HELP!!!

[lilliella1]

I am having major issues un-bridling our novice 14.2 show pony. He was pretty much wild when we got him as a 5yr old last year and it has taken a long time for him to trust us.

He was broken in September and was a total star, however one issue we have always had is bridling and un-bridling him. He is VERY head shy and hates his off-side ear beeing touched so that is the hurdle when putting the bridle on.

We have bought him a bridle with a comfort head piece and have had hiss poll checked for discomfort however i think this is a deep seated issue and that he has been ear twitched in the past.

Bridling we can deal with as yiu just have to be quick!! Taking it off is a HUGE battle. He knows when you go to take it off and shoves his head in the air and runs backwards round the stable. When you do manage to get it over his ears he then tosses his head and 9/10 times gets the bit caught on his bottom teeth and panics tearing blindly round the stable untill it is out of his mouth!! We have tried feed to lowwer his head and tried undoing the cheek pieces but we are still getting the same reaction.

He is ridden in a happy mouth full cheek snafflewith a caverson nose and goes very well in it.

Any help or suggestions greatly appreciated!!!

[vikki85]

I know you've had his poll checked which is a good first step, but has a vet actually determind there is nothing wrong with his ears? It could be the action of pulling it on and off over his actual ears that is hurting or distressing him? Especially as he goes well once the bridle is actually on.

[Sasha]

Have you tried undoing the cheekpiece and putting the headpiece on this way instead? What's he like putting a head collar on?

[lilliella1]

As good as gold with the head collar. not so much an issue putting on its the taking off as the bit gets caught!

Had ears and poll checked n no physical issues, though hates his mane pulled up by ears (not sure if connected).

[wilbs]

As suggested undo the cheek pieces and put on and take off that way. You have more control over the bit dropping out that way too. Had a mare the same myself. You say you have tried that but you just need to persevere. These things can't be got over quickly.

[sarahp]

I knew a horse once, insurance write off due to headshaking, and the loan owner found that he didn't headshake if his forelock was plaited. Mad but true. I wonder how yours would be if his forelock and the top of his mane were plaited out of the way? Maybe he had a painful mane pull which has put him off.

[akitaz55]

I have exactly the same problem with my gelding. When I bought him the bridle had to be put on and taken off in pieces . I have worked slowly and I've managed to get him so I can put a bridle on him properly now but like you I cannot take it off normally , I have to remove it by undoing the cheek piece so I will be interested to see everyone's answers.

[lilliella1]

I still have issues when taking it off by undoing the cheeks as he feels the bit drop and shoves his head up so the bit is caught and dangling from his mouth, then we are back to square one with him running in a panic round the stables!!

Also dreading what he is going to be like at a show!!!!!

x

[sharina]

i would do as recommended but also have a headcollar with a buckle on the nose band then slip that on under his bridle before i take the bridle off or even if possible leave it on under the bridle while you work on this issue to help give you added control when putting it on and off also try to desensitise him by brushing his head, kissing him while holding his head being nice rubbing up his neck to his ears daily so he eventually realises that it can be a nice thing. my old boy was very head shy when i got him now he only gets like it when i try to clip his head out. good luck though i think it is going to take you alot of time

[squeaksqueak]

We have one that does this and like everyone else on here, we have to undo the cheek piece to remove the bridle, but he is getting much better.
It sounds like he also has an issue letting go of the bit? If you have a second person available, can they not hold the bit in place whilst you undo the cheekpiece - that way it won't drop and he shouldn't put his head up. Then you can just ask him to let go of the bit very gently, being careful not to knock his teeth as he does it?
I'm afraid there is not easy fix, just time and patience. Good luck

[sarahp]

If OK with a headcoller, would it help if you used the bridle without the browband for a bit, undoing the cheekpiece as you would the headstrap of a headcoller?

If they have been frightened by the bit coming out in the past it can set up a fear of it which makes them worse, careering round the box panicking over it. Squeaksqueak's idea sounds a good plan.

[country girl]

i had a mare who did this and nearly went over backwards with a breaking bit, i changed the bit to a rubber snaffle a light weight one and with alittle time she would drop her head and let the bit out with no issue, managed to then introduced a kk bit later with no bother i understand you are using a happy mouth which is great, but may be try a light weight rubber snaffle the dont cost much and just go at the pace which your horse is happy with sometimes you have to go backwards to progress forwards good luck

[Milliesmum]

Could you use some of the latex bit wrap so that the bit is cushioned if it catches his teeth?

