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T O P I C R E V I E W
oliviaw
Posted - 09 Jun 2011 : 10:42:23 PM Rosie is 2 and I think it is time to indroduce a bit, Iv bought her a soft rubber loose ring snaffle and she already quite happily wears a little inhand bridle without the bit attached. I was just wondering what the best way to do it is as I have come across many mixed views. Some are saying to put honey on the bit then leave her in the stable to think about it, then some are saying this will give her chance to think about getting her tongue over the bit and that i should take her out for a walk (leading off the noseband) to give her something else to think about. And now today it was suggested that I put the bit in give her a feed and then take it out. She is my first baby and I want to make sure I do it right! Olivia x
5 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First)
Qui Gon Jinn
Posted - 11 Jun 2011 : 7:16:25 PM My gelding is just about to turn 2 as well and I do as Templars does and make it a game, it has to be very short and sweet! Babies have no patience or concentration, so it has to be fun and not too mentally taxing. I wouldn't put feed into the equation as that will be too confusing!
I was in the field with my two boys about a fortnight ago and had taken Merlyn's bridle with me as I wanted to try a new bit on him for size (it was a french link eggbutt). Maverick (2 year old) of course was very interested in this and when I put the bridle on the ground he was very keen to pick it up himself. He wouldn't leave it alone, so I said "Fine you want to see what it is, I'll show you?!" I picked up the bridle and put the reins over his head and onto his neck....not a problem. Next I held the cheekpieces apart making the bit lie flat and waited to see what he would do......He immediately took hold of the bit himself and had a bit of a nibble and then he spat it out. I praised him and held the cheekpieces open again and again he took the bit, but this time he took it fully and held onto the bit in his mouth. I quickly slipped the bridle over his head (he is used to wearing halters that slip over his head and ears) and again no big deal. He stood there looking very pleased with himself that he was finally a grown up boy and I then took the bridle off and allowed him to drop the bit himself. He was very relaxed about the whole thing, so I repeated the exercise and then left it at that. He is such an easy horse to deal with anyway, but the fact that he was standing lose in the field and had his first bitting experience really amazed me as to how much of a dude he really is.
I guess the secret is to be relaxed yourself and not to get stressed in anyway, otherwise the horse picks it up. Good luck with it all and it won't be long until your filly is happily wearing her bridle and bit.
Mrs Vlacq
Posted - 10 Jun 2011 : 11:00:44 PM Practice 'bridling' movements on and off with an american headcollar that undoes at the throat - allows you to gauage how head shy she will be We tend to use a slip head and pop it on in the stable, headcollar over the top and groom / muck out etc. They are free to mooch about, pull at hay, paddle in the water bucket, but we stay with them in case they rub as the last thing you want is the horse to get caught on something. I'm not keen on slathering on goo, but have found that wrapping bread around a bit can be useful for babies that bridle ok, but don't actually address the thing in their mouth (make sense?). 5 mins wearing it on day 1, then 10 mins on day 2 - go for a walk etc as the others have said. And definitely, removing the bit is as important as bridling. Practice makes perfect and she'll soon be practically putting on her bridle herself in no time! Just be careful with the very fat bendy rubber bits as Arabs often hold their tongue to the back of their mouth with fat bits, and it's a short move to getting the tongue over. I like the hollow jointed snaffles (warmer and lighter than standard) for the 4yos, but as she's young the softer mouthpiece sounds a good move.
templars
Posted - 10 Jun 2011 : 2:58:51 PM Thanks Alison - that's what I meant by dismantle the bridle only I didn't say it so well! (Sorry - age - would have failed the Pony Club test to name the parts of a bridle - had a complete senior moment)
alison
Posted - 10 Jun 2011 : 2:53:42 PM Excellent advice from Templers, the only thing I would add is take off the brow band to start with makes it much easier, good luck. Alison
templars
Posted - 10 Jun 2011 : 1:17:56 PM Ooh - I wouldn't give a feed to a baby with a bit, little too much for the little one to have to cope with.
We introduce a bit, sometimes on a bridle but sometimes just tied to a head collar at one side and then looped across the other side. We introduce it and take it out immediately on several occasions - depends on each horse. The taking out is an important as the putting in because the horse's natural instinct is to throw its head high and you can end up banging the teeth and hanging off the lower jaw.
We don't leave the bit in at all whilst the horse is unattended - then we get to putting it in and leaving it in whilst we skip out or do something close by. Then take the horse for a walk with the bit in. We usually put a headcollar in over the bridle and lead from the head collar until the horse gets used to walking with a bit in. Then we introduce a coupling and lead the horse round the stable a few times and then go for a short walk.
Make it fun and don't stress. You might find it easier to dismantle the bridle and construct it round the horse rather than get in a flap with all the different straps whilst junior is holding his/her nose to the clouds.
All in all, we find it takes about 3-5 days for the horse to be totally accepting and to lower its head both for the putting in and the taking out.
If we do have any problems, we use the small black show bits attached to the head collar at one side, liberally soaked in apple juice, sugar beet juice or something tasty and gently push from one side so the horse gets used to something in its mouth before you attempt to introduce a bit between the front teeth.
Turn it all into a game with tons of praise - and don't do it infront of an audience of people all offering advice. Do it quietly when you're having a private moment and it can become a moment of bonding. You don't have to leave it in for more than a minute before taking it out.
Even now, with our "old timers" we never feed with a bit in, not even haylage. If we're at an event and there's a few hours between sections, we take the bridle off - mainly because I don't the horse can be comfortable eating with something else it its mouth and because it gets very messy!
You'll probably find it goes a lot easier and quicker than you'd imagine. Good luck.
She is my first baby and I want to make sure I do it right! 
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