Introducing young horse to bit

[Torre]

Hi guys,
I’d love to hear from folks who have started multiple horses from scratch- I’d rather not trial and error here on my own.

4 y/o mustang I started U/S one month ago. Going nicely WTC in a rope halter and I’d like to transition to the bit.

I can get the bridle on with little fuss, and really would like her to hold it quietly In her mouth before I proceed with anything else.

She’s really active with it. Tongue over then under then balled up behind. I’ve left her in the stall to eat and drink with it on for an hour or so the past few days and no change.

On the advice of a good colt starter I dropped it low (maybe 1/4th of an inch below the corners of her mouth so she learns to pick it up and hold it with her tongue. This is just initially, when mouth gets quiet I’d raise to normal height to start to educate her to it laterally.

but yeah, not seeming to accept it or hold it at all.

advice?? Leave it on longer? Raise it? Be more patient?
It’s a plain eggbutt snaffle with a link in the middle.

TIA

[joiedevie99]

Have you tried wrapping it in something delicious for her to suck on - like a fruit roll-up?

[luvmyhackney]

I haven’t started that many but my old trainer always covered the bit with molasses or used a fruit roll up. She would turn them out supervised with a halter with a bit attached, always lower than the corners. She would gradually increase the time till they were wearing it the entire time she was at the barn. I believe she used a straight bar or a rubber covered snaffle.

[Scribbler]

@joiedevie99

Have you tried wrapping it in something delicious for her to suck on - like a fruit roll-up?

I thought the fruit rollup was my original genius idea it does make them much happier about the bit!

[NancyM]

1. Have you had some dentistry work done on this horse? Wolf teeth removed and molars floated? Because introducing a bit will require that that is done to achieve comfort with most horses.

2. It is ALWAYS “trial and error” with EVERY horse, when you introduce a bit, because each horse is different. A straight bar Happy Mouth is often a good place to start, they try mullen mouth straight bar, can be made of varous materials. If neither of those suffices, then start to try some broken snaffles, one or two joints. Or straight bar with tongue groove. Straight bar bits are “simple” for the horse, no moving parts. Since your use of the bit is also completely “simple” at this stage, straight bars are often easier for a horse to understand. As your rein cues get more complex, with the need to contact each side of the mouth independently, then it may be necessary to go to a broken mouthpiece bit, if the horse will accept it. Because that is the key, some horses mouths are formed differently, and will NOT accept a broken mouthpiece at all, ever. Others HATE straight bars. You have to keep trying until you hit on what is a winner with your horse.

3. Do not hang the bit low. This encourages and allows the horse to get accustomed to getting his tongue over the bit as a habit, which is hard to break. Adjust the bit correctly, right from the start. A correctly adjusted bit is perfectly comfortable, more comfortable than a low one. A horse with his tongue over the bit has NO brakes or steering which is extremely frightening for both you and the horse, it is NOT something you want to experience, EVER.

4. Once you have experimented enough to find the bit that suits your horse, and have it correctly adjusted in his mouth, lunge and long line him to teach him “forward” and “steering”. Long lining is how he learns how to be ridden, with the driving lines running through your fixed stirrups acting as your leg cues, while also steering with the reins. And pressure on his mouth for “whoa”. Don’t be afraid to touch the reins, USE the reins, steer, stop, go, turn circles and serpentines, at the walk and trot. It should FEEL just like riding him, except you are trotting along behind him. When you can do this in an arena or round pen, take him outside, around your barn area, stepping over poles and past “scary” stuff, driving him forward with tapping his sides with the driving lines, and steering with the bit. He has to know all this stuff before you get on his back, in order for first rides to be anything like “safe” for you. And him.

Good luck!

[Pokerface]

I have started pretty much all of my own horses from scratch. What I have done which is the slow and steady way, is just have them wear the bridle in the stall for a few hours every day, especially at meal times. After a while they learn how to deal with it and it just becomes second nature. My current young horse we did it for about a month leading up to his first in-hand show, after that, he stopped noticing it. Now as a started horse, he is very quiet in the mouth. It just has to feel normal to them. Since you started yours in a rope halter, I would get them used to wearing it but not use it riding yet, they can still WEAR it riding, but I’d put the rope later over it and rely on that until they are more comfortable. They WILL chew and move it around at first, you just have to ignore it and let them get comfortable at their own pace. Putting the bridle on at meal times will help a lot with them getting over that.

Everything with young horses is time and patience! Good luck!

[Showbizz]

We have started several hundred youngsters. We do not drop it down, but I know some cowboy types who do and it works for them. We put the bit on a single-ply leather western headstall (no cavesson) and let them wear it several hours a day, eating, drinking, and sleeping. We’ve not had one get hung up, and the hope is that the single-ply leather would break if that would happen.

[pony_grandma]

Same here, we have also used a bradoon hanger - with a soft rubber straight mouth bit (also now have a smooth mouth leather bit) and left it on in the stall. Ditto on dentistry with @NancyM. Often use a side pull, with the bit tied in, bareback (use of leg and seat) and walk to do circles, I know not the answer to introducing bits, but with OTTBs I reverse the plan and take the bit out of the mouth to establish a rider seat connection first. Congrats for starting your work this way first.