Youngster and bitting… feels invasive....

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soloequestrian

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I've always had horses that have been bitted before they came to me, though I have one who hacks in a hackamore and schools in a bit (we had bit issues when he first arrived). With my youngster, I have taken her forward in a hackamore because I'm used to them and it seemed a much more logical step from a headcollar than straight to a bit. I've been playing about with her and a bit recently - just having it in her mouth for a short time - and she is quite happy to take it in and out. We have carrot as a reward. The other day I lunged her and then put the bit in for a while in the school - we did some groundwork (off the headcollar, not the bit). She was very good but mouthed all the time - it was like she was saying yes, fine, I can do that but I just need to get this weird thing out of my mouth, like I would be if I had a big toffee stuck to my teeth. It felt weird. All the other tack she wears just sits on her, but the bit is 'in' her. I'm not sure I like that. Please discuss!
 
I think I know where you are coming from I have just bitted my 4 year old and feel I should have done it sooner. She mouths it for a little while but at first she didnt seem to get the idea of moving with it in. After a few walks out with her bit in but lead from the headcollar she is much better at moving and has stopped mouthing it as much. She had the same problem with the saddle couldnt work out how to move but again a few minutes she was walking and trotting even had a few canter strides without bucking so again seems happy. It does seem a little odd to put the bit in but all horses and ponies need to be well rounded and happy to give them the best chances in life.
 
Its a new thing and youngsters do tend to be quite mouthy anyway. Like W&R says you will probably have a similar reaction to a saddle. Have a feel about in her mouth and see how much room there is and then get a suitable bit. Lots of horses dont have a lot of room in their mouths and need a thinner and/or double jointed bit
 
Yes, just staying with bitless is definitely an option. She hasn't been the same with saddles at all - she's on her fourth now because she's been hard to find one for. I don't think there is anything wrong with the bit, it's just the whole concept of putting something in her (or any horse's) mouth. Is their finally accepting it a form of learned helplessness or is it the same as we would have with a set of braces or a new filling - eventually you just stop noticing it?
 
All unbroken horses mouth the bit: it is an unfamiliar sensation and something that they need time to get used to, just like wearing a saddle with a tight girth round their middles and having a large primate lumping about on their backs. It's the world of horses, if you have a problem with that then I suppose the whole of the rest of it's going to be a bit of a shock.
 
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