Site Menu:
This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below: |
HorseAdvice.com » Training, Behavior, & Conditioning Horses » Behavioral Problems » Fear of Specific Objects » |
Discussion on Fear of bridle | |
Author | Message |
Posted on Wednesday, Dec 1, 1999 - 7:49 pm: I have a two and one half year old mare who when I bought her was not handled. I broke her to lead and ride and we began her on a bit and she fought like the dickens! so I bought her a hackamore and she still is terrified in fact the first time we tried the hack she reared up and slammed a bolt into her left chest muscle. She halters really well after I calm her down she is fine but the first ten minutes is very stressful to me and her. Please tell me what I am doing wrong or give me some much needed advice. |
|
Posted on Wednesday, Dec 1, 1999 - 8:36 pm: Patience and kindness are in order. Go back to the basics of re-introducing the bridle. Start by rubbing the headstall up and down the neck, both sides, and stopping when she becomes agitated. Use plenty of positive reinforcement. Keep working, a few minutes every day, until she will stand steady for the bridle being anywhere touching her head. Include the ears especially. Making a geuss, I usually see these reactions in a horse that a. Has had the bit yanked out of the mouth, or forced in, allowing the bit to clang against the teeth, or b. The headstall doesn't fit properly, or c. The bit is too much for her right now, go back to a snaffle, or d. The horse has associated the bridle with a bad episode (in its own mind)you can also help ease the transition from accustoming her to the headstall to actually putting it on, by unbuckling the cheek peices, inserting the bit (carefully) then sliding the browband up and over and buckling into place. Just make sure everything fits correctly-alot of problems are rooted in gear that doesn't fit. |
|
Posted on Wednesday, Dec 1, 1999 - 9:28 pm: I agree with Tiani, you must go back to the basics, in fact, back to the halter breaking and ground handling. When you put downward pressure on the halter under the chin, does your mare give into the pressure and bring her head down and relax? If not, then you need to do more ground work, getting her to move around you and turn with a slight pressure. If she doesn't give in right away, just stay quiet, keep you patience and wait it out until she gives and then once she does, immediately praise her by releasing the pressure and stroking her neck/crest/face area. Get her use to having her muzzle handled by your hand and lips massaged until she stands quietly and accepts it....even to the point where you can massage her gums with you hand.When you do go back to putting a bit in her mouth, of course make sure it's a snaffle (I prefer loose ring french snaffles) and let her stand tied in her stall with it in her mouth. Put the halter on over the bridle and do the ground work again. If you have access to a round pen or small enclosed arena, free lounge her so she can get comfortable with it on her own without anyone pulling it. I could go on and on, step by step, but you'll just have to take it slow and rebuild any confidence and trust she might have lost. From the clinics I have gone to regarding hackamores......the hack wasn't even brought into play until after the use of the snaffle and they were so light to the touch with the snaffle that they responded off of the leg(s) and weight of the rider for turning, backing, stopping, etc. I'm guessing the reason she reared when the hack was put on was because there was too much pressure put on the nose when used and she panicked because it cuts off their breathing. If I'm wrong I apologize. One more thing, when you put the bit back into her mouth, make sure that it fits correctly and not too low or too high on the mouth. Rule of thumb, one wrinkle on each side of the mouth. I hope I have been of some help to you. Jo |
|
Posted on Thursday, Dec 2, 1999 - 2:49 pm: I had first tried a snaffle when we first started breaking her her fear was iminent then. When I first received her she was very ear shy and we had found ear mites and to treat them I sort of had to force her to compromise and accept the treatment of rubbing medicine in her ears. When we tried a straight bit we ended up taking off the brow band because if her ear shyness and I have invested alot of time to break the shyness and I am about 85% positive that I am finally getting through to her that I will not hurt her. It seems to me that she must of had a rough beginning either that or because of the lack of handling and the fear of the unknown is her major problem. Thank you for all the advice I have received and for anymore I am a novice horseman and would love to learn all I can about my baby and her problems. |
|
Posted on Thursday, Dec 2, 1999 - 8:54 pm: Michelle, maybe a good book would help you alot. There are quite a number of excellent books available to purchase, or can be checked out from libraries. As a suggestion, perhaps an evaluation from a more experienced person could help you pin point the problem? A small investment in a professional's time might very well bring you big rewards. You say she is "broke" but the actions you describe so well sound to me like a horse that has gone from kindergarten to junior high school. It will leave her somewhat frightened, which also causes tension and stress. You will have to deal with the ear/head shyness for a long time. It can take years to get a horse through this sort of thing. Patience, kindness, and consistency will help you alot.Try going back to basics, using the loose ring snaffle. Undo the cheek peices on the headstall to help with the shyness, and as Jo said, rebuild the trust. You are doing the absolute RIGHT thing, by asking for help and advice. Ideally, she should DrOp her head with the slightest of pressures on the poll or nose. Until then, you will both struggle with this issue. You can help her accept these things by rewarding with favorite treats-but a word of caution-be very careful when feeding treats by hand! This can quickly lead to biting at humans regualrly. Use treats only occasionally. |
|
