If you think about it, if you adjust the bit so there are wrinkles (even one slight one)...that is pressure on the horse's lips(corners of the mouth). I like to ride with no wrinkles, where the bit just touches the corners of the mouth without making ANY wrinkles. Then you can truly give your horse a total release of pressure when you release contact of the reins! Horses learn from the "RELEASE" of pressure, not from the pressure itself... and if you always adjust the bit with one or two wrinkles they learn to "just deal with it"! You have taken away the MOST soft of a soft feel. I believe they would prefer NO PRESSURE when they are doing the right thing....and you are able to REALLY give a true release of ALL pressure at that moment. There will only be wrinkles when you are taking up the rein/s to make contact (to ask for a certain maneuver.)
This was very helpful for me as a green rider. My father bought me 2 horses that are very young so they have trouble with things on their ears, especially our younger one. Now I know some tips for bridling a horse. Very well done! That is also a magnificent horse!
im just here cuz i forgot how been so long since iv been on my ranch XD i miss my horses my dad rode them in the rose parade for 4 yrs u got urself a pretty one thats for sure
Thanks for a very good video on bridling. Here are my tips you may want to add to your "toolbox" of ideas. I, personally prefer bridling all horses with their head "lowered" to a level comfortable for ME. Bending (curling) their head around at waist level...like you showed in your last example as a tip for the more difficult horse...works well on ALL horses because it almost always causes the horse to automatically lower its head AND encourages SOFTNESS versus possible stiffness you can get when the head and neck are straight out in front. It takes very little time to teach a horse to "lower its head" by yielding to pressure at his poll... Start with light pressure and increase as needed and keep the horse's head and neck bent toward you to prepare for bridling. When you bridle, your arm resting over his poll and between his ears will be his cue to lower his head. I would rather have all my horses lower their head to a comfortable level for ME to not only put the bit in their mouth, but to slip the crown piece over their ears... (far ear slipped under first when bridling, and taken out last when unbridling), which allows you to use the headstall's cheek piece to pull the horse's head back to you if he should take his head away during the bridling or unbridling process. If you enjoy challenges, Pat Parelli says, "Practice bridling your horse while you sit in a chair!" I have a 4-H student who can bridle her horse while mounted bareback on her horse (she's in the round pen!)....Have fun, but stay safe! Oh, and one last tip....whether your horse is in hand, or whether you are riding "BEND IS YOUR FRIEND". Asking your horse to bend his head (at the poll) and neck will soften him...which encourages a "lowering" of his head. Serpentines and circles can help slow a horse (size of circles matters)....and causes lowering of the head and neck which has a "calming" effect! Think about it....have you ever seen a scared, panicky, anxious, nervous horse with its head down?
This is very helpful! I'm currently leasing a schooling horse who is pretty difficult with the bridle and I never considered trying out which method to open her mouth works better without having the bridle already up there.
There is a horse at my barn that we have to bridle him backwards, we have to put the bridle over his ears first because he doesn't like things on his ears, then undo the bit and put it in his mouth then hook it back up then do everything else normally.
Spend some time with "approach and retreat" desensitizing of his ears/head. Clinton Anderson has a great "Method" for desensitizing to all body parts! Tip: Don't just go straight to the ears to desensitize the ears!. Casually rub his face and have your arm "brush over his ear" once in a while and rub his crest and proceed to go over his neck to his forehead (quickly going over his ears on the way!...do this from both sides and stand off to the side (never directly in front) of your horse! Hope you get this taken care of. Also, you may want to have a vet or experienced person that is able to check his ears for bites or scabs/sores, etc. because bugs can make ears very sore and maybe that's why he's so touchy here!
I like to teach the horse one more movement besides "head down"...and that is to bend its neck toward me, which actually helps the head to drop and relaxes the neck muscles. When the neck is lowered and bent toward you (curled in front of your body) you can "jiggle" the underside of his neck (muscles are relaxes and soft). When the horse's head and neck are straight ahead, it can become tense and stiff (moreso when it's held high as well), but as soon as you ask for lowering and bending you'll notice how soft (jiggley) the underside becomes. We want to develop muscle along the topline of the neck...not the underside of the neck. A horse with lots of bulging muscle on the underside and little development of muscle along the topline is referred to as having an upside down neck...it's just opposite of what we try to develop.
I've been riding for years without a bit but started working at a barn that uses bits. For some reason sense dealing with a bit I have completely forgotten how too function with the bridle 😂😂
Do you ever ride bitless? What are your thoughts on the bit vs bitless? I am having trouble feeling good about bits when I've seen so many people using them improperly.
If you go bitless, it has no change or impact on the people who do abuse their use of bits...I think as long as you treat your horse right, and respect them while using a bit, then you'll be fine. Also try and maybe tell those people what they're doing to their horses (damaging teeth, mouth, becoming mistrusted) and give them an idea of the consequences of their actions while misusing the bit or any other artificial aids.
Not 100% true. You can ride bitless with no bridle. Ride with a rope halter make reins out of the leading rope Like this: www.google.com/search?q=rope+halter&rlz=1C1MSNB_enNL641NL641&espv=2&biw=1093&bih=534&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiWpKHMl8LPAhVEpR4KHbZYDQ4Q_AUIBygC#tbm=isch&q=rope+halter+riding&imgrc=PIXJWwxihqZ-GM%3A This is good and does not hurt the horse.
