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Soapweed

B

Big Muddy rancher

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Joined
Feb 10, 2005
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Big Muddy valley
How is that colt coming along that's hard to bridle?

I am working one now that seems to be getting harder to bridle. I gently work his ears but he is a real pain. He is a pushy colt but responds pretty good to correction. Tonight i just rode him in the halter instead of fighting any more to get a bit in his mouth.

Any suggestions?
 
Big Muddy rancher said:
How is that colt coming along that's hard to bridle?

I am working one now that seems to be getting harder to bridle. I gently work his ears but he is a real pain. He is a pushy colt but responds pretty good to correction. Tonight i just rode him in the halter instead of fighting any more to get a bit in his mouth.

Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

Hate to admit it, but I haven't ridden that seven-year-old "colt" that is hard to bridle, for that very reason. Brady has too many of his own to have time to ride mine. Perhaps a hackamore with a bosal would work better than a bridle with a bit. From past experience, it seems to me like a hard-to-bridle horse sometimes keeps that habit for life. There are enough good horses available, that I am not sure a person even needs to mess with a hard-to-bridle horse indefinitely. Doctor bills are a lot higher, and horses are a lot cheaper than it has been in the past. :roll:
 
I would agree with Wyoming on the teeth,could be the place to start,and with Soapweed on using a bosal.How old is the pony??Who started him and what did they start him in?Bosal,halter,snaffle??
 
The colt I'm working on is coming 4.The bosal I have is tight on him so I didn't use it last night. He was still fighting when working around the ears so I think it might be more of a mind game then teeth but I will try and get a look in his mouth. He the sort of horse that seems to figth you but once you work with him and things click he is pretty good. Last week he didn't want me on his right side but he got over it. :D
 
Big Muddy rancher said:
The colt I'm working on is coming 4.The bosal I have is tight on him so I didn't use it last night. He was still fighting when working around the ears so I think it might be more of a mind game then teeth but I will try and get a look in his mouth. He the sort of horse that seems to figth you but once you work with him and things click he is pretty good. Last week he didn't want me on his right side but he got over it. :D
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I used to have a horse that didn't want me on his back and he never got over it. I made arrangements for him to go France.
 
HAY MAKER said:
What kinda bit are you tryin to use on your horse ?
good luck
Click to expand...

I am using a black iron ring snaffle.

Last night I was running late so i just played around his head and ears didn't try to bridle and never got around to riding him. Took the afternoon off and went to the Farm expo in Plentywood. Had a visit with John Pulaski the weather man. The Montana folks will know who he is. :D
 
Big Muddy rancher said:
HAY MAKER said:
What kinda bit are you tryin to use on your horse ?
good luck
Click to expand...

I am using a black iron ring snaffle.

Last night I was running late so i just played around his head and ears didn't try to bridle and never got around to riding him. Took the afternoon off and went to the Farm expo in Plentywood. Had a visit with John Pulaski the weather man. The Montana folks will know who he is. :D
Click to expand...

Let your snaffle fit him loosely,he has got to be comfortable, be plenty of time for tightening later.
Take your snaffle out to your lick tank,coat the mouth piece with syrup,let him smell lick ,wont be long he will be lookin for that snaffle,I would use the thinnest snaffle I could find,I know the thick ones are more kind.........but keepin things in perspective.........we are tryin to get him bridled.
good luck
 
Like Haymaker said--My daughter had a colt that was real hard to bridle- wouldn't take the bit- throw his head in the air- and due to the 4-H rules had to be ridden with a snaffle bit, so I couldn't just go with a hackamore--- so I had a 5 gallon bucket of molasses that I'd coat the mouthpiece with- and after a few weeks of working with him- sometimes just sticking the bit in his mouth- let him get the molasses- then remove it, without even putting the headstall over his ears- he got so he was no problem at all......
Its messy- but it works....

Turned into a real good saddle horse that she sold when she graduated to get some college money...
 

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