Posted on Friday, Dec 3, 1999 - 2:41 pm: Hi Michelle,I have a very useful description of how to accustom a young horse to the introduction of a bridle. Mouthing a youngster [introducing it to the bit] can be carried out when the horse is two and a half years old, so your horse is now the right age. Sorry it says "he" instead of "she", but I cut and pasted ! Can you get a special mouthing bit? A bit with keys, or black iron and copper, etc.? Before fitting the bridle, remove the bit from it; neither reins nor noseband are necessary at this stage. Put the headpiece over the horse’s ears, pulling the forelock gently over the browband to ensure a snug fit. Do up the throat lash. Next, attach the bit to the cheek piece on the far side. As an extra precaution, make sure the bit is warm, not ice-cold; it can be dipped in sugar or treacle to make it more pleasant for the horse and to help produce saliva. With one hand, ease open your horse’s mouth by feeling the gums inside the top corners of the mouth above his teeth. With your other hand, gently but quickly ease the bit into his mouth and attach it to the cheek piece on the near side before he can reject it or before it knocks against the lower teeth. Make sure the bit fits correctly and is the right size. It should rest on the bars of the mouth, not jangling against the teeth, and should just wrinkle the corners of his mouth when in position. Leave the bridle on for a few minutes only, for him to become used to the feel of it. Repeat the process either on the same day or on the next, leaving the bridle on for a longer period each time. It is very beneficial for the horse to get used to the feel of the bit in his mouth, without reins attached. If you are experienced in lungeing, fit the lungeing cavesson over the bridle, and lunge him for nor more than ten minutes in each direction on a 20 metre circle, only at a walk and a trot. He will not be ready to balance himself at a canter at a young age. The more time you give your young horse to get used to the feel of the bit in his mouth, without reins attached, the easier your task will be when you come to take up contact through the reins. If he is to be a responsive ride, the sensitivity of his mouth must be maintained. If you are not experienced in lungeing, once he is accepting the bit in his mouth, put the bridle on in the stable as usual, then attach the reins. Take both reins in your hands, equally, and feel backwards and upwards with soft, vibrating movements as if you were on the horse’s back and holding the reins. Continue the movement until your horse answers by mouthing the bit, submitting to the slight pressure by relaxing his jaw. If he resists, be patient, and increase the vibrations slightly until he gets the message. Then reward him by relaxing the contact. If he backs or throws his head, you are using your hands too strongly. Repeat these exercises in the yard, leading your horse in the bridle at the walk, asking him to soften his jaw at the lightest of pressure, then practising to the left and right. You can teach him to halt, to turn, etc. by this method – always feeling with a vibrating motion, not pulling. Remember that a hackamore is a very severe bridle, and frightens many horses. Lots of luck, and I'm sure you will do well. -Alexa- |
|
Posted on Saturday, Dec 11, 1999 - 12:00 pm: thanks for all your advice I will definitely try all suggestions since I am about to give up on her and sell her for a well broke horse and I do not want to do that. |
|
Posted on Wednesday, Jan 12, 2000 - 8:32 pm: Don't know if you tried this so I'll go ahead and give you something else to think about doing. How does your horse deal with you touching the ears and crown area? I'm assuming you have no problem bridling the horse. That she keeps her head down and relaxed and takes the bridle and bit willingly. It's just when unbridling she gets terrified (possibly from the bridle being abruptly taken off and causing pain in the ear area and possibly the bit hitting the teeth prior to you getting her). Prior to taking the bridle off, unbuckle the throatlatch (like usual) and massage the crown and outside ears with gentle, slow and steady stroking (massaging). This is done with the horse NOT on crossties. It is called the Ear TTouch by Tellington-Jones. Stand in front of your horse with her head lowered. Holding the side of the halter with one hand, gently stroke the ear on the opposite side from the base of the ear to the tip with the other hand. In cases of shock or colic, make a small circle between the thumb and forefinger on the shock point located at the tip of the ear. The pressure should be gentle but a firm stroke form the base out to the tip. This Ear Touch is helpful for relaxation, reducing stress, improving digestion, and quieting nervous horses.She might not understand at first, but reaffirm her with your voice and have patience. She will eventually relax the ear and DrOp her head even more. Once she DrOps her head and relaxes her ears, then slowly reposition yourself to her shoulder and while talking softly and massaging with one hand, use the other hand to lift the bridle off her crown and then over her ears. If you have a problem with removing a leather halter just like the bridle, then try the massaging, etc., with the halter first. Another one you might want to add is called the Mouth TTouch. Stand on the left and slightly behind your horse's head. Hold the halter firmly with the right hand and with the other begin gently massage the outside of her upper mouth, lip and chin area. Then lift the corner of her mouth with you thumb and slip your fingers under the upper lip, over the gumes. Slide back and forth. If her gums are dry then wet you hands beforehand. Working on her mouth and gums can change negative emotional responses such as biting, stubbornness, inflexibility, flightiness, bucking and resistance to training. The Mouth TTouch affects the limbic system, the part of the brain that controls emotions and learning. I've done this on my mare and others and with a little patience, you will see results in a change of attitude and relaxation. I'd be glad to send you a copy by fax or whatever what Linda Tellington-Jones does with training/re-training with bridling and unbridling. She calls it "Charley the Terrible". I've slacked off on doing the TTouch, but reviewing the books and video again, I'm going to start up again. If anything, it's a marvelous way to get "in touch" with your horse. Hope I wasn't too winded! Jo |
|
Posted on Monday, Jan 17, 2000 - 12:16 am: Thanks for the advice. She has always been earshy since I bought her she was full of mites so we kind of got off to a bad start with her and I having never owned a horse before think I should of bought a well broke one or a foal. I am just so frustrated!!! |
|
Posted on Monday, Jan 17, 2000 - 3:59 am: Shame, Michele, but try not to get too frustrated. Just keep sending your frustrations and questions to this site as you will get lots of support and advice.Chin up, Alexa |
|