OK well my horse is great, he respects me, and he's just overall my best friend!: D But, whenever I put on his bridle .... he lifts his head right UP. I've been working with him putting his head down with his halter, but when I bring his bridle out, its just UP UP UP with his head. I've heard that that means he doesn't respect me, but it seems to be the way he was trained. I don ' t know why, but it is as if he is scared of the bit, and he is a well broken nine year old horse. I've applied pressure to his poll many many times .. and no progress. Any advice?
First, work on lowering his head without trying to put on a bridle. Put pressure on his poll (in between his ears) and keep increasing that pressure, even if you have to kind of dig your fingers in (I know this sounds harsh, but this is the only way that you're going to get anywhere). When he gives and lowers his head, release the pressure IMMEDIATELY. Do this until he automatically lowers his head when you put your hand up there, but be careful as to not make him head shy in the process (take turns with desensitizing the area, and trying to lower his head, ie. approach and retreat, but only after you have the lowering down). It is crucial that you don't take the pressure away, and in fact, you should keep increasing it until he gives and lowers his head.
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Another thing, is that you need to make sure that when putting on and taking off halters or bridles that you always make sure his head is tipped towards you. If it's not, then he has the leverage to be able to throw his head up more easily, and he will also be more likely to bolt when putting him out to pasture.
* Edit *- As Like a Fox said, you should have him evaluated medically before proceeding with any of the above corrections.
It could less to do with respect and more to do with tooth pain, resistance is often a sign, if you haven't had them floated recently it could be the cause.
Have the dentist check them anyway, it would be best to eliminate any issues. While he may seem fine, he could quite easily have some sharp teeth.
You do know that most horses need their teeth floated every year or so. When I got my mare she was three and had never had her teeth floated. The vet showed me the inside of her mouth and her teeth had been digging into her cheeks leaving deep red indentations. It was awful. I have her teeth checked yearly now.
try putting applesauce on the bit, that's how my horse learned to accept the bridle well
You could get a piece of small strong cord or rope and make a loop that would be long enough to go over his jaws and behind his ears, make two half knots on it about where the brow band would be and make a lot of knots across the top part and tie a piece for the brow band. Slip it on before you try to put the halter on and take him out to the arena or corral and tie a piece of rope to the bottom of tha part that is around his neck and tie it to the bottom of his cinch make it quite loose and long line him a little make him stop and back, be carefull not to tighten it too fast. work him till you can tighten it a little at a time down so he will walk around with his neck straight level with his withers and not fight it be sure to stop and back him a lot. Then start working, petting and handling his face and mouth and give him treats when he will let you. Do not get in a rush to try and put the bridle on till he is comfortable with you handling his mouth and quits trying to throw his head up.
I used to turn so my back was to the horse and have his head coming over my right shoulder, then hold the bridle in my right hand while putting that hand on his nose halfway his nostrils and eyes, then putting the bit in with my left hand in while pulling down lightly on his nose with the right. I admit I have used some grain to feed him too before I started putting the bit in. I was able to get even a very headshy horse to take the bit and keep his head down when I did it that way; I always felt it was less of a challenge to the horse to have his head over my shoulder than to face him directly. Yeah I know, they aren't supposed to eat with a bit in their mouth, so I just clean the bit after I ride.
Some horses don't like the 'clanking' of the bit on their teeth and he may be just trying to avoid that. Teach him to open his mouth just with his halter on by pressing with your finger on his bottom lip at the bar of his mouth on your side. After he is doing that consistently, warm the bit in water, ask him to open his mouth (may need a stool nearby if he raises his head again) and be SURE not to let it touch his teeth. Eventually he will learn to open his mouth wide and if you never touch his teeth with the metal, he will also be easier to teach to keep his head down. Just one possibility . Could also try bridling him with a bitless headstall for a few days, warm your bit, and get snaps to clip it on either side as you put it on, he may not be as likely to raise his head if the headstall is already on . Again, over time you won't have to do that anymore. Just remember, if it is not a respect issue, then he is just trying to communicate to you that something about it is bothering or hurting him and it's up to us to figure it out.