[lilliella1]

Thankyou for all of the suggestions. I will try them and see what works for him.

[Sara]

Have you had his teeth checked? It might be painful when the bit catches them?

[sarahp]

Wolf teeth? But whatever the cause, he now has a "thing" about it so it is a re-education process.

[tbmare]

It really is gonna be a slow process of getting his confidence back .
there are only 2 other things that i can suggest if the other options arent working..
1 i know you shouldn't however diff rules and diff circumstances.. what about feeding him a good handfull of damp bran.. in a bucket and let the brdle just slipand the bit off in the bucket.. the bran will help with any impact as well as being a treat.. or try hand full of nuts.. i have used both these mathods ith those that have similar probs to your.. as so deep rooted i might take weeks..mths or so.. but got to be better than whats happening .

The other is not solution.. more something i came accross taking a bridle of a similar pony that i got smacked in the face from the horses cheek bones and lost momentarily all my balance..sight.. just bad fuzziness .... made full recovery.. ended up with black eye and massive head ache..
Anyway he had an infection ..in his lower ear.. i think... infection defo.. once treated he was fine..
just a thought.

[auntiebarb]

I swear by Dr Cook bitless bridles, it wouldn't help if the problem is an ear infection and believe me I suffer from those so he has my sympathy, but if it is just the bit, try a Dr Cook bitless for a while, so at least you remove the need for the bit slipping into his teeth. You could always use a bitted bridle once he got used to the ear problem.

I too have a head shy horse (17.2hh) who has had an ear twitch in the past. I don't know the words to explain how hateful I find this, but we are getting towards total trust between us now, after 2 years.

[aliwelsh]

i also had a pony that was previously ear twitched - he would literally try and attack you if you tried to touch his offside ear

it took me approx one month to sort it. every day i spent a couple of mins in his stable stroking his head. (he had no tack on and could move away if he wanted). i stood at his shoulder facing forward with my right hand under his chin and onto the top of his nose, holding it gently. i then used my left hand to stroke his head, going over the eyes and forehead. he began to love this. then as i gained his trust i gradually started geting nearer to the base of his ears in a matter of fact way. sometimes he protested but i was firm (although i never got in a fight with him - i would have lost) and kept at it

often i felt like giving up and everyone at my yard thought i was nuts - they used to go past and shake their heads. i began to think it would never work as sometimes we seemed to be going backwards and my pony hated me, but eventually it DID work.you could then do literally anything with his ears - clip them, turn them inside out, tie ribbons round then, lol

the ear episode taught me more about horses than anything else i can think of - it's just patience and repetition. the important thing is not to give up, even though you feel you are wasting your time. after my experience whenever i touched his ears and he didn't blink an eyelid i felt 10 feet tall becuaes i had actually made a difference to him and his ears would never be a problem again.i know that not everyone has time for this sort of thing but if you do try it. (and i'm not soppy about horses, i'm firm, but this pony had genuine issues)

good luck with your pony- let us know what happens

[sarahp]

Good for you - and I'd be really interested to know how he is with other people, or if it's just you he's happy to let handle his ears?

[blacklegs]

What about an endurance webbing bridle with the clip on cheek pieces so you can just unclip the bit but still have a headcollar underneath - I would also suggest giving a treat (herball or polo or something) as you let the bit drop so he opens his mouth for the treat and takes pleasure from the bit going?

Also make sure you have a really loose browband - my arab has one about 18" long, took me ages to find him a leather one! but still "looks ok" to the onlooker, and relieves any pressure around his ears (he likes a hackamore too!!)

Good luck!

[brindlerainbow]

Sounds to me like he has been ear twitched in the past. Will take lots of time and patience getting him used to having his ears touched. When unbridling try undoing the cheek piece on one side to let the bit fall gently from his mouth, then you can try quietly slipping the head piece over his ears with out him going into melt down over the bit getting caught in his teeth

[swiftie]

I'd get a second person to hold the bit in his mouth while you undo the cheek pieces, then ask him to open his mouth (put your thumb in the corner) and take it out yourself. You could also feed him treats etc while you or someone else fiddles with his forelock/poll area? Good Luck

[Deleted]

Please contact a ESMT in your area. Muscular pain in the poll area, will cause any horse to be bridle shy. It can be sorted in a matter of minutes.