How do you get a horse to open it's mouth for the bit?

Answer 1

to get your horse to take the bit, put your fingers in its mouth behind its teeth. you could also try giving it a treat then slipping the bit in. if it is winter, you may want to warm the bit in your hands first, as horses do not like taking a cold bit. hold the crownpiece, or headstall, of the bridle, and press your free hand against the bit. Stick your thumb through the ring of the bit and into the horse's mouth (behind the teeth). push up on the upper gum a little and slide the bit in, pulling up on the crownpiece. slip the crownpiece over the ears and- ta-da!

Answer 2

Well there are several things you can try. First you want to make sure that the bit isn't cold. Ponies mouths are very sensitive to cold and that could be part of his problem. Second you could try covering the bit with honey or molasses to sweeten it and make him want to take it. Third you could try feeding him a handful of grain as you put the bit in his mouth, but only a small handful as its hard for them to chew when they have the bit in their mouth. If they simply wont open their mouth, stick your finger in their interdental space and press on their tongue and that should make him open his mouth. Hope this helps!

Answer 3

Taking your outside rein, hold it firmly for a few seconds while moving your fingers on the inside rein. Do not pull or tug your hand, just move your fingers as if massaging the horse's mouth. Your outside rein should be used to control the acceptance of the bridle. After doing so, soften (relax) for a few seconds, then ask again. Make sure that your horse is moving forward. It is easier to start asking while in a walk, then move up to a trot, then finally a canter.

Answer 4

It depends on what type of bit you use and if you use it correctly. If you are using a Polo bit or a Mullen Mouth bit you can pull harder then if you use something like a Waterford. If you use something like a Waterford and pull to hard, it could hurt the horses mouth and they will not eat. The horse will perform better, but it will hurt your horse. When you use a Polo or Mullen Mouth, the horse will will not get hurt and you can pull pretty hard. Then the horse will perform what you want without getting hurt.

Also if your horse is trained to take the bit, it will take it. But sometimes you still have to stick your thumbs in the space between their front teeth and their back teeth. With a little pressure your horse will open up.

If your horse isn't traines. You will need help.

YouTube.com/cavallopedagogue she knows ALL the answers!!

Answer 5

I am 12 years old and all I can tell you is that a horse bit is a piece of riding equipment that helps you control the horse by its mouth. if someone tied a string to a piece on your mouth and pulled to the left from behind you, it would pull your head to the left, and in a horses case cause you to walk left.

Answer 6

Sometimes coating it in something good tasting will help. But you might want to look further. maybe the bit hurts the horse. do you pull excessively on the reins? when was the last time your horse had its teeth checked? Is the bit a harsh bit? Or just a snaffle? I ride my horses bit-less in a bosal or even their halters, and they like that more than a bridle with a bit. If you compete in English so you need a normal bridle, check out the bitless bridle. Its a bitless English looking bridle.

You could also stick your finger in the SIDE of his mouth where the bit would lie (there shouldn't be teeth their. if there is, then that's probably your problem) and that should get the horse to open its mouth.

Answer 7

You should do this gradually. A young horse must learn to accept a bit as something normal and natural to have in its mouth, and this won't happen overnight. The horse must learn how to swallow saliva with a foreign object in its mouth. To facilitate this, a trainer will slowly introduce a mouthing bit, for just a few minutes at first and slowly building, until the horse no longer objects to it.

Answer 8

you stick you two pointer fingers in the side of the horses mouth and then stick it in their slowly