My horse...won't let me put saddle/bridle on?

OKay, my horse, rosie, dances whenever i try to put the saddle on her. I eventually get it on but it is a major pain in the butt! Also, she raises her head whenever i try to put the bridle on. When i take the saddle off, she is fine. But when i take the bridle off, she raises her head up so that the bit gets caught in her teeth! It is such a pain that i almost dread riding her because she does all this stuff when i try to put her tack on and off. What can i do to train her not to do this?

My horse...won't let me put saddle/bridle on?
Here is what I do...Don't just put the saddle on %26amp; cinch it up everytime. Make everything you do a lesson for her. Set the saddle on her %26amp; when she finally stands still take it off. Repeat the process soon she will realize that standing still will get the saddle removed. Keep doing this everytime you saddle her it may take a few weeks but she will get better at standing there. This is just an approach %26amp; retreat method, it usually works. Soon you will just walk up saddle her %26amp; go. Now for the bridle.....you need to teach her to lower her head %26amp; keep it there. I normally do this from the horses left side...start by pinching her on the top of the head between her ears..I know people are gonna have a fit , but this works. Apply as much pressure as needed to get her to lower her head. Don't keep pinching as she lowers ..the idea is she gets an instant reward when she moves her head lower. It won't take long %26amp; you won't even have to pinch. Most horses learn this in a day or two. Once she will keep her head low start petting her face with the bridle in your hand but don't try to put it on. As she gets more %26amp; more comfortable with this add to it by slipping the bridle 1/4 of the way on then 1/2 way ..etc.etc. It all takes time for her to learn. It is really hard to describe how to do this all the right way...it's better if you can see it. But I hope this gives you a general idea.
Reply:My horse used to do the same thing and someone told me to bribe her with carrots. The little mini ones are best because you can fit a whole bunch in your pockets. Have a carrot in your hand through each step and hopefully it will help you. Eventually my horse stopped being notty and I only needed one carrot for reward after the whole process.
Reply:I had the same problem (but much much worse) with my old mare. A lot people suggested the lickity bit things that you put on the bit. They taste good to the horse and are supossed to help with bridling. I think they have them for sell on ww.chicksaddlery.com
Reply:First you need to make sure the saddle fits, horses dont dance around on a whim because they dont want to be saddled. Its usually pain induced and you need to get her checked out, or your going to get hurt. simply because she will get fed up with it sooner or later and start the bucking.





When you put on a bridle you push on their poll (behind the ears.) so i would work on bending. Make sure the bit isnt hitting her teeth and that the bit is warm when you put it in. No horse wants a cold bit on a cold winter day.





Im pretty sure its pain. So first get her checked out and then ask this question again.





EDIT: you cant just say its not pain. Are you in her shoes? no. did you have a chiro out? i dont know. have one out.
Reply:you need to make tacking up more comfortable for her. something may have happened in the past that has made her skittish. do things very slow and speak to her in a calming voice. moving slowly as you put on the saddle, as soon as she moves or raises her head stop and just hold the saddle there until she calms down and stands still then keep going and repeat if she moves again. she will eventually learn that it's not scary and that you are listening to her. same thing with the bridle. stand and pet her and massage her face before putting it on to relax her and then do the same thing that you did with the saddle. if these techniques do not work then she is just being stubborn and doesn't want to be rode so lunge her first without tack to let her know she is going to be excersised anyways. it is hard to tell exactly what the problem is without seeing her personally.





i hope one of these things work for you


good luck








ps- do not do the carrot thing, horses should not be able to eat when they are tacked up, they could choke and its just a good rule to have because when theres grass below them you don't want them constantly trying to eat while working. eating and working is separated.
Reply:Are you sure you have the bridle adjusted properly? Are you sure your blanket and girth are clean. If so, you must convince your horse that it's going to happen and it might as well take the easy route.
Reply:every time she raises her head and gets the bit caught in her teeth , it hurts. so she is probally thinking its better if it does't go on. try putting the bridle on without the bit, let her get used to it going off an on with no teeth banging pain. are you putting it on properly? get someone taller to help.


saddle wise , its either hurting her back or she's putting the two things together in her head as ''pain'' .


get your tack checked over by a saddler . or l hate to say it but it may be just the way your going about it that she does't like.
Reply:I rode this horse and she used to dance when u tried to put the bridal on. But she didn't if you just threw the reins over her neck. I don't know any thing about the saddle part.
Reply:I would get her checked by the vet. The sign of that is either of a bad memory, or the saddle doesnt fit and causes her pain. The bridle, also could be a bad memory. Someone could have shoved the bit on her mouth and it could have hit her teeth really hard. She could have an ear fungus.
Reply:if you had a piece of round plastic stuck in your mouth would you feel it there ??????????????
Reply:My horse used to do a similar thing, because she was inexperience, but then stopped. She started again (and she wasn't in pain) and I found that she would only do it when I was rushing aroud. So when I was grooming her I get a cloth or something and gently put it on her back %26amp; carry on grooming. Then I worked slowly to being able to groom her with one hand with the saddle in the other, eventually being able to put the saddle on without her stressing. She's never a pain with her bridle, but I try not to touch her ears with it as much as possible. Good luck!

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