How to get an English horse to bridle?

Question

I am working with a horse that in the beginning of his life was an English pleasure horse...he would bridle, collect, ect. Then he was sold as a trail/western lesson horse. And now I'm trying to get him back into the English frame of mind.

I can't get him to bridle up...I "see-saw" on the reins and release every time he starts to arch his neck, but he just puts it back up again. I'm thinking about working him in a curcingle??

Any advice on reconditioning an English Pleasure horse? =]

Thanks,

-Nicole

Answer 1

horses cannot truly get into a frame and get on the bridle without coming under with their inside hind leg. Its the truth, ask any good horseperson.

On the other hand, kicking our horse forward and see-sawing on his mouth is a confused signal. You're confusing and punishing him. Even if his head comes down, his back won't come through.

To properly, and easily, get him on the bit, follow these steps.

1. start on a 10 meter circle leg yield out, making our circle a 15-meter, then 20m. as your horse yields out, half halt on your outside rein, and soften on your inside. naturally, your horse will drop his head!

2.when your confident with that, on the rail slide your inside leg slightly back and push his haunch to the outside. Then half halt and soften like above.

3. eventually, when you put on our inside leg, half halt, and soften, your horse will come up, into the bridle and his back will be in frame.

This meathod is used b top dressage and eventers. it is basec off how a horse naturally moves, and your horse won't hang on u!

Note to ab0ve responders. Surcingles and bungies aren't used for gaining muscle. Your horse can be screwed up training them with one. Only use surcingles+bungies to supple a trained, CONDITIONED horse.

Answer 2

He might just need to build those muscles up again.  I'd put him in a surcingle with side reins and let him get his muscle built back up.  That way you aren't fighting with him the whole time you are trying to get his head set.

Answer 3

Try draw reins. Also, when you see-saw, instead of releasing his head, keep a nice even yet firm contact with your hands low.

Answer 4

Maybe draw reins?

Answer 5

Its going to take a lot of time and patience to get him back into the frame if he's used to carrying his neck higher than you like.  You can contine with the see-saw technique, but I would avoid the surcingle (or tying them around, etc....because you can't release them for a reward).  You might want to try something like a training fork.  Its more of a western version of a running martingale, but it pulls the whole neck down, not just the face "in".  So when you lift, or see-saw your hands, it pulls the whole neck down more than just your hands can do.  You will just have to be really consistent working him on it, and eventually he'll hold it down in the frame longer and longer.

Also, if you drive with your legs (or lift with your legs) when you ask with your hands....you can start lifting with your legs a a little to ask for head position without having to use your hands so much.  It will also help drive him into the bit so he breaks at the poll and lowers his neck.

Answer 6

for this, i would try using either a lungie bungie (which you put on them and lunge) or else a training rein, which is made from bungee chord. You put it over the horses brow band dwn thru the bit, and either clip it down to the girth, or onto the D rings at the front of the saddle. A hanging bit might also help as it uses a different pressure which may persuade him to bring his head in a tad more, but sounds like he has lost the muscle tone in his neck, which is going to take alot of work to get him 2 bring his head in. good luck