Can I get some suggestions please?

Question

I have a soon 8yr old 17hh thoroughbred mix. (His mother was Thoroughbred/Percheron and the stallion is registered Belgian Warmblood). Very sweet and friendly and playful. Also a tiny problem...2 maybe

1) Every time I try to put his bridle on he always keeps tossing his head all over the place. He never does it with his halter ( I use a rope halter because his has a much larger head than draft horses). now being at 5'4" it's driving me nuts. Is there something different I can do so he will stop tossing his head with the bridle?

2nd situation- After struggling for a while to put the bridle on he has a bad habit of getting the reins in his mouth and chewing on it. I put the reins over his head and far back as possible (i tack him in a stall). He has already ruined 2 things of reins! What can I do to stop him from chewing on his reins?

No one send cruel things to me please. I've been trying to work on this for a long time and I need suggestions. Please and thank you!

Answer 1

Well, I'm 5'2" and I ride a lot of very tall horses, so I understand well your problem and frustration. He probably had a fight with someone at sometime regarding the bridling process, and they never really forget that sort of fight.  

1.)  you need to teach him to lower his head on command and to keep it down.  (do you know how to do this? It's pretty easy, but can take anywhere from 10 minutes to several sessions over several days).  Once he is consistently keeping his head down and staying relaxed that way, then start  just putting a finger in his mouth for a split second, at the interdental space, (located near the corner of his mouth, where a bit rests).  If he fusses at this, then just start out by quickly rubbing his muzzle.  Then progress to the finger- in-the-mouth.  When he's accepting this and keeping his head down, leave the halter on, and use a headstall with a snaffle, with the reins removed, for convenience.  Break down the bridling process into little segments (head down, right hand gently over the bridge of his nose, lift the bit toward his mouth, and then back off. Continue and progress a little further each time, providing he's remaining relaxed with his HEAD DOWN.  I actually ask them to keep their head so low that I have to squinch down to put the bridle on.  They get the idea.  And then I can bridle them normally.  Be careful removing the bridle.  Ask him to lower his head, keep it low (pressure on his poll with your right hand), and gently lower the bridle, wait for him to drop the bit.  Some horses get into a habit of throwing their head up as you remove the bridle, and they start to be worried about this, too, because the bit catches them hard on the lower bars and it really hurts! This especially happens with tall horses.

Note:  When you're going to start this training process, do it at a time when you have plenty of time and won't feel rushed.  It's really important that you remain patient and determined -determined to succeed, and determined not to lose your temper.



Once he's keeping his head low and you're able to bridle him normally, don't assume he won't have a momentary relapse if you get careless.  Also, he may well be a little funny to bridle for the rest of his life, especially if someone new attempts to bridle him.

In case you don't know how to teach him to lower his head, start with the halter and a leadrope on him.  A rope halter is best.  Put pressure on his poll by putting pressure  (about 8 oz - 1lb) on the leadrope.  The second he drops his head even a fraction of an inch, release the pressure.  Wait a second and repeat, until he will immediately drop his head at the slightest pressure on his poll from either the halter via the leadrope,  or your hand directly on the poll.

2.) The rein chewing. . . I don't know of a great solution.  I've always felt that that oral fixation behaviour was anxiety related.  It seems that horses who were weaned a little young are more prone to be mouthy.  I'd like to see what other people have to say and what their solutions are!

P.S. Love your horse's breeding - he must be gorgeous!

Answer 2

(1)   ...i know where you are coming from!!... back when i was training my 3yr old appendix quarter horse she would always hate having her bridle put on... this was because she absolutely HATED her ears being touched... i don't know if thats what your horses thing is but... so, to stop her from throwing her head when we weren't training her we would constantly be touching her ears. eventually she got used to it. she is doing great now!

(2)   ...again, she would chew on her reins as well. when she was a baby she had a terrible habit of bitting everything! now we cant leave anything on, or next to her stall unless we want it destroyed!. i guess you could give him a good "POP" on the nose next time he does that...

GOOD LUCK!

Answer 3

I would suggest trying a different bit. Throwing his head could mean that he is uncomfortable, That one may be causing discomfort. I dont know how long you've had him, but at some point in time someone has made it uncomfortable for him when putting the bridle on. The bit could be hitting his teeth, or pinching his gums. All horses are different and there are many different types of bits out there to try.

I dont understand why you wouldn't be there to correct him from chewing on his reins. Cause horses arn't usually unattended while wearing a bridle. However, Chewing on the reins is a sign of anxiety or boredom.

Hope this help!

Answer 4

I have seen a lot of horses chew reins and being consistent about not letting him get them and when he does you need to not pull the reins.  But open him mouth and take them out pulling will cause them to break.  My 4 year old just started this.  When she grabbed them I tapped her with a crop on the chest then took the rein away.  The next time she grabbed them I turned with the crop and she dropped the reins right away.  She only does this at shows where she has trouble focusing and that was the last i tried it.  I think if you tap him on the chest with the crop to say knock it off he will begin to catch on

Answer 5

Until you get the rein problem fixed, you could use rein chains...western trainers use them sometimes to increase the horse's "feel" of slight rein cues.  You could just make some yourself if you can't find any to buy...I'm guessing he's getting ahold of them in the first 12 to 18 inches. The chain attaches to the bit ring at one end, and to your reins at the other.  Good ones are tight linked and heavy.

You can ride with the chains on...they just provide more weight, thus more feel.  He may also find it isn't so much fun to toss his head around if he gets whacked with the rein chain when he does it.

Answer 6

:3 aw, what a big guy. That's very exciting, I bet he's gorgeous.

Anyway!

1) first off, begin by training him to drop his head with his halter on. Put your hand on his poll and put some slight pressure saying "Drop your head" keep this pressure until his head goes down. If you absolutely can't get him to lower it even slightly, gently put pressure on your rein and teach him to lower his head, when he does say "good boy!" My problem my TB had was that her ears were very sensitive and she was afraid of them being touched, so make sure you're big guy is ok with that.

Also, when bridling my horses I drop the bit down 1 and I make sure the caveson is nice and loose so it slides on easily without tugging anywhere and I very carefully slide the ears in. I never fight with the horse, if they start tossing their head, i just hold the bridle where it was and stand my ground. I DON'T try to do it quickly just to "Get it done" but instead I go slowly with it. :3. Use a step stool if you need to and just stand there until he gives up then tell him he's a good boy. If he drops his head when you have the bridle near him, go ahead and pull it away from him and praise him! Then keep working. Good luck on this.

2) Some horses are nervous and need to chew on reins, if you really want to, you can get some that are bad tasting on the reins, but I'd personally just bridle him last and as soon as he's bridled, get riding! Don't give him a chance to get ahold of those reins, or provide him with a leadrope to chew on instead :). My TB gets really upset and has to have a leadrope to chew on when I'm doing something she thinks makes her nervous (it started with her ears, but she hardly needs a leadrope anymore as she's gaining my trust)

good luck!!

Answer 7

Have you had his teeth checked lately?

The bit may be hurting his teeth.

Teeth floating should be done yearly at his age.

Does he have a problem when you fool with his ears?

Ear mites or ticks will cause a horse to throw his head around when you put the bridle over his ears.

http://www.saferhorseracing.com/