Bitless is great for a lot of horses but doesn't work for all. Like a lot of tack, bits most often cause discomfort when misused, improperly fitted, and using the wrong kind for a certain horse( size, fit, mouth feel). Anything can cause damage to a horse physically or emotionally if it is used to punish. Not every bit is fine regardless of how well fitted and how soft you use your hands. Some bits are just terrible like those with edges and points like a segunda bit or twisted bit and can cut their mouths. A rope halter can work great for many horses and can help them to feel more comfortable and in tune. However, not every horse is fine with the pressure put on their facial nerves and nasal cavities and damage can still be done if used improperly. Just be gentle with any tack you use and see how your horse responds. A lot of the anxiety exhibited by horses is when they receive punishment for not understanding instead of being guided through a question being asked of them. This can be caused if a horse is bitted or bitless.
Bitless or not, if you do not have any intentions in hurting your horse with a bit then it shouldn't matter. But, if you really think about it, both ways aren't that good, with bits it's easier to control but somewhat painful in their mouth if you are yanking on the reins or anything like that, sometimes the horses grind their teeth on the bit which makes their teeth sharper, because it's not normal for horses to have sharp teeth, whenever they bite down it could spook them because it's highly uncomfortable. But without a bit, that just means pretty much, a nose band. Depending where your nose band is on the horses face, it's dangerous because near the dip on the horses face is a very very fragile part of the horses nose that can easily be broken from applying too much force. Which will obviously cause a lot of damage and problems to the horses nose, it's also a little more difficult to control without a bit. But truly whichever you are comfortable with and know how to work with is the one you should use, but either way, it doesn't make you any less of a person.
I would never put the reins over the horses head like that, if they spook, they will drag the bridle and get it tangled around their legs. I just loop the reins over from the side in such a way if she spooks, it just falls loose.
My horse accepts the bridle well when I use one of your techniques and warm her bit. Our problem lies in taking the bridle off & calmly getting the bit out of her mouth. She immediately raises her hear to it's highest height the moment I slip the crown piece off her ears. The bridle then gets stuck on her teeth and she becomes very upset to the point of being dangerous. I am only 4' 11" tall & though I stand on a stool to remove her bridle as easily as possible she still raises her head outrageously high to where it gets stuck on her teeth. We've tried to do some massaging of her poll before pulling it over her ears very calmly in one steady motion she still yanks her head up so high no one can reach the top of the bridle to get it off and out of her mouth. It's very upsetting to me and to Charlotte & what was a very good ride & session together becomes somewhat of a disaster. I've tried teaching her to lower her head which she does well in the halter but will not lower her head when she knows the bit is coming out. She panics. It's very scary for me b/c sometimes I'm not sure I can get the bit out from behind her lower teeth before she starts to jolt away in fear
Have you had her teeth checked maybe the bit is getting hooked over her teeth...or otherwise someone has been rough and a bit has clanged her teeth and she is waiting for this again .. but above some one put hold over nose as well as above poll area ... but clicker training may work if memory thing ..
My daughter is getting a horse next February, and we're going to house him at my brother's plot. She will see him every day for two weeks, and then every second day for four weeks. Then she will only see him on Wednesdays, some Thursdays, Fridays, and then some Sundays. She is scared that the horse won't think that she is his owner, because my brother's wife has 5 horses, and is going to feed him more then Natasja (my daughter). What should we do?
Like it or not the caretaker will be the leader in the horses eyes always. But, it doesn't mean she won't enjoy your daughter's company. It was around the three year mark that Buttons made me hers. Bonding is a long process. She'd always listen to Jan instead of me, but then I was learning how to talk like a horse. So when I improved, Buttons responded to me better even when around Jan. Your daughter must make quality time with her horse, and the horse will look forward to her visits. Lots of scratching her itches and grooming. But, you cannot create a bond, if there is no time. She needs to make as much time as possible for her horse. Several times a week is great, if you can keep it up. Luckily, her horse will be in a herd and won't be lonely. Nothing sadder than a lonely horse.
Nice work young lady... I'd just be careful while talking & allowing the bridle to hang there like that. The horse could of easily shaken his head & knocked his teeth! Then you'd have a BIG problem! I believe in taking the bridle off the same way you put it on; left hand over the nose & right hand between the ears! Just holding the bridle there for them to spit it out could one day possibly turn into a nightmare if they decide to shake the head or quickly lift the head & bang their teeth. If they do lift the head then the bridle lifts also, therefore they'll never bang their teeth with the bit. I've seen some ugly psychological issues created by simply not being aware of the "what if scenarios"! Just train all horses to keep their heads down & you won't have a single horse that is hard to bridle. Its all about "trust & consistency"!... with every horse!
my pony came to us about a month ago and I have not been able to bridle her with my western bit. she tosses up her head and backs away and I really need help! please please please reply
Hi Rebecca, I think you really need to seek professional help. But you can start by stopping the bridle process & work on using your lead rope by repeatedly slipping it back & forth over the horses ears, while keeping your left hand over the front of its nose. This simulates the bridling process & your horse needs to be mentally prepared for this. They're looking for consistency... Obviously your horse has had consistency in a negative way & has experienced some major discomfort. Bridling issues are like the plague!.. you're not alone. Humans just need to understand a horses needs! There isn't a hard or difficult horse to bridle when I've finish reeducating one. They just need trust!
Some horses love their job and love to be ridden. Yes, they can be cranky and grumpy bc just like people, they have those days when they dont wanna do anything 😂 its good they get ridden too bc its exercise and makes them strong, build muscle, endurance, etc. And they do love people but ONLY if you respect them and treat them right 😊😊😊
When you are teaching to put a bridle on do not stop to teach keepong equipment safe. It's a distraction. in the digital age people want quick results. There are plenty pf bow to videos you must compete with so do it right.
