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Horse Bridling Problems With Richard Winters
Here is a question for you: Is it because of you or in spite of you that most horses are relatively compliant with the bridling process?
Needless to say, there are some horses that do object strongly to this procedure. Perhaps it is a young horse that has no idea as to what you're about to do with that pile of leather and metal. Or, it may be
an older horse that has had a series of bad experiences with handlers who were less than polite and smooth with the bridling process. Regardless of the problems origin, here are a few tips that can help a horse
become more accepting of the bit and bridle.
Teach your horse to accept your fingers in the corner of his mouth, encouraging him to open his jaw.
If you can't put your finger along his gum line, you'll probably have difficulty placing the bit in his mouth.
Teach your horse to accept the lead rope being put into his mouth. Some horses are bothered by the hard metallic sensation of the bit touching their teeth.
You can help prepare your horse for the bit by using the soft, non-threatening lead rope. The rope won't bang his teeth, so he'll develop confidence and trust in you and the procedure.
Learn how to hold the bit in your hand.
You should be able to hold the bit open in the palm of your hand and keep the chinstrap out of the way with your little finger. Without
holding the bit properly, you will not be prepared to smoothly place it in when your horse opens his mouth.
Keep the palm of your hand cupped under your horse's chin as you prepare to bridle.
If your horse moves his head and your hand moves away, he'll be inclined to pull away and be evasive. You want him to believe that
your hand is going to stay right there with him, no matter where he goes.
Place the bridle over the bridge of your horse's nose and bend his head back to you if he attempts to pull away.
You want your horse to know that you are in control. A horse can also have bridling issues due to pain. If he has a cut on the inside of
his mouth or has a bad tooth, he might be very resistant to having the bit placed in his mouth. How you remove the bit after a ride will
often determine how well your horse accepts the bridle next time you attempt to put it on him. Be sure you are polite and smooth as you
slip the bridle off his head. If the bit bangs your horse's teeth, or if he raises his head and gets the bit momentarily hung up in his mouth,
you're liable to have trouble next time you attempt to bridle him. We as horse handlers are the cause of most bridling problems. If our
techniques and movements are rough and crude, then we will leave a bad taste in his mouth (so to speak!) As with everything else, the better we present, the better they perform!
For more information about Richard Winters Horsemanship please go to wintersranch.com.
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