How do you get a stubborn horse to get the bit in his mouth?

Question

I am an English Rider. And short for my 17h Thoroughbred horse Bangs. I love him but he is bit shy and when i try to put the bit in his mouth he would shake his head. I ask my instructor to help me but i would like to get it in myself.

I have smacked him on the side to tell him we aren't going to play Bangs.

And tried soothing him to make him calm.

What sould i do ?

Answer 1

Oh my god, I'm not going to point fingers but some of that advice is atrocious!

Im just going to say, don't use a mounting block, because that is escaping the problem instead of fixing it. He is only going to try and swing his head higher, and you will soon have a rearer on your hands.

Don't use a treat either, unless you want to have fingers missing. Also using a treat will fool the horse into trying to chew it, and he will smash down on the bit with his teeth. That would hurt.



Most horses have a reason for being bit shy. Its rare that a horse is just 'stubborn' and trying to be an @sshole. They usually have a reason, whether it be pain, or fear, etc.



Are you gentle when bridling? Imagine if it were you. Would you like someone jamming something metal into your mouth, and clanking it around on your teeth? Think if someone grinded your teeth with a spoon. Is that pleasant?



It could also be a tooth problem. Has he had his teeth floated lately?



Check his bars, lips, and gums. Any sores?



Does the bit fit? Does it pinch him, or have a sharp spot on it?



If it is simply a behavioral matter, stand at the shoulder and get ready to put the bridle on like normal. ( http://www.rockinhorsestables.com/images/bridling.gif )



If you hold the bridle like that in the picture, and keep your arms firm, he shouldn't be able to shake his head around very easily.



Stick your fingers in the upper corners of his mouth, and move them under his tongue. Be careful to stay back on the bars, away from his teeth. The tickling of your fingers should cause him to want to open his mouth. Slip the bridle in when he does, and praise.

Answer 2

Have treats. Give him one. Keep another in the same hand as you put the bit up with. Repeat, repeat, repeat. Don't confirm his fears...go against them.

Also, it sounds scary, but you really can stick your thumb in the side of his mouth where the space in his teeth is that the bit goes into, between his front incisors and back molars, BUT BE CAREFUL, and only long enough to get him to open his mouth and let you slip that bit in there.

Now, once he's got it in...is it adjusted right? Not too tight (not making more that one or two wrinkles on the side of his mouth? Have you made sure there is nothing sharp sticking out, no sharp little edges irritating him (I suddenly had a similar problem with a horse and found the bit had developed a sharp little edge)? Are you staying light on the bit when you are working with him? He's obviously had some unpleasant experience with the bit if he's shaking his head and refusing before you put it in. Even if you are successful in getting it in there, if there are still any problems with it, then his fears have been confirmed and it will be even harder the next time.

Clean and lightly oil (maybe a little olive or veg. oil) the bit, too. Could be a nasty taste on it from something.

They do make bits called "sweet iron" that horses seem to enjoy using better and salivate better with them, keeping them soft in the mouth and more pleasant for them.

Hope this helps.

Falconress :)

Answer 3

First you catch her and saddle her then you jimmy rig something out of bailing string like a hackamore, with a throat latch and a string from the TL to the back of the nose band have the noseband low, about3 inches above the nostrils. Then you take a piece of bailling twine and run it from the back of the nose band between the front legs and tie it to the center of the cinch. Short enough so she can't get her head up high. You could tie one string from the nose band to the D ring on the right side of the saddle, so she cant swing her head toward you and bop you in the noggan. Then proceed to bridle her. Hold the headstall up with the right hand as you are bridling hook your left hand thumb in the corner of her mouth if she fights you. When the bridle is on reward her. I have done this with several ear shy and bad to bridle horses and it has always worked for me.

Answer 4

Personally I hold the head down with a lead in one hand, and then in the other you hold the bit in your hand. You spread out your palm and lay it on top, your fingers forming a cup. The bit just rests on top. Then point up your index finger and your thumb and point them to each other sort of. Lift the bit up to the mouth and press the index and thumb against the back end of the mouth, to where the bit rests where there's no teeth, and the horse will be forced to hold its mouth open. Then press your palm to his mouth and the bit will go in.



