Wednesday December 18, 2019

Greetings!
Question 

My horse has difficulty taking the bit. It was recommended by someone that I use a bitless bridle for her, but I don’t know how to use one and no one will help me. They will only help with a bit. My horse has never bitten, reared, bucked or been difficult in any way. She just gets very scared of the bit.

Answer 

I sympathize with the problem you are having. Horses often come to me in the same condition you have outlined in your question. I will never understand how professional horsemen can feel that violence and brutality can solve the condition you have described. This behavior is one of the few where I recommend a food substance.

I place honey first on a stick and ask the horse to take the stick in the mouth, licking the honey off. I then put honey on a bit with no bridle and repeat the process. Before long, the horse will follow me around and attempt to put the bit on himself. I have had good outcomes from this process.

Often horses become fearful when they hear the sound of metallic bits. In such cases Mylar or Happy Mouth bits are quite effective. These are made from a plastic-type substance that will take the honey quite well. The honey taste will remain on the soft mouthpiece, and you can put it on and take it off many times with your horse still experiencing the taste of the honey.

Note that it is quite possible to work without a bridle on the bit. It is easiest to work with the bit as a solo object, without reins either. Get in a mood to have fun with this. I recommend that you work with your horse in a box stall (loose box). If you put the horse’s tail in a safe corner, then it is easier to approach the muzzle area. Don’t be forceful with the honey-coated stick; start by putting it in the corner of the mouth and on to the tongue. Continue this work until you can pass it through the front teeth and on to the tongue so that the horse tastes the honey.

Experience is always valuable in these areas. I would like you to realize that with my decades of work with horses I can take the most difficult sort and cause him to reach out consciously to take the bit in two or three sessions of forty-five minutes to one hour. When you can achieve this level of acceptance from your horse, it is fun. When it is fun, it happens faster and more effectively.

Wherever a bitless bridle can be advantageous to the horse owner, I recommend using the Dually halter . It can serve as a normal halter and is invaluable for educating the horse. It comes complete with its own DVD to help you in learning to use it.

Sincerely,
MONTY ROBERTS' ONLINE UNIVERSITY
THIS WEEK'S EPISODE
UPCOMING EVENTS    
USA
June 21 to 23, 2019: The Movement 2020 at Flag Is Up Farms in California
USA
New date to be determined:  CHA Equine Facility Manager Certification  at Flag Is Up Farms
THE MONTY ROBERTS INTERNATIONAL LEARNING CENTER
March 6 to 8, 2020 Horse Sense and Healing
TEMPLE GRANDIN & MONTY TOGETHER IN JUNE
ONLINE PRODUCT REVIEW
From Corral W., Verified Buyer

A Truly Gifted Man
"I was amazed to see the demonstration of Monty’s method to train wild horses. He has a true gift of communicating with God’s creatures. I am now looking forward to reading his book."


 
MONTY'S CHALLENGE

Test yourself each week as I challenge you to answer the question below. I mean this. Sit down and write an answer. Don't wait for my answer next week. If you have been reading my Weekly Questions and Answers for the last six months, you should be in a position to do this. Send your answer to my team at:  askmonty@montyroberts.com  
 
Why should you bother? Because it will help you focus. There is probably a comparable question in your life that needs answering... or will be. If you can gain insight into how to go about answering a practical question that is loosely related to your problem, this exercise will help you answer your nagging question. Then read my answer. I want all of my students to learn to be better trainers than me.That's good for you and good for horses! 
 
~ Monty 
  
NEXT WEEK'S QUESTION

Why do you do your Join-Up demonstrations using an English saddle and never a Western? Is that why lots of cowboys think Join-Up is for dressage queens?

“Horseback Archery is basically riding your horse at speed, without hands on the reins, and not looking where you are going!” says Judy Osborn as she describes the thrill of horseback archery. And Dr. Juliet Getty, equine nutritionist shares about pain management from a nutritional approach. Drugs that treat pain come with the real risk of ulcer development. There are much better ways to deal with this.