Posted 2018-06-20 8:54 AM Subject: Horse freaks when removing bit
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 599
Fairly recently, my horse has started to freak out when I remove her bit. Her eyes widen and she throws her head up and will back up if she can....while holding onto the bit with her head way in the air.
I had her teeth checked. She did have a baby tooth kind of hanging that the vet removed, and floated her even though there were no big signs of something causing pain.
She takes the bit perfectly fine. It’s not a problem with her ears (as some have asked). She is handled daily and has a fly mask put on and removed daily. She doesn’t drop feed.
This started about a month ago so it has to be SOMETHING! Any suggestions for me to look into?
ETA I don’t drop the bit having it bang her teeth - I wait for her to open her mouth.
Posted 2018-06-20 9:11 AM Subject: RE: Horse freaks when removing bit
A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354 Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas
Do you have a video of this? Sounds like this horse has had her teeth banged /bumped a few times by a bit. I would like to see how this horse takes a bit and release the bit when the bridle is being taken off.
Posted 2018-06-20 9:14 AM Subject: RE: Horse freaks when removing bit
A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354 Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas
And another thing I have seen too is sometimes the curb chain/strap is to tight and will cause a bit to hang in the mouth when the horse is trying release the bit causing it to hit teeth.
Posted 2018-06-20 9:17 AM Subject: RE: Horse freaks when removing bit
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 599
Southtxponygirl - 2018-06-20 10:11 AM
Do you have a video of this? Sounds like this horse has had her teeth banged /bumped a few times by a bit. I would like to see how this horse takes a bit and release the bit when the bridle is being taken off.
Posted 2018-06-20 10:07 AM Subject: RE: Horse freaks when removing bit
A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354 Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas
dRowe - 2018-06-20 9:17 AM
Southtxponygirl - 2018-06-20 10:11 AM Do you have a video of this? Sounds like this horse has had her teeth banged /bumped a few times by a bit. I would like to see how this horse takes a bit and release the bit when the bridle is being taken off.
I can get a video tonight!
That would be better, its kinda hard to say something about a problem that could be the problem if you cant see the problem, lol hope you understood what I was trying to say..
Posted 2018-06-20 10:17 AM Subject: RE: Horse freaks when removing bit
Elite Veteran
Posts: 966 Location: Loco,Ok
What is the mouthpiece made of. Stainless steel and chrome will dry out their mouth and it will stick to the tongue and lips. Sweet iron will not a little copper helps. If its mixed with the sweet iron. Every bit we have is sweet iron. It hurts.
Posted 2018-06-20 11:00 AM Subject: RE: Horse freaks when removing bit
Peat and Repeat
Posts: 2773 Location: IN MY OWN LITTLE WORLD AT LEAST THEY KNOW ME HERE
Suggestion-
When removing bridle.
Stand to the side of her neck n head.
Put your r hand over the top of head between the ears,
It’s ideal if she will lower her head n will w pressure of your r hand/wrist on her head. Easy n slight pressure n release. Repeat.
Ahhh that’s another exercise all by itself.
Sometimes it takes a little bit for trust to come from them.
Take headstall in that hand. (R)
Put left hand under the mouth open palm on mouth
“Slowly” slide head stall over ears n hold in front of ears n lower it till she starts to drop the bit.
And allow “her to release the bit” into your hand.
*if she gets a little flustered? Then just pause/Freeze n let her relax n know ur not gonna hurt her mouth.
Then ease bridle straight down
When she drops it then lower the headstall n take it away slowly.
AGAIN-Don’t pull it away from her but allow her to drop the bit straight down.
I always allow them to release.
Patience n slow
May take a few goes but trust will revisit y’all ;0)
Posted 2018-06-20 11:49 AM Subject: RE: Horse freaks when removing bit
Too Skinny
Posts: 8009 Location: LA Lower Alabama
Yakima - 2018-06-20 11:00 AM Suggestion- When removing bridle. Stand to the side of her neck n head. Put your r hand over the top of head between the ears, It’s ideal if she will the. Lower her head. Sometimes it takes a little bit for trust to come from them. Take headstall in that hand. Put left hand under the mouth open palm on mouth “Slowly” slide head stall over ears n hold in front of ears n lower it till she starts to drop the bit And allow “her to release the bit” into your hand Then ease bridle straight down When she drops it then lower the headstall n take it away slowly. AGAIN-Don’t pull it away from her but allow her to drop the bit straight down. I always allow them to release. Patience n slow
I stand by the shoulder and ask them to bend to me (it helps them lower their head) and I remove it from the ears while keeping it held up in the mouth then slowly drop it to allow them to release it on their own. I also keep my chin straps looser so they dont tend to grab anything. Double check you didnt rip any whiskers or knock her teeth once or twice.
Horse freaks when removing bit
