| There are a few reasons a horse will avoid being | | | | to handle the outside of the mouth, work on |
| bridled and unbridled. First there is the young | | | | pushing his upper lip out of the way with your |
| horse who has never been taught the correct | | | | fingers. |
| head position for accepting/removing the bit in | | | | Now we will teach the horse to open his mouth |
| which case we need only teach them. Then there | | | | when you place a finger on his bars. Place a finger |
| is the horse that has been hurt when bridled | | | | on the bar (gums where the bit would rest) and |
| unbridled in which case we now have a justified | | | | rub the gums. Your horse will most likely try to |
| fear issue to deal with. And finally, there is the | | | | spit your finger out. Remove your finger when he |
| horse that decides today he is not going to allow | | | | does and replace his head if necessary. You want |
| it and is able to get his way and now he has the | | | | him to open his mouth without taking his head |
| upper hand in the matter. The good news is that | | | | away. If your horse does not care about one, use |
| we will address all issues the same way. We will | | | | two, three, until he tries to spit it out. Again, it is |
| first teach the horse the proper place to have his | | | | crucial you understand, KEEP YOUR FINGERS |
| head for bridling and unbridling, how to release to | | | | AWAY FROM THE TEETH. You may need to |
| downward pressure of the lead rope and to open | | | | touch the horse's tongue to get him to open his |
| his mouth when cued. | | | | mouth and it is very easy for him to draw your |
| The best place for the horse's head, for bridling | | | | finger into his molars and bite it by mistake. As |
| and unbridling, is bent around your side, your right | | | | soon as the horse opens his mouth, remove your |
| hand on the poll and the side of the horse's face | | | | finger and praise. |
| next to your stomach. To get there we first | | | | Finally we will introduce the bit and I would use a |
| teach the horse to lower his head when you put | | | | snaffle as the curb could get hung up on the |
| pressure downward with the lead rope and then | | | | horse's face. With his head in the correct position, |
| your hand on the poll. I would say rein, but the | | | | right hand on the poll to raise the bridle and left |
| bridle isn't in yet. Place enough downward pressure | | | | hand to PLACE the bit into the mouth, lift his |
| on the lead to make the horse think about | | | | upper lip out of the way with your index finger |
| change, but not so heavy you get tired and | | | | and use your thumb to ask him to open his |
| release the horse before he moves. When his | | | | mouth. The bit should be resting in the palm of |
| head goes any direction except down, you will | | | | your hand. You will use your pinkie and thumb (run |
| follow him keeping the same amount of pressure | | | | through the snaffle rings) to insert the bit through |
| on the lead. Stay focused on the poll. As soon as | | | | the teeth and onto the bars. If he raises his head |
| his poll moves in the downward, release the | | | | or pulls away, use your cues to bring him back. |
| pressure immediately and completely. Praise and | | | | Do not 'chase' him with the bit. |
| reapply the pressure and continue the pressure | | | | I do not like to 'practice' putting the bit in and out. |
| release until the horse is consistent with releasing | | | | If the horse has had issue with the process, I |
| to the pressure and will keep his head at the | | | | may leave a halter on for added control as well. |
| desired elevation. | | | | Once the bit is in, go to work, then when you are |
| You will then repeat the process using your hand | | | | done, work on taking it out. We will reverse the |
| at the poll. When he will willingly drop his head to | | | | process for taking the bit out. Bring the horse's |
| your hand on the poll, place your other hand | | | | head into the correct position. Take the bridle off |
| across the bridge of his nose and place pressure | | | | over the ears and start to lower the bit. Do not |
| on the off side, toward you. Release the pressure | | | | let the bit get near his teeth unless his head is in |
| as soon as he brings his head toward you. Same | | | | the correct position. I hold the bit (same as |
| as before, if he takes it away, just follow and | | | | putting it in) with thumb through the left ring and |
| release on any movement toward you. Continue | | | | pinkie through the right ring, first two fingers can |
| the pressure and release on the nose and poll until | | | | move the lips out of the way if needed and |
| the horse willingly releases to the pressure and | | | | thumb can lay on the gums to encourage mouth |
| leaves his head in the correct bridling position. | | | | to open. This helps ensure it comes out when he |
| The next step is get the horse to open his mouth | | | | tries to spit it out without banging the teeth. If he |
| to accept the bit and at this point you need to | | | | tries to take his head out of position, bring it back |
| know YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR | | | | as before. |
| SAFETY. With the horse's head in the correct | | | | You can 'practice' more than once a day, but I |
| position, your right hand on the poll, rub his lips | | | | would not 'practice' more than once a lesson and |
| and surrounding area with your left hand. If the | | | | as long as you do not give the horse a justified |
| horse takes his head away ask him to put it back | | | | reason to be afraid of the bridling process, pain, |
| using the methods of pressure and release to the | | | | he will only continue to get better. |
| poll and bridge of his nose. When he will allow you | | | | |