How do help a pony release the bit?

Question

I got her in march and she was far from perfect but has learned a whole lot since then! Just about the only thing she wont improve on is she throws her head up when its time to take the bit out of her mouth.

The first time i got her they said she was broke which she wasnt but that is fixed now, and they said she throws her head up when you take the bit out of her mouth. She would hold the bit in her mouth and lift he head up while thrashing it around on her teeth

I help her get it out most of the time but every now and then she will clank a tooth. Is there anything any one could help me with to adress this issue? Some times i even ride her with just a halter and lead rope but this will not help her progress in her training for se is green broke. She takes the bit just fine.

Answer 1

this is going to sound really corny but i had the dame problem with my appy, Tubby (aka Bosco). we got him and he was an angel but very head shy... thats probably her problem...plus she's a mare...lol if you put your hand on  her nose (very lightly) and the other up by the headstall and gently take it off and put on for a few days jsut like she will probably get better!! hope that helped..

Answer 2

what kind of bit? are you using and are you sure you have light hands? http://tonyonehorse.weebly.com free tips on horse training.

Answer 3

We had a mare like this when I was a kid.  The only solution was to simply unbuckle the side of the bridle... or it was until I got my frist trail bridle then I just unhooked the bit and let it come slowly down....

you could try that, ride her in a trail bridle with two side clips then its easy to  drop the bit .

Answer 4

Just for the purpose of teaching your pony this lesson, try leaving the halter on under the bridle...go about riding, then when it's time to remove the bridle, hook a lead rope into the halter and tie it a little lower than usual, so that when she decides to throw up her head, it won't be an option, and nothing will hurt her or punish her in the process, just restrict her range of motion.  Follow up by removing your bridle, being careful to support the bit in her mouth with your left hand, while taking it off of her poll with your right hand.  When you create some slack in the bridle, then use your left hand to create a little pressure on either sides of your pony's mouth...she will open her mouth and give up her bit, and she can't throw up her head.  Once you get the bridle off and hung up, then return, release the halter to give her more slack, then reward her with a good grooming session, rub around on her face, ears, etc, let her associate that with a good feeling of being groomed.  The main thing is to be consistent in your efforts and don't take shortcuts...after about a week of using the halter, she should be to the point of not having to have the lead rope tied so low, just tie it normally and with some slack...when this is successful a few times, you can continue with the halter and lead, just don't tie it...have it handy so that if you need to, you can grab the lead rope and restrict her raising her head.  You probably won't need to, but at least she knows that she still has the halter on and you can if you want to.  Eventually, you will be getting the results that you want, without the halter and the lead.  Always be careful when inserting the bit and again while removing it, not to bump her teeth.  Have you had her teeth checked lately, maybe there is a new tooth coming in or going out..you can even check, to a certain extent, by yourself.  Good luck, just be patient and consistent.

EDIT****I forgot one thing, never just turn her out to play right when you remove her tack...keep her tied with the halter for a while to cool out and to learn not to associate a quick escape from the bit allows her to run and play sooner.

Answer 5

Rub their gums with your thumb

Answer 6

I would get her mouth check by a vet and make sure nothing is wrong with it. I have a horse that does this occasionally and I just hold on the the head stall and wait till he drops it. He is 22 now and fully trained so its not just a green horse thing. Good Luck with her

Answer 7

first off, teach her to put her head down by putting one hand right behind her ears(her poll) then one on the bridge of her nose. Apply light to heavy pressure and firmly say down. as soon as she moves even a inch release and reward.

      The once you have that mastered tell her to lower her head, pull the bridle over one ear and then the other, then still holding it in her mouth stick your finger through the space between her wolf teeth and "tickle" her tounge. this should get her to open her mouth so you can take the bit out with out hitting her teeth. goog luck!!  :-)

Answer 8

u can put your finger in the mouth of the horse and say take your bit it works on my horses

Answer 9

I'd start by training her to bring her head down...I do that in ground training.  I use a rope halter (check the Parelli halter and lead on their site...I use that rig for all ground training).

With her standing in front of you wearing the halter, feed the lead under your foot and pull up on the end as it feeds under your foot and tightens to the halter.  If she resists, let it slide and lengthen to accommodate her, then bring it back a little tighter than the last time.  If she gives and bends her head down to the ground, leave it slack for a moment, then tighten it again.  When she lifts her head, give her the slack to do it, then bring her tight again.

Every time she lowers her head in response to tightening the lead, release the pressure before doing it again.  You'll ultimately be able to tighten it so that her nose is down at the level of your foot, and she will stay like that as long as she feels pressure from the halter on her poll.

This translates when you bridle her.  You use pressure on the poll to lower her head when the bridle is put on, and again when it is removed.  When you remove the bit, bring your right arm between her ears as you remove the headstall (maintains weight on the poll), and use the fingers of your left hand to squeeze into the space between her teeth on both sides, and thereby open her mouth as you gently slide the bit out, holding the headstall in your right hand, easing it down to release the bit.

Be sure you never hit her teeth with the bit.

the halter and lead I describe can be used for extensive ground training which will benefit this horse.