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  Discussion on War bridles
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Posted on Tuesday, Jun 13, 2000 - 2:57 pm:

Hello. I have a yearling filly (appendix quarter horse) she is lovely 99% of the time. However, when she decides that she really doesnt want to do something then we have a major mule session. She is never aggresive or nasty and is not being asked to do anything she hasnt already done before. For example we have shown her since the begining of the year and I have been the only one trailering her. Two weeks ago she decided not to get in the trailer. She wasnt scared, just stubborn. After three hours of bribing, cajoling and finally getting the whip out she went on. The next day she just walked right on again. Somebody suggested a war bridle because it would teach her to give when asked. Any comments or suggestions. PS She is handled all the time and has been shown in halter and yearling longe line.

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 13, 2000 - 6:34 pm:

Hi Marsha,
I'm glad you got things sorted out with your filly; she sounds very nice. A couple of things come to mind here, more thoughts than concrete suggestions... It's tempting to feel that once you've already done something with a horse they should continue to do it the same way from that point on, but the fact is that we're dealing with sentient beings who, like us, are subject to variations of mood and physical comfort. There is no reason, as far as I know, that our horses don't sometimes have days of just not feeling well. This might not have been the case, but if so I'd try to recall what the hauling experience had been like the time *before* the time she took so long to load; had it been a long trip? Hot temperatures? A different trailer? A different driver? An unfamiliar or intimidating hauling mate? Anything at all that was different about the hauling or the experience AT that show? You get the idea. Three hours is a pretty long time for her to resist something she's willingly done in the past; it makes me think that something about either the trailer or the destination had attained an unpleasant connotation for her. Are you pretty laid-back once at the show, or do you tend to be stressed out?

Since you asked for our thoughts on the war-bridle, here goes: I'd sure avoid that. The idea that the war-bridle teaches a horse to give when asked is false---it's your hands (specifically your recognition of a try and your instant release) that do that. The war-bridle does nothing you can't do with a plain ol' halter, but it does create discomfort when tightened, which is distracting at best. Of even more concern, you may create a filly who will worry about loading. If you're going to continue to show her much, you sure want to avoid having anything unpleasant associated with the trailer. I showed a halter mare a few years ago and was doing a lot of state-to-state hauling in the hottest part of the summer. I really worked hard at keeping her comfy on the road, and keeping her feeling good about the trailer at home, by feeding her in it several times a week.

It's sounds like you've got a great start with her already, and she'll be a really nice mare for you.

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 13, 2000 - 10:07 pm:

Thanks Amy It could be just a bad day and I will keep that in mind when we go at this again. The only different thing was that I brought my pony to the show as well and maybe he was a little uptight. As for me usually I stay extremely relaxed at a show. Hopefully we wont have too many more problems with her.
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