young horses and bits and bridles?

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Welshie Squisher

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Any tips for getting a young one to accept a bridle being put on?
She is absolutely fine once on, but not keen on having it put on, she doesn't try to run off or nything, just won't open her mouth. If I pop my fingers in I can get her to open with a bit of patience.
Maybe just more practice is needed? I have tried syrup, she threw a wobbly and really didn't like it.
She's a section D and stubborn is her middle name, so possibly just being difficult.

Any tips? Ideas?

Thanks :)
 
Welshie Squisher said:
Any tips for getting a young one to accept a bridle being put on?
She is absolutely fine once on, but not keen on having it put on, she doesn't try to run off or nything, just won't open her mouth. If I pop my fingers in I can get her to open with a bit of patience.
Maybe just more practice is needed? I have tried syrup, she threw a wobbly and really didn't like it.
She's a section D and stubborn is her middle name, so possibly just being difficult.

Any tips? Ideas?

Thanks :)[/QUOTE

Is it a rubber bit ? If not fry covering it in bit tape, she may not like the coldness. BTW love your username
Click to expand...
 
Thanks Christmas_fairy :)

Actually this may be the problem, she was fine in a rubber straight bar, i switched to a loose ring french link as that is what I plan to use over the next couple of years. So it could well be the cold metal.
If so, how do I solve that? I can go back to the rubber bar for a while, at least I'll know for sure :)
 
Welshie Squisher said:
Thanks Christmas_fairy :)

Actually this may be the problem, she was fine in a rubber straight bar, i switched to a loose ring french link as that is what I plan to use over the next couple of years. So it could well be the cold metal.
If so, how do I solve that? I can go back to the rubber bar for a while, at least I'll know for sure :)
Click to expand...

What we do is start with a metal bit wrapped in loads of bit tape then gradually decrease the amount of tape it is wrapped in. Also try and heat up the bit inbetween your hands to take the chill off it (we put stretchy socks over ours when in tack room then pop them next to the kettle) and be very careful not to bang her teeth
 
Welshie Squisher said:
Thanks Christmas_fairy :)

Actually this may be the problem, she was fine in a rubber straight bar, i switched to a loose ring french link as that is what I plan to use over the next couple of years. So it could well be the cold metal.
If so, how do I solve that? I can go back to the rubber bar for a while, at least I'll know for sure :)
Click to expand...

Just out of curiosity, not wantingto start a debate, if she's going well in a straight bar why have you changed it? Just wandering as when I bitted my youngster i used a soft rubber straight bar, and changed it to a thiner hard rubber straight bar, 6years down the line she's still going well in it....
 
Suffolkangel - when I say fine in the straight bar, I mean fine accepting it.
She's a strong wee madame, and I'm not sure I'd be confident with that as her riding bit, I ont know till spring.
I wanted her to be used to both bits so I had the option of either.

Christmas_Fairy - I've never heard of bit tape! Thanks for the tips, I ill try warming the bit next time.

Yes I had her teeth checked in oct, although she's young so they may have changed??
 
Welshie Squisher said:
Suffolkangel - when I say fine in the straight bar, I mean fine accepting it.
She's a strong wee madame, and I'm not sure I'd be confident with that as her riding bit, I ont know till spring.
I wanted her to be used to both bits so I had the option of either.
Click to expand...

Ah right that makes sense. Have you tried a happy mouth with peanut? is basically the same as a french link and works in the same way, but is made with hard rubber/plastic so not so cold in the mouth. Some even come flavoured, my friend had an apple flavoured one for her cob which he loved.
 
That's an idea suffolkangel.

God I have over a dozen bits, bought one after the other with my daughters pony until we got it right, i wasn't too bothered because I thought oh well, I'll have loads to try for Lily, and I bet I still end up buying more :(
 
Just remembered how we heated the bits last year, once you arrive at the yard pop the bit under the sleeve of your long sleeved top and secure it with a elastic band, then when you are ready to put it in whip it out your sleeve and quickly attach it to the bridle, I can reccommend synthetic cheek pieces as fiddling with leather with cold fingers is not fun
 
Yikes, it was 0 degrees today, that be very cold up my sleeve, I'm old ya know lol
Thinking about it, that bit must have been really cold today, poor sod I'm a mean mum :(
Will try it warm tomorrow but its not going up my sleeve, can go up my daughters ;)
 
Welshie Squisher said:
Yikes, it was 0 degrees today, that be very cold up my sleeve, I'm old ya know lol
Thinking about it, that bit must have been really cold today, poor sod I'm a mean mum :(
Will try it warm tomorrow but its not going up my sleeve, can go up my daughters ;)
Click to expand...

It is very cold, it does make/force you to appreciate what the horses put up with
 
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