suddenly difficult to get a bridle on

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JLD

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Hi, hope someone can give me some advice. My horse has always been fine to put his bridle on although has been a little bit head shy at times. recently he has suddenly started objecting strongly to being bitted. His bridle hasnt changed his bit hasnt changed his riders havent changed. I thought he had a sharp edge on a tooth and called his dentist who couldnt come for 6 weeks ( nor could any others I called ) he agreed there was a slight edge and rasped it off but if anything he is worse since and it is getting a real struggle as I am 5'3 and he is 16.3, anyone got any ideas about why he might be doing it and what I can do about it. everyone on the yard says he is taking the p**s but i've had him 5 years and he's never tried it on before so I'm more inclined to listen to him then them !
 
I hate to say it but I think your livery friends might be right.... Try getting someone else to tack him up and see what happens....

Not the same thing but here is a little story.... One of my friends who used to keep her horse at the same yard as me could not get her horse past some donkeys that lived at the end of the drive without having a massive argument about it and normally with her horse going sideways past. One day someone else was hacking out with me and TBH I completely forgot to warn her but the horse went past a sweet as a nut.... Did not bat an eye lid....
 
This happened with my boy because of my OH... He didn't really know how to put a bridle on and although I instructed him how to do it, he managed to get it wrong. I went to do something, turned back and he was stood in front of Coblet pushing it into his face! Took 3 months to get him back to the uber good boy he is about his bridle.

So maybe someone has done something when tacking/untacking him that has caused him to think there's something to be worried about?
 
Have a look at the bit, and make sure no new sharp edges have formed. Happy Mouth and copper bits are very prone to this, so make sure to check very thoroughly. Also check any joints and rings, for pinching potential.

Get a vet to look at his teeth, they have speculums as well as dentists. Though they are not as skilled as specific dentists, they can see if anything is drastically wrong.

Check other areas of his head - poll, ears, jaw, cheeks, anywhere.

Is the noseband being overtightened? This can cause ulcers on the insides of the cheeks. Run your hands down the sides of his cheeks to check for lumps and soreness.

Have a feel around on his bars, but be aware that he might be sore, and watch your fingers.


It's probably worth checking his back, saddle and sternum as well.
 
the big lad was head shy when got him so ummmmm i hate battles so i undo cheek piece pop head piece over his ears then bring bit through mouth and fasten - no battle no hassle an big lad trusts more - who said bridle has to go on tradiontial way lol bingo :) and at 16.3 an me 5'4" it would be battle lol :)
 
Echo Bravo said:
Agree with Indigo Moose, horses don't take the p***, there is a reason why he's suddenly a little head shy
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Horse do take the piss! They get fed up like the rest of us. If a horse relates bridling to being ridden, and doesnt fancy it. He may well try to avoid being bridled.

I have a horse that is a swine to bridle on occassion. He is big, so I always undo the bit at the cheek on one side, put the bridle on, slide the bit in an do it back up. It makes it easier when hes got his head in the air like a giraffe.
 
My previous horse became head shy.
He was on part-livery and was put out by the yard staff. I had one of those head collars that have a clip underneath, so they were undoing that and pulling it over his ears. He didn't like it :(.
Bought an old fashioned head collar with just a nose and over head buckle and in no time at all he was back to his normal self being bridled :).
 
this sounds silly but Ive seen it a few times when horses suddenly decide not to let a bridle near them: I may be way off but you could be having saddle problems as these are so easy to occur and hard to notice but your pony may be telling you in the nicest possible way that riding hurts. They are animals and all the same so learn by association...
also check if you cleaned it recently and either bit is on backwards or bit is soapy...
do hope it gets better!
 
Horses don't take the micky, thats an anthropomophic opinion that is clearly wrong. When a situation arises like this where there is some behavioural change, it's feedback from the horse, that something has changed resulting in a lack of confidence or discomfort.

The way it is dealt with by folk obviously varies with the owner. Some want to find out the cause of the change and address it, others will use a greater stimulus to overcome what is seen as micky taking or being naughty.
 
AndySpooner said:
Horses don't take the micky, thats an anthropomophic opinion that is clearly wrong. When a situation arises like this where there is some behavioural change, it's feedback from the horse, that something has changed resulting in a lack of confidence or discomfort.

The way it is dealt with by folk obviously varies with the owner. Some want to find out the cause of the change and address it, others will use a greater stimulus to overcome what is seen as micky taking or being naughty.
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^^^ agree - when my mare suddenly resented having a bridle put on it turned out after lots of trying to find out why that she had hock problem and didnt want to be ridden. Hock problem sorted ok to bridle again!
 
I have had this with a youngster, I did undo the cheek pieces for a few times as he was 15.2 and I am only 5ft. but i found a nice pony treat on the hand with the bit teaches them to lower the head and makes bridling a more of a positive experience you can usually dispence with the treat after a couple of weeks and they are happy to take the bit.
 
I have just had exactly the same problem with my TB, within a week he became impossible to bridle. Also would not let me near him with his flyhat or a brush. I have owned him for 3 years and knew he was not being naughty, its just not his way. I had the vet out to him and he had an infection in his left ear. He has finished his antibiotics and is now much better although Im still putting the bridle on by popping the bit in after the headpiece as he still has a bee in his bonnet about me pulling it over his ear. Headcollar, fly hat and brush are fine though and hes getting better each day. I would go with your instinct, you know him best and if its out of character there will be a reason.
 
Might be worth having a bl**dy good check of his mouth for fissures.
One of our old liveries became headshy almost overnight. The mere sight of the bridle was enough to send her into a panic. Under sedation, the vet had a good root about, and found she had a hole going from her nostril through the gum, and coming out above her teeth at the point the lip and gum join.
Until it had healed, she would allow nothing near her head. Became a lamb again once it had gone.
 
Mine did that unexpectedly. Turned out to have an ear infection. Unfortunately said horse had the memory of an elephant and even when the infection was cleared and gone, would always say no to having the bridle put on. When we knew it was now a learned "get out" clause I too would have to undo the cheek strap on the bridle, pop the headpiece over his ears (so his ears did not have to be pushed flat) and the do up the cheek piece. IMO far more uncomfortable for him but he would accept me doing that. I am not quite 5.5" and horse was 16.2.

Now getting the drops into his ear was a whole other story..
 
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