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sorry this might be a little long!

Ok so ive got a horse that will NOT take a bit, and i need suggestions on how i can make him take it without inflicting any pain, stress, etc. on him.

here's a little info bout him and my attempts:

he is an 8 year old sorrel paso fino quarter horse mix (he is a gelding)
i ride western and i use a egg butt bit, and i have a one ear piece headstall.
he has always had a kinda short temper.

he has never had a bit that put pain on his mouth.
he is used to me riding him at times. i don't ride him as often as i like because he has bucked me off, and school and stuff like that :\

I don't always lunge him before i ride him. i have also go so frustrated i just put the reins on his halter and rode him around.

we normally have to tie him close to a tree or post and i have to grab his nose and put my hand under his chin and squeeze his mouth on the spot where there are no teeth,which makes him open his mouth. (it takes me AND my dad to do it and it takes AT LEAST 15 minutes to get it in his mouth) and IF & WHEN we get it in his mouth he is always very nervous afterwards. sometimes i get so frustrated i pop him, which doesn't always help. (i don't hit him hard i just give him a little pop to get his attention)

when we attempt to put the bit in, he always moves around, jerks his head up and down & side to side. he tries to rear sometimes, he paws the ground, and tries to paw us. we got his teeth filed down a couple of months to take away the excuse.

we have tried putting molasses on the bit like the vet suggested, but he STILL wont take it, and its very messy afterwards.

just on the side, i cant change head stalls or bits, plus when he is in the mood he will try me, and act up, and like i said before he has always had a kinda short temper.

like on a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being the shortest temperment, and 10 being the longest temperment, my horse would probably be a 4.

i hope this was enough information, and any answer will be appreciated!!! thanks!!! :)

I believe the problem is that you are frustrated with your horse not taking the bit and by being frustrated.. he recognizes this which makes him feel the same way. Forcing a horse to do something you want will never make him agreeable, it'll just piss him off more. You have to do it at His Pace. If he jerks his head he is either 1. Frustrated or 2. Having Pain in his mouth. You said you got his teeth filed down and tried molasses so I feel the problem is not that - you're just trying too fast with him. Take your time and make him feel comfortable before even trying to 'shove' a bit in his mouth. Any horse can take a bit agreeably, you just have to know how to do it properly.


I looked online and found this site so you can read about this in detail if you like: http://marvwalker.com/bridling.htm Check it out and hopefully you can figure out the solution. Good luck (:

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(Rating: 4) thx so much :D
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