Youngster refusing to take the bit :(

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Beatrice5

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Well progress was being made and little man was leting me bridle him and accepting the bit covered in honey from me and quite happy. We had been having lessons from a local well respected horse woman and things seemed to be going well. Anyway last week she decided as I could bridle and bit him that she would have a go as he needed to be taught to accept other people handling him, I agreed and thats when it went wrong :(

Willow is wary around his head and HATES poll pressure. This lady decided he was being rude and when she tried to bridle him he put his head up and stepped back. She asked him to walk forwards whilst still trying to pull his head down to bridle him. He stood on her foot as was so busy worrying about his head he forgot where his feet were. So she kicked him for being so rude and careless with his feet. Anyway she eventually got his bridle on with my help and we did a bit of voice commands all fine.

Then to take the bridle off. Again I offered and she decided he was rude and she's do it. Why I let he I don't know - I suppose I was deffering to her superior knowledge and experience. ( she has a reputation for backing difficult youngsters and being very good at turning horses around) Well anyway another argument between her and Willow ensued and she yanked him in the chops a few times and also the poll so he was well upset but she "won" in her terms but in a very unladylike fashion.

She left saying he was rude and argumentative and best left to expert hands and should be given to Bristol horseworld to sort out and turn around as I was out of my depth! Oh and she didn't do backing anymore as it was too dangerous.

So when Ravenwood came to help me on Saturday we had a little go at bridling him but he wasn't keen understandably but I though with a litle time he get there. We did however back him lightly and with no worries at all :) But this morning after some more gentle playing he will accept the bridle but still not the bit. He gets very worried and clamps his mouth tight shut. Bless him he really wants to but just can't manage it. How do I get him through this.

We went out to meet the bin lorry today and he was a star. Walked right past looked at the flashing lights, jumped a bit at the air brakes but stayed with me and was just a sweetheart. I adore this pony and am so cross at myself for letting this "expert" give him an issue over his bit when we had made such good progress.

What can I do, all help / advice appreciated. Thank you
 
Well firstly get rid of the stupid bint and report her to relevant authorities!

Second...you sound like you're doing the right thing! I'd just keep persevering. Have you taught him to open his mouth when you put your fingers in (i.e. when you'd put the bit in?). If not I'd do that (for clarity, I mean sliding your fingers in at the sides of their mouth, into the non-teeth area with the intention that they then open their mouth). You could do this with honey or whatever he likes to eat, and just spend a while doing this so that he will definitely open his mouth when you ask him to. Then I'd unattach the bit from the bridle, and when using your fingers to open his mouth slide it in, bring it almost straight out again, give him a carrot and leave him for that day. Then over the next few days/weeks carry on increasing it by a few seconds until he's comfortable with you holding it there =]

Then I'd go back to the bridle (without the bit), then put the two together again - still using your fingers to open his mouth.

Good luck though, what a horrid woman. If someone kicked my baby I'd bloody kick her straight back....
 
How old is he, and are you sure his mouth isn't sore. Mine is constantly teething, (has 2nd set of canines coming through at the moment) & I am very careful around his mouth.
 
Thank you I'll try the fingers in mouth but he clamps his mouth so tight shut poor chap it may take a while. Plus he has also had his wolf teeth out in Feb so is now suspitious of people poking around his mouth! But we will get through this :)

Good advice though, I had become so focused on the bit I totally forgot to go back to basics! Doh!

Yes I did feel like Kicking her back but am far too bloody polite sometimes. Lets just say she won't be coming again whereas RavenWood is welcome anytime as she was so kind, calm and gentle with him he was quite happy around her - she obviously gives off good horsey vibes :)
 
My youngster went through a phase last year for two months clenching his teeth i did everything in the book sliding bit on one side, carrot in front of bit everything , in the end i rode bitless he was good on vocals too i did get teeth checked , i started riding him in a halter and reins fastened on <pls dont shoot me > it was last resort i gave up trying the bridle for a few month then one day, hey presto he took it , there little mouths change so much that year
 
Yes I did wonder about riding with reins on halter especially as it's only in the corral and for all of 10 mins just to get the idea of stop and go and turns etc - all very low key and in walk.

I will have a play this week and see how he gets on. But am glad I'm not the only one to have had mouth issues :)
 
I've just got my horse over the same problem, I now have to use non metal bits (though I'm going to work on him accepting a nice, warmer metal as well) and lots of nice, sticky stuff!

Keep trying, it sounds like you're doing a fantastic job as it is :)
 
firstly , try to approch him of the poll area touching etc to get him use to have that area
touched .
when he is ok with that i would approch with the head piece only so sliding over ears taking on and off till he is ok with the head peice being removed and put on this may take some time . but dont rush him your only make matters worse let him do it in his own time approch with a treat ever time hes good .
once he is ok with the actual bridle ,it be the time to move on to the bit ,attach to one side of cheek peices the bring across and gentle open mouth , minding not to bang teeth , this another possible cause for him not liking the bit , if it makes it easyier use jam , honey etc when removing bridle do the same process keep doing it till he is ok with putting and removing good luck and the key is not to rush or punish him the most important thing is to reward for the slightist improvement how little small
and well done forgetting rid ,the thing is, is to undo the damage that is already done
 
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Beatrice5 said:
Yes I did wonder about riding with reins on halter especially as it's only in the corral and for all of 10 mins just to get the idea of stop and go and turns etc - all very low key and in walk.

I will have a play this week and see how he gets on. But am glad I'm not the only one to have had mouth issues :)
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I found it very enlightening to know how good my horses brakes were ! I even hacked out on roads like that i use a bridle now on roads but it gave me a lot of confidence doing this which i wouldnt have found out otherwise i always meant to buy a dr.cook ,but it seems a teething thing, common
 
Oh ye btw obviously use a rubber/plastic bit, cos the metal banging against their teeth will REALLY put them off!

He may well be teething as well.

Trust me, you'll get there! Particularly since he's had his wolf teeth out (could you explain this is it something i need to have done with my baby at some point? shes a year) recently, he'll be sensitive both to the thought and to the touch.

Definitely complain about that horrid woman though xxxx
 
I had the vet out to do Vacs and teeth as they hadn't been done by prev owners and he had a good look and told me wolf teeth really needed to come out as were quite far forwards as wolf teeth go and would be most likely to cause problems with the bit. This was February but even though he was sedated he still semmed to react quite badly to the proceedure poor lad. So yes we have a bad association there to begin with.

I had been using a copper french link as he really seemed to love playing with it and used to take it quite happily when I just held it out to him between my hands if that makes sense.

I do have a happy mouth but they are rather bulky I fel but I will give it a try.

Thanks again guys really helpful. I may also ask my friend if I can borrow her Dr Cooks just to give it a whirl :)
 
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