When I try to put the bridle on my horse she tosses her head?

Question

Whenever I get near my horse with a bridle she throws her head up and wont let me put it on her head. It takes me and my friend an hour to get it on her. Any tips for how to put it on without the tossing would be helpful.

Answer 1

you should look at the horse's teeth, its teeth could be in pain. your horse could also be afraid of the bridle. you should try getting close to it with the bridle. if not, then when your putting on the bridle, use 2 hands to grab the bridle, and put very little pressure on its nose, while getting the bit in its mouth.

Answer 2

Not sure, but from experience in the racehorse industry, your horse may need a chiropractor?? She may be out on the poll and need some massage?? Or have you tried loosening the bridle to the last hole?? Some horses can be fussy about a bridle being dragged over their ears. Is your horse 'head shy'? Or just with putting on the bridle? There can be all sorts of reasons why she is tossing her head, if it is only just recently started perhaps there is pain somewhere?? in the mouth, teeth, or top of the head. Or has it been going on for sometime?? Perhaps the previous owner has caused a problem? remember, make it fun, not a chore, use treats, but not to bribe your horse, try just patting your horse all over in the motion that you but the bridle on, see if she accepts that, then progress slowly, remember look for signs, she might be trying to tell you something to help solve your problem, hope this helps.

Answer 3

You forgot to put the molasses on the bit.

Answer 4

try pulling its ear

Answer 5

well horses naturally like sweets. so one of the oldest tricks is to put honey, sugar, or molasses on the bit. hold the top part of the bridle that goes over her ears in your right hand and lay you right arm between her ears. that way you can push her head down if she throws it up. then put the bit up to her mouth and let her smell it and l**k it a little then slip it in her mouth. it might take a couple days but you should be able to stop the tossing of her head. good luck! email me if you have any more questions

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Answer 6

hold the bit in left hand or fingers, grab top headstall with right hand, with right hand reach over her head, between ears, and support headstall, as u are trying to put the bit in her mouth, take ur thumb and insert it in the side of her mouth, into the spot between front and rear teeth, shell open her mouth and accept the bit, it is possible she isnt use to the bit u are using, or just stubborn. or ride with a hack, if she is gentle and u know u can control the horse.

Answer 7

try getting a sand bag it is a hession bag full of sand tie a car tyre tube to it and a horse clip to that then tie your horse to the sand bag and then put your bridle on she should then aventually learn to keep her head dowm while you put on her bridle this bag comes in handy for lots of things like mounting problems tieing up problems and more the purpose of it is you can tie your  horses up to this and if they pull back it wont hurt them because it will move but not far because it is pretty heavy hope this helps leah

Answer 8

Of course firstly make sure her teeth and back are ok and that her tack fits properly.If it is just a case of she doesn't want it then try putting a treat in your right hand that can slide in her mouth along with the bit. This will make it a more "enjoyable" experience for her. Also when you are putting it on make sure you do not squash her ears when you put them in the bridle or bang her teeth when the bit goes in.once on you could maybe loosely tie her up for an hour with a hay net just to get her use to it or maybe occasionally get her in from the field put the bridle on then take it off and put her back out, this will make it not a big deal. i know it can be frustrating so i hope this helps!!

Answer 9

There could be a lot of things causing this behavior. Have her teeth been floated latey.  The bridle or bit could not fit improperly, she may of had a bad experience when being bridled, it could be a learned behavior.  I would check and make sure that nothing is causing her any pain, like teeth that need to be floated for example.  

Answer 10

1 check your horses teeth.  #2 check that the headstall and bit, both, fit properly.  #3 be sure you are putting the headstall on smoothly, not hitting teeth, poking an eye, pinching ears, etc.  #4 i find it easier to losen the headstall, on notch, before removing it.  it will be easier to put on the next time.

if all that is well, and still no help, then take your horse back to it's stall, and work on bridling in there.  put it on, take it off after a few seconds.  make a fuss.  slowly build up the time that your horse wears the bridle.