PUTTING ON THE BRIDLE

Hi, I was weondering if anyone could help or they may have problems when putting on the bridle?

My horse swings his head around but as soon as it's on he is fine!

Can anyone suggest what the problem may be?

Many thanks

There are several things that can cause it. Maybe his teeth hurt (needs them floated). Are you banging his teeth when you put the bit in and take it out? That can make a horse not want to take the bit. I keep a horse cookie in the same hand with the bit. When the bit goes in so does the cookie. I've really cut back on my cookie giving so this is the only time she gets one. She practicly grabs the bit and puts it on herself I know that's a quick fix but it works for me.

I moved your post to the training section. You will probably get more responses there.

Thanks a lot, I wondered how to do that!

Is he swinging his head and then goes into a headset fine? Could you explain your situation a little more? Another thing: HOW are you asking for the headset?
The first thing that popped into my head was: are you see-sawing your hands, or have you ever? (moving your hands back and forth like a saw)

He allows the bit in fine but then as soon as you go up to the ears he swings his head from side to side and up and down and you have to put it over his ears while he is swinging it about and then when it's on he is fine, when you say see-saw my hands what do you mean???????

WOW! Now I feel dumb! I thought you meant getting your horse "on the bridle" as in, in a headset... not the actual physical application of the bridle!!
Some horses hate having a bridle put on. Here are some tips:
- check the teeth and see if they need floating; if the bit is banging on un-floated teeth, it may hurt
- hold the bridle above the nose rather than above the ears, this way you can control the nose (like at 0:25 of this video, but instead of already having the headstall on, you would hold the rest of the headstall in your right hand http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuXSp76hq9U ) Then keep a grip on his nose while you bring the bridle up and over the ears.
- Make sure you can touch his ears all over without putting a bridle on.
- Make sure the bit isn't too tight in his mouth, it might hurt while you bring the headstall up.

Hopefully this helped!

Sorry, I didn't explain that well in the first one!! I am having his teeth rasped soon and also I will get the vet to check his ears!! Thanks for that info, his bit is fitting ok, the girl who had him previous really used to pull on his mouth during riding, so Maybe I should put the bit in his mouth first wait until he has settled and then try it over the ears she if that helps!