What is your opinion on a D-ring snaffle for a 17 year old Quarter horse that likes to throw his head up .....

When you go to bit him. I have studied with the John Lyons seminar and I was wondering if molasses on the bit would help with this problem. I can't get the bit up and over his teeth and he rears even after a lathering lounge.Other than that he is quick to please. Any suggestions ????? Please note: this horse has not been bitted since 5 years of age so I am basically starting all over with the ground work and he gets out there and does his leads and voice commands great!

What is your opinion on a D-ring snaffle for a 17 year old Quarter horse that likes to throw his head up .....
You have to be very patient and, yes, I think that the molasses would help and the bit that you mentioned is probably just fine.
Reply:if he doesnt like bits that much try using a hackamore on him.
Reply:I agree with the hackamore. After all at 17 he hasn't got a whole lot of time left! Are you attempting to ride him? Why? Could be a bad tooth or a problem with his tongue.
Reply:Make sure he's had his teeth done, and if he has, I would think that he has had some rough handling around his mouth in the past. A D ring snaffle is gentle on his mouth, but thats not what he's worried about. He doesn't want it touching his teeth.





Get it to where you can put your fingers in his mouth without him getting worried. You do this by rubbing his muzzle slowly- he'll try to avoid you, but keep the contact on until he stops avoiding you. When he stops, move your hands away. Wait three seconds and try again. Eventually he'll figure out that if he stands still he gets what he wants- you leaving his mouth alone.


Then, very gently, put your fingers in through the corners of his mouth. You might need to do the "approach and retreat" method again, but eventually he won't fuss about it at all.





Get the bridle and hold it up. Keep it there until he brings his head down, then move it away. Wait three seconds and bring it back. He'll shove his head in the air, when he brings it down, move it away. Once he doesn't move his head up any more with the bridle in front of his face- very VERY GENTLY- put the bit in his mouth. Don't use it to direct him just yet, get him used to it being in his mouth first. Then, try some long reining (lunging with the long lines running from both sides of the bit, through the D rings, to your hands, to see how he handles the pressure on his mouth. Make sure that he is used to the lines sitting on his hocks first- it saves you from being kicked while he's trying to react to two things at once.





I can not emphasise enough that you need to be extremely gentle. You want to prove him wrong- that the bit isn't going to hurt him, and that he can trust you. Might I suggest getting a bit that is rubber coated at first? This way if you do accidentally hit his teeth, he won't say " See, I told you, it does hurt!!!", and you have to start again.





This does take time and endless patience, especially since he's had twelve years to think about how much he hates the bit, but it's really worth it. Once you've shown him, he'll be like " Oh, this boss of mine is sooo cool, they taught me not to be afraid".





I've done this with a abused horses in the past and it worked well.





Good Luck, hope it goes well.
Reply:If he hasn't been bitted since 5 years of age, I would take a very close look at his teeth before I placed anything in his mouth.





Teeth sharp? My mare would do the same and I addressed it to my vet. He took a look at her and looked at me and said "no wonder why. This mare needs floated". meaning, her teeth are sharp and need filed. She has an underbite and the way she grinds her teeth down are abnormal. Wise to check up on that just incase their is a problem.





Another thing is behavior. Inserting a bit in your mouth, I would image you be throwing your head too.





What I do is take the top of my bridle in my right hand and place my right hand inbetween my horse's ears at the poll. I would gently ask for them to lower it. If your horse is tall, get a step chair or have someone help you don't fall and injure yourself. I sometimes get on my truck's gate to do my oldest gelding. I'm a shortie and he is a tall horse. He doesn't back up or anything. Very sound. So, go with your best judgment.





I take my left hand at the left corner of the bit and adjust it so the bit is touching the lips of the horse, but not placing pressure to ask the horse to open. Usually after the horse's head goes up and down for abit and you not asking to open, the horse would mellow and stay still. (be stubburn at this point).





I would take my left hand and at the corner of the mouth, I would insert my finger where no teeth is present and tickle his tongue. Once he starts to open, I would place the bit in as his mouth is opening licking with tongue. I would place it in gently to not cause injury to teeth or gums.





Might take a few times, but usually I get it with in a few mins once I work on it.





The more I try to force the bit aggressivly, the more my horse get upset and can cause injury to their mouths.





I would also buy sweet iron, which is sweet. I bought a sweet iron D ring a few years ago and my gelding loved it.





sometimes I would place some apple juice or carrot juice on it. Sometimes I would put carrot or apple juice in brand, then place some brand on the bit. Unless I had a smart horse who know what I was doing, they usually took it.





Depends on the horse and their soundness.





I do think to switch from hackamore and D-ring bit until he is able to take at the bit. Especially in training purpose's. That helps him in stress and possible fear of the bit. I had an 8 year old gelding who would freak out when seeing a bit. So, I switched so he wouldn't get conditioned to bit=ride all the time. Or I would get the bit out, but only carry it so he didn't freak out thinking bit=ride either. (green broke in my view point and believe he was abused prior to the women buying him).