit so quick it hit her teeth and she threw head up causing the bit to stay in mouth. I had to disect the bridle for weeks into months after till she would accept the bridle again, I am VERY particular how the bridle comes off and hold the nose and say * gently* and if they fidget the bridle is lifted up so the bit goes back to the corners away from teeth till the horse gently lowers and gently allows bit to drop out avoiding the teeth



At least your guy is small - did you see the way they put the bridle etc as they may have a certain way of doing it, was he on a calmer before?

I hold the bridle in the centre and my arm above the poll(BHS )way when I trained so you can put gentle pressure if the head comes up.

Have you thought of trying the bridle sligthly looser and tighting it up after so once its on shorterned the buckles etc


Might seem obvious but there is no injury under the chin or anywhere that could cause disscomfort!!
Get EDT out
No injury to the tongue is there or inside the mouth
No swelling round the poll
Nobody before you took the bridle of too quick and clonked his teeth with the bit
Corners of the mouth ok?
Try a different bit for a while
Is there anything in his ears making him not like a hand or bridle near his ears
Or maybe this advice

Pace the reins over her head. Reward, repeat.
Put your hand around her nose. Reward, repeat.
Place the bride in the hand over the nose. Reward, repeat.
Present the bit (i.e. bring it up to her mouth but don't try to bit her). Reward, repeat.
If she doesn't take the bit place your thumb on the outside of her lips. Reward, repeat.
Place your thumb on the inside of her lips. Reward, repeat.
Push your thumb between the bars. Reward, repeat.
Push down on the tongue (this usually get the mouth open). Reward, repeat.
Once she is opening her mouth place the bit in her mouth. Reward, repeat.
Hold the bridle by the head piece and bring it up to the ears, but don't touch the ears. Reward, repeat.
Place one ear in. Reward, repeat.
Place the other ear in. Reward, repeat.
 
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I think you need to go into more detail of how your are putting the bridle on. The fact the dealer does it no problem is as you know a hint it's you.

I don't think horses take the mick as much as we like to believe. They respond and react to good and bad pressure.
 
I had a mare like this many years ago - the best way with her was to offer a couple of mints with the bit, as she clamped her mouth shut too! I did take the bridle apart a few times and slide the bit in her mouth through the gap in her teeth but TBH the mints were quick and easy and worked as a solution for both of us. This was her only "vice" as in all other ways she was - and still is (retired now) a super mare. Just a thought the bit wasn't overly hot or cold?? More than likely he's testing you.
 
Mine went through a stage of being a pain. I think it was because his ears were a bit sore from the flies, and the head would go up and he'd pull backwards. What worked for me was giving him a handful of chaff with the bit, he was more than happy to take it then! I did that for maybe a couple of weeks and that seemed to be enough to break the habit of pulling away, he continued to improve without food after that and is very good now. I think if I had tried to train him by doing it repeatedly it would have made it into a bigger issue for him, obviously it depends on the horse though! Good luck!
 
I wouldn't be too quick to blame yourself, A change in behaviour is usually always associated with pain or discomfort. I would check teeth just in case , could have knocked one , or have a mouth soreness . Might have a sore poll, slipped in the field. Also it could just be a sign that some other piece of tack is sore . Do you have a new saddle, has it been checked? Once you have ruled out pain you can think about the pony " trying you out"! :)
 
I bet it's not you.....I would def start with teeth/mouth..is he ok with a head collar which would suggest the bit is the prob? Good luck and stop beating yourself up please!
 
Are you absolutely sure no bribe was involved when you viewed him? A girl at our yard offered me her boy to ride when I lost mine, first time I tacked him up I just couldn't get him to part his teeth, he was determined to clamp his mouth shut!!! I did eventually succeed but not without a battle and lots of swearing and when I mentioned it to her she said she'd forgotten to tell me, all his life she'd shoved a biscuit in his gob at the same time as the bit. Hmmmm, there you go then!!
 
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