Guess the training problem, are you ready?

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You are getting ready to ride your horse.  You are all tacked up and ready to bridle the horse.  You approach the horse with the bridle, and he refuses.  The horse lifts his head and clamps his mouth shut.  What is the problem, and what should you do?

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At first glance you may think that the horse’s problem is taking the bit or putting on the bridle. But actually, those are not really his problems.  The first problem is the horse doesn’t know how to drop his head on command.  So that is the first problem you will need to solve.  There is prep work involved in teaching a horse to take the bit and stand quietly while being bridled.

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To teach a horse to drop his head on command I hang onto the lead rope. I put pressure on the rope and release when the horse drops his head.  When the horse drops his head, that is the only time you should release pressure.  Don’t pull the horse’s head down, just make it uncomfortable by putting enough weight on the lead so he hunts for a release from the pressure.  The horse doesn’t have to drop his head much, just an inch and I will release.   Repeat until the second you add pressure to the lead the horse drops his head.

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Next problem, the horse clamps his mouth shut. First, put the horse’s head down, and next rub your finger on the bars of his mouth until he easily opens his mouth.  Do this without the bit and do it over and over until he keeps his head down and easily opens his mouth each time you ask him.  Make sure that he tolerates this from both hands on both sides of his mouth.

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Lastly, introduce the bridle. Ask the horse to put down his head, place the bit between his lips, ask him to open his mouth and quietly insert the bit into his mouth.  That should be the easy part and it will be as long as you did your prep work efficiently.

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If the horse objects to the bit being placed near his lips, get him comfortable with the bit near his lips before you ask him to place it in his mouth. One step at a time, don’t ask for too much at once.  Horses like to be simple not complicated.  What’s the best way to eat an elephant?  One bite at a time.

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The number one secret to horse training?  Find the real problem and then solve it. As you are bridling the horse you may say, “he won’t open his mouth for the bit”.  The real problem is the first half of the sentence, “he won’t open his mouth”.  That is what you should fix.  Train your horse one step at a time, keep it simple and uncomplicated.

Tags: horse training

2 Comments to The Number One Horse Training Secret

Popstar(omg)
September 29, 2009

great tip!!!!

dcastro
September 30, 2009

Thank you!

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