Ta-Da!



It'll take some practice, and it's tricky, but it's a useful tool. And your instructor could hold his head down while you get used to doing it like this and practice getting it with one hand until you can do it yourself.



Good luck!

Answer 5

Well... When i started teaching my horse sky to take a bit i use molasses. first i just put it in my hand and had him lick it off the more he ate it the more he loves the stuff... i took the bit (not attached to the bridle) and pt molasses on it and let sky lick it off clean.. I let him do this for a while... you don't want to do it all in one day... the next step was to put the bit in his mouth and just let him spit the bit out.. that idea is to get him to think that the bit isn't that bad cuz he spits it out when he wants it out... then as he got used to the bit and didn't care for it much i added the bridle.. I did the putting the bit in his mouth and letting him spit it out until he was used to the bridle... then i started to put on the bridle only on one side then both and watched him think things over... after all that work he sees the bit and he opens his mouth willingly... i still used molasses on the bit as a reward for taking the bit.. This may or may not work... all horses are different and your horse may not like molasses.. try it and see... good luck

Answer 6

You should always be calm and as gentle as you can. Carefully put your finger in the back of his lip and push down in his mouth as you slowly pull the headstall over his ears being careful not to hit his teeth with the bit. You have to do the 2 things at once.. pull up on the headstall as you push open his mouth.. good luck!

Answer 7

my friends horse is really stubborn with bits and i always help her. we bought this spray called lickity bits which makes them want to eat the bit because it tastes good after that you stand to the side of your horse bridle in one hand and the bit in the other. the hand with th e bridle will rest on yuor horses head high enough so the bit is at your horses teeth then it helps to STICK YOUR THUMB IT YOUR HORSES MOUTH IN THE SPACE WITH NO TEETH which gets them to open there mouth for a spilt second so act fast and my friend used to hit her horse and that made her head go higher!

Answer 8

One thing you don't want to do is shove it into his teeth, try putting your fingers in the back of his mouth where he has no teeth(it always works for me). Also press on his nose has your do it so he can't move his head up or away from you. Some horses may be face shy and you have to approach them slowing, calmly, and from the side.

Answer 9

first off, do you have the right bit, and do you have the bridle adjusted correctly? he may not like the bit or the way the bridle fits, i always grabbed the head stall above the bit in my left hand, then putting my right arm under his head stuck my finger in the corner of his mouth, which makes him open it then bringing up the bit with your left hand till its inside his mouth then used my right hand still under his head to grab the headstall and lift it over his ears becareful not to bend his ears, (having them back when you pull the head stall over his head) but my morgan stud used to open his mouth and bite the bit, (he loved to go riding) I grew up with horses, 42 at one point!

Answer 10

Take your finger or thumb and stick in the corner of his mouth where the bit space it. You can tickle the inside of his mouth to get him to open it. When he does, you can get the bit in.

Answer 11

either put the bit against his teeth and hold it there and dont let go until he opens(but with the height it may be hard) but that one gets every horse i've tried everytime.you have to put your right hand against their poll holding the bridle and left hand over the bit and teeth so the bit doesnt slip and jab them in the gums and pull your right hands fingers up so that the bridle tightens..works everytime



OR



put a treat in your hand, make him know its there and do the same technique as the first as far as holding the bridle and soon as he takes the treat slip the bridle through along with it..and praise!



OR



buy a bit thats flavored, or buy "likity splits"(unsure about spelling) and they are like flavored edible tape that you put around the bit and so the horse gets a happy experience after he's opened his mouth



always praise once you find one that works

Answer 12

you can spray a spray on it i forget what its called but it makes the bit taste good or rub sugar on it the bit must be wet for the sugar to stick then after give him a treat you also need a step stool im short to so they help alot .

Answer 13

If your instructor was successful, then ask your instructor to show you. And, consider doing it from a mounting block to get yourself to his level, somewhat.