How do you get a horse to take the bit?

My QH mare was Amish broke and is really sensitive to saddle. She won't take the bit. Except on some rare ocassion when she does. Does anyone know why?

I'm curious about this as well. My friend's horse was ridden in a hackamore before she bought him 2 weeks ago and she has had to fight him to get a bit in. She patiently tries to get him to take it and practices with him several times a week. Sometimes it takes 45 minutes to get him to finally take it.

Probably the leading cause for a horse to refuse or start to refuse the bit is when people take the bridle of pulling it over the ears and letting the bit drop and hit the horse's teeth before the horse has a chance to open its mouth.

Second leading cause is rough handling of the bit through the reins when riding/driving.

First off, have you checked her teeth? When was the last time she had them floated?

Second...a fruit roll up wrappeda around the bit works wonders for making them less opposed to taking it

This sounds like pain. I agree with poultrygirl: Get its teeth looked at. If that's not it, then feel around the shape of their mouth with your fingers. My mare acts the same way as your friend's horse, atreyu, when approached with a bit. She has a very low palate and if I do get the bit in her mouth, she throws a holy fit the entire time. She's bitless and works much better.

Honestly, if the horse was ridden fine in a hackamore before, why change it? If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

I was thinking of just using a hack. Cause she behaves perfectly with a halter and lead rope tied around like reins.

He just had his teeth worked on a couple days ago and is still doing. If he were mine, I would probably continue to use a hack, but she has heard they can really hurt them and could break their nose bones. So she wants him to get on a bit. And it's a very gentle, he is just being a butt and testing her I think.

Hacks break nasal bones when they're in the hands of people who don't know what they're doing. They get put down too far and yanked on, which leads to broken nasal bones. She could use a sidepull on him that still has 1:1 pressure, unlike a mechanical hackamore. That's what I use. It's basically the noseband of a rope halter attached to my headstall. In fact, Smith Bros. Has sidepull halters for $8 right now. I have one of these too that Abby's previous owner gave me with her. Smith Brothers

Given teeth are done and no pain... You have to introduce to the bit nicely and gentle. You never want to drug it out when you are done, you never want to push it in. Just stand quietly on side and ask her to take bit in. If no response, stick your finger (gently!) in corner of the mouth asking to open a mouth and again slowly and gently put the bit in looking not to hit horse's teeth. Then proceed with the rest of the bridle.

She tries that but it seems just as he is going to take it he starts tossing his head and slinging the bridle all over the place :/