A bridle/tack question?

Question

My horse was being very unlike himself today, bucking, bolting, and not responding. I was not using my own bridle or but as an angry evicted boarder took them earlier that morning and some of you have said he may have not liked the strange tack. I don't know if this is it because it did fit him, though the bit was a bit thicker than his usual d ring snaffle. Should I ride him tomorrow in strange tack or wait to get mine back? I don't want to leave him sitting for a week (about the time before I can get my stuff back) after a bad lesson like that but I don't want to put the bridle on again if it was bothering him. What would you do?

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Answer 1

I'm not sure about the bridle thing. But I wouldn't ride him. If he's bucking, bolting, ect, thats dangerous to you and him. Maybe work on your ground work, or lounge him until you get your normal tack back. Maybe take him in a roundpen or something, and see how he rides with a halter and lead rope.

If you do decide to ride him, take it easy. Stay out of his mouth and ride with a loose rein.

Answer 2

I would let him get used to the strange bit. Because the thicker is it the LESS harsh is it so hat should be a problem. Also maybe after breakfast you should through the bit in his mouth with his bridle too ( I dont know if that is different too ) and take the reins off and just watch him for a little while and see if hes still acting a little funny. If hes just walking around like himself then, he either just had a bad day or maybe you need to soften your hand up a little bit. I dont know how responsive he is either.

In his lesson if he is acting weird try doing something unusual that you normally dont do in the ring. ditract him.If the doesnt work and worse comes to worse try him in a hackamore( If you are in a ring other wise it might be a bad idea)

I don't know if you ride with a crop but it might be a good idea to bring one just to let him know its there only use it if its ABSOLUTLEY nessacary.

Hope it helps ):

Answer 3

If I were you I wouldn't be putting strange tack on my horse, I would tell the barn owner that you believe that boarder took your bridle. I would wait to get your bridle back,since your horse could react to the bridle again and bolt, buck, and misbehave again. Really do you want that to happen again? Maybe just ride him with his halter and lead rope reins. Only do this if he has been rode in this before otherwise he might be upset and have a strange reaction to it. If he hasn't been rode in it, to keep him in shape for the week I would lunge him. You could work on groundwork and ground manners (if you have to improve on that.) Maybe work on something like halter, or showmanship. It might be fun to try something new to keep him on his toes and not bored. The safest bet would be to ride in your own tack, wait it out, and not have an unpleasant incident happen to your horse again. Better be safe then sorry.. Good luck!

Answer 4

I think it is the bit because my horse one day i grabbed my cousins horses bridle just to use and my horse is only used to the snaffle bit and i had some other bit on and he was bolting on me and not listening to me at all and i swiched back to his regular bit and he was his normall self....but i would go in some enclosed area if you dont feel comfterbal with the different bridle id try riding him with ahalter and lead rope or work him!!

good luck