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Discussion on Biting with bit in?
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Member:
Missa
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Posted on Friday, Sep 26, 2003 - 12:24 pm:
Hi,
I have a young stallion whom I want to show. Rules require all colts to be bitted. I am having a great deal of problems at getting him to accept leading with a bit in. He resents the bit when being asked to lead and will thrash his head about biting anything he can get his mouth into.
Can you give me any ideas on how I can stop him from biting and thrashing his head about?
Thanks
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Member:
Hwood
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Posted on Friday, Sep 26, 2003 - 2:10 pm:
Missa,
Does he throw his head when you put forward pressure on the reins or does he do it when just standing still as well?
If the former, it sounds like a tooth issue.
Holly
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Member:
Missa
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Posted on Friday, Sep 26, 2003 - 2:19 pm:
Even with no pressure on his mouth (eg.lead rein attatched to headcollar not bit) he will still persist at doing so. He is only happy without the bit in.Thanks
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Member:
Hwood
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Posted on Friday, Sep 26, 2003 - 2:30 pm:
What kind of bit? Thin, thick, hollow mouth, snaffle, copper, sweet iron . . . etc?
I think there is a bit made called a "Happy Mouth Bit" 
Holly
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Member:
Missa
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Posted on Friday, Sep 26, 2003 - 4:31 pm:
I have tried a soft rubber reasonably thin straight bar loose ring snaffle and a hard rubber one and a metal egbutt. Being very small mouthed wearing 3.5" bit there is not alot more variety than the ones I've got.Happymouths do not make smaller that 4". Thanks again
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Member:
Mwebster
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Posted on Friday, Sep 26, 2003 - 5:43 pm:
Hmmm... have you had his teeth checked, specifically any chance he's got a wolf tooth that's impacted or some other situation where the bit's causing some pain? A friend's gelding had a wolf tooth problem, had it extracted, a small piece remained (no one detected it for quite a while) and it caused a lot of resistance. Worth ruling out...
M
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Member:
Missa
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Posted on Saturday, Sep 27, 2003 - 7:04 am:
I will have my vet check his teeth when she comes out next month for his routine jabs just to be sure. Thanks for the suggestion.
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Member:
Oscarvv
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Posted on Saturday, Sep 27, 2003 - 7:22 am:
I think it's a good idea to have his teeth checked.
Have you tried just putting the headstall on without the reins and leaving him in the stall so he can get used to the bit? That's how I start my young horses.
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Member:
Althaea
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Posted on Saturday, Sep 27, 2003 - 12:53 pm:
Missa - what age, breed is the stallion? Perhaps he has a very shallow palate, and over-sensitive bars (or there is a tooth errupting and the bit is bumping a sore spot). Also, in what manner are you leading him by the bridle? Chain lead through the rings? Are you working with him at any other level? ie - lunge work?
I've found a number of links for pony bits -
www.justforponies.com/Merchant/SubCat_20.htm
www.toklat.com/pb_eng_pony.html
www.4ponies.com/bits.htm (see from M13 down)
To first accustom your boy to the bit by working with him in just the headstall and bit in the lunge - free - no lines to limit him. Make sure of your adjustments of the bit placement. I would go with 1 1/2 wrinkles at first - and then as he gets used to the bit you can tighten to get the mandatory 2 wrinkles. Make sure that the headstall fits properly and is not adding to the discomfort.
I don't like putting a bit in a horses mouth and leaving them by themselves for even a heartbeat. Have seen a few cases of horses being acclimated this way - left unattended - and tearing up face and tongue when they got hung up on something in stall/pasture. One horse totally severed his tongue (not a pretty sight) and had to be humanely destroyed. The trainer was arrested for animal abuse. With his violent reaction I would not go this route with him - he would definately try to tear the bit out by rubbing against anything in the stall - and probably injure himself in the process.
I would recommend training him to lead out with the bit with a method I use when training for show Shetlands & Welsh ponies in hand - and showing all breeds on the triangle. I used a stud chain -with a fleece halter wooley (cut down to the necessary length to fit over the nose). I run the chain all about the nose, running through the off side bit ring - over the nose (with wooley) - down the near side bit ring - and then attaching to itself in a rather loose O. This accustoms the pony/horse to the pull on the bit with out the severe bumping of the bit which can be quite painful to a young mouth. Pony bits in 3.5" are a hard commodity to come by. You might also look into bits designed for minatures to drive - a spoon bit with a french link just might do the trick.
Keep us posted!
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Member:
Oscarvv
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Posted on Saturday, Sep 27, 2003 - 4:26 pm:
I probably should clarify my above post. I never said that I leave them unattended in a stall, let alone a pasture. 
I NEVER leave them unsupervised and I remove the water buckets and anything they could get hooked on. (which is common sense)
It has always worked like a charm for my youngsters. If they do try to rub (which mine haven't), it is easier to stop them than if they were in a round pen. Sometimes I will groom them to take their minds off of the bit, it depends on the horse. But it's never been a big step for my youngsters and it is uneventful.
QUOTE: Have seen a few cases of horses being acclimated this way - left unattended - and tearing up face and tongue when they got hung up on something in stall/pasture. One horse totally severed his tongue (not a pretty sight) and had to be humanely destroyed. The trainer was arrested for animal abuse.
I am sorry for being so defensive but I take great offense to your comments which are obviously directed at my response. I care too much about my horses to smile and ignore your post. It eludes to me being a negligent horse owner and that my horse's lives at risk because of my dangerous training techniques. You assume a whole lot about the way I train my youngsters.
Missa,
I think taking your time is very important. Don't expect too much too soon from a young colt.
I don't try to lead them by the bridle until they are comfortable having the bit in their mouth.
~Barbara
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Member:
Missa
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Posted on Sunday, Sep 28, 2003 - 10:52 am:
Hi,
He is happy with the bit being in (untouched) its just he can't seem to concentrate on leading when it is in if you know what I mean.
I have tried various combinations of lead reins. I've tried leather lead rein, leather reins, a leather coupling, a chain link coupling, a soft webbing lead rope and have tried various methods of attatching them to the bit.
He is rising 3 years and is finely bred. His bridle is leather show bridle and fits him well so apart from the possibiliy of teeth trouble everything else should be fine.
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Member:
Westks
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Posted on Sunday, Sep 28, 2003 - 11:23 am:
I have had several horses that i trained that had this same type unforgiving attitude with snaffle and straight bar type bits. I have had the best results by switching to a bit with a low wide port,(leaves room for the tongue) a couple were sensitive enough that a bosal could be used. If showing english or dressage you are more limited with your choices.
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Member:
Althaea
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Posted on Sunday, Sep 28, 2003 - 12:36 pm:
Missa - many horses react to the forward pull of the bit when being led out. It has a tendency to bump the back of the teeth in front of the bit. It also puts pressure behind the poll which many horses resist. Do you have a training lunge halter that fits your boy? You could then attach the bit to that & lead out using the top or bottom ring on the halter eliminating the bit pressure. Then as he becomes more comfortable with the idea - go on to the method I described in my previous post. Also try using reins attached to the bit and make sure that you are leading using your right hand about 4" under the chin with a finger inserted between reins to equalize the pressure on both bars. Sometimes that helps.
Am I correct in assuming that this behavior is exhibited only when led forward with the bit?
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Member:
Missa
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Posted on Monday, Sep 29, 2003 - 4:58 am:
Yes I have put a halter on underneath and even though there is no direct pressure on the bit he still reacts the same just because the bit is in.
And yes the behaviour only happens when going forward with the bit in.
Thanks again
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