My sons pony wont let us put his bridle and bit on?

Pepsi is a stuborn 10year old shethlandXWelsh Cob, we have him on loan for our 8 year old son, the previous "owners" could place the bit and briddle on him no problem, but we cannot, previously aftr a lot of coaxing i could get it on him, but now he just plain refuses to wear it, and bucks, pulls etc to get away from me. His teeth and mouth have been checked and are ok. we can saddle him up no problem and my son can "ride" him with one of us holding the lead rope, pepsi then is very obedient and works well, but has soon ans he sees the briddle he is off on one.

My sons pony wont let us put his bridle and bit on?
It is most likely he knows he have get the better of you. It may take you some time working with him for him to unlearn this behaviour but the secret is to be consistent. What I would do is:


1. Put him in crossties. (If you don't have them work with him in a stall or paddock or safety tie him up)


2. Slide the halter off his nose and push the headpiece over his head so that its around his neck. Now he will be tied up still so you don't have the worry about him getting away from you.


3. Set him up as you normally would of the bridle. Place the bridle over his nose then don't move. From you information above he will be freaking out by now. Just hold onto him. Talk softly to him until he stops moving. Make no move to put the bridle on him and don't let go of his head.


4. He will at some point calm down (he's not a green horse, this isn't new for him but it may take awhile depending on how stubborn he is. Once he has calmed down move to put the bridle on. Move slowly and talk to him (I usually click my tongue). Ask him to open. If he freaks out again stop and wait for him to calm.


5. Put on the bridle. Once you have it on tell him what a good boy he is and proceed like this tantrum never happened.





The secret is to not to get frustrated and not to allow him to get his way. Be slow, sure and confident in you movements. Good Luck!
Reply:Well he knows a soft touch when he see one....I dislike ponies for that very reason.Once they know what they can get away with you have the very devil to pay to set it right.


My suggestion runs along the line of





Ask


Tell


Promise
Reply:he may just be a stuborn lazy little shetland! however i had a simalar problem with my old horse we tryed alot of things like holding a treat next to the bit while placing it into the mouth so he will open his mouth to eat the treat and you can place the bit in when hes taking the treat this is quite good as its also rewarding him for doing it by giving him a treat but then he may get pushy and bite for treats all the time like my horse started to do so we switched to puting the bit in warm water before placing it in her mouth because if the bit is cold, then he wont want a cold metal bit put in his mouth! this worked for my old horse so i hope it helps for yours!
Reply:Does he have problems with his halter on and off? If he does, work with him with that, or put his halter on and off more, and reward him. Also, can you put the bridle on over the halter for more control? What type of bit are you using? Is it too severe? Is the equipment the same that the owners were using? I think he is trying you guys out and is smarter than you. Look at the equipment if it is something new and make sure it doesn't hurt him or scare him. He shouldnt be acting that way unless he had a bridle accident with you? Maybe being tied in cross ties by his bridle, maybe being pulled on too hard with the bit, maybe running off and stepping on the reins and getting pulled down. There is a lot that could have happened. Why not saddle him, let your son ride him with a halter?
Reply:Hmmm....is he by chance in a lesson program or something? If so, the lesson kids may be hitting him in the teeth with the bit by accident...if a horse gets used to this, then obviously they'll be resistant to being bridled.





What exactly is he doing. Is he bobbing his head around and pulling it out of your reach, because this may be a sign that he's expecting something unpleasant.





Hope this helps a bit, good luck!!
Reply:Try riding him in a hackamore, bitless bridle or just a halter/lead.


The bit is most likely much to harsh for him.


If you don't feel comfortable letting him do this, ask someone else to (or you could - I don't know the size of the pony, so it's kind of hard to suggest someone) or you could put the pony on a lunge line so you have some control, and have your son ask him to go, stop and slow done, etc. then walk next to him on the lunge line while he steers the pony, say weaving through cones?


If the pony works fine like this then it is probably a bit problem.





Try riding Pepsi in a plain snaffle bit and see how he works. After riding in the snaffle a couple times he might be more willing to get his bridle put on because the bit isn't too harsh on him.
Reply:If his teeth and mouth are ok there must be something about the bridle itself that Pepsi is objecting to; or the way it's being put on. Make sure you aren't squishing his ears with a browband that's too small or banging the bit against his teeth and that the bridle fits properly.





You could try fixing a bit to the headcollar once its on (you can buy straps ) as he has obviously got the better of you on this allready, then revert to a proper bridle when he accepts this; and that you have outsmarted him!
Reply:put the pony on crossties


wash the bit with peppermint flavor toothpaste (before hand)


then slip the halter over his neck and before you put the bit in lower his head with a treat then press on his gums and slip in the bit use the treat trick a couple of times till he drops his head or things there is a treat there





hope this helps


ponies are so stubborn sometimes
Reply:Pepsi does sound like a good pony. You said you got his teeth checked but i would get a secand apinyan just in case. Horses really don't buck unless they are being hurt or in pain. The bit you are using might not be the one for him. If he calm and good when riding he should be using a d-ring snaffle. This bit is soft on their mouths. Also check if the bridle is too tight on his mouth. Does you son put the bridle on or do you?? Make sure he/you are not slaming the bridle on his front teeth. This hurts them.





If everything is fine then here is what you should do...first get a nice clean bit and bridle and put it a side. Put Pepsi in a wash rack or arena and keep a small halter on him with a lead rope attached.(when you put the bridle on the halter should be on also.) Put the reins over his head while holding the lead rope. Put the bit on the palm of you hand and show it to him. Make it touch is lip. Take your hand and put it in his mouth so you open it. put the bridle in his mouth. if he backs away turn him in a circle and do it again. When the bridle is on give him a treat and tell him he is a good boy. Do this every time you ride him.


I hope this helps!!!!!!!
Reply:hackamore? kinda like a halter, but no bit, then again no hackamore unless your son has dead quiet hands (they can be quite harsh in the WRONG hands)





Try putting one arm over the ponies nose, and slipping your thumb into his mouth, then gently slipping the bit in. don't get frustrated, or mad at him. Just keep trying and don't give up with him! you might want to try a rubber snaffle, or a French link.





If you really cant get the bridle on you can clip the lead rope to one side and tie it on the other. Not the safest, but heck if my morgan (crazy, bolts, likes to buck when shes excited etc) can handle it, I think it would be an ok quick fix for pepsi as long as your watching carefully!



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