My TB Gelding has had this problem since before I had him and me (Short ass, 17yr with no real experience with hard to bridle horses) Didn't really know how to deal with the situation to use to just keep trying until he gave in, which I hated because I rather work with him then against and I was suggested by a friend to watch this video, so I did and I tried this method today, it took 15 minutes and by the end of it he was excepting the bit with very little fuss at all!!! Thank-you
So much better than other modern trainers like Parelli--- I love how you figured out the basic specifics right away, like that it wasn't a "bridle problem" but a "putting things in his mouth" problem. Having Asperger's, I often notice how trainers don't see those details and it drives me crazy! Very well done, Schiller!
It is great to watch your approach and breaking it down into smaller achievable parts is a good lesson for all things that are difficult. Thanks for showing us this.
I've been learning from Warwick since 2014 when I got my first horse Bonny and discovered I didn't have the skills to help her overcome her behaviours. Since then, I've gained a new appreciation of the importance of being consistent in my handling and training. I've become more mindful of what I'm doing around my horse and more confident in my ability to teach and also to make mistakes and then undo them. This training is not just about training the horse, it's also about training yourself. I've come a long way these last six years and with the mentoring and support provided by Warwick and fellow subscribers, I've been able to build a 'toolkit' that has helped Bonny flourish, and has set me up for the successful backing of my young horse last year. This is my favourite of Warwick's TH-cam videos because it focusses on the most important thing. Whatever you are doing when you release the "pressure" is what the horse learns is the right behaviour. If you get the timing right, you build on the previous successes. Keeping this principle in mind throughout your training will set you and your horse up for success. #journeyon20 #WSPH
I used this method this weekend after watching your methods and it worked! A month ago my mare wouldn't even allow a bit less bridle, and yesterday she took the bit! It only took about two sessions to get it where I could take it on and off a dozen times. Thank you for the great vid, and helping me and my horse out.
The dental hygienist once managed to catch my lip with some join or gap or something on the polisher, cutting it open. Since then, I've had to really restrain myself when they're running that thing in my face. I rather relate to horses with bridling problems...
Excellent to see a horse trainer work with a genuine untrained horse , most horse training videos on here only use very quiet already trained horses but try and make out it is their first time . All credit to Warwick Schiller a true master horseman
I love this. THANK YOU. You are being so patient and doing all the right things so the horse is as comfortable as can be. I'm sure it will help many people and maybe change the minds of those who use force for this.
Oh I needed this so bad. I just adopted an off the track TB and it took me half an hour today to bridle him today. Guess what we are doing tomorrow now. 😛
Watching this video helped me so much with my 17 year old horse that I am training. He caught on so quickly to the snaffle using this method and even though I am currently using a training Bossel on him, I can still put the snaffle on after a long time and he takes it flawlessly. I also have to say that I tried so many different training methods on my horse and they either did nothing or they made the problems so much worse and created new ones, until I tried yours and they did miracles for my horse!!! I can't thank you enough!!! #journeyon20
Ah... Bridling issues are like the plague! The way people handle horses around the head, ears & mouth... & the way some instructors teach how to do it, create a lot of work for horse trainers to fix & then blame the horse! See & hear it all the time... Love your work Warwick!
use the same concept of pressure and release that Warwick uses in this video. only release when you get the response you want, but of course you won't get the full response right away, you'll have to be patient and take baby steps.
This is the best video on youtube! You use a horse that isn't really good with it, which is great because mine isn't either. I totally get the process and now I am sure with some time and patience we will get there! Thank you
Watching this video made me think, "this is why so many people end up having big issues with horses. Smaller ones turn into bigger, more dangerous ones." People just don't want to take the time. I don't mean that by anything you're doing, Warwick, but rather how you realized that you needed to go back to previous steps, *multiple* times, but people in general don't have that kind of patience. They want quick fixes, fast results. They're not willing to take the time it takes "now" so it doesn't become a huge problem later.
My youngster wouldn't put his bridle on even after an hour of trying yesterday as when i went to take it off last week he threw his head back and it caught his teeth, i'm going to do exactly what youve done and hope he starts to take his bit/bridle again thank you, your amazing, i love your work
Thanks Warwick. I am learning SO much from your consistent, patient approach to Everything! It's also made me notice more tries from my horses. Hope you keep on making the clips. While I already have a full subscription to your videos, I would LOVE to be able to buy dvds, and/or books. Any plans?
i was taught to bridle a horse alot different to this, we don't really use halters unless we are trailing them. So I was taught to put the reins around the horses neck so it cant pull away (because they don't live in stalls we catch them straight for the pen when they come in for morning feed), put the bridle in your left hand and put you right hand between their ears so they can't throw their head, pull the bridle up to your right hand and then use your left hand to put the bit in the horses' mouth
YES! Same! My trainer did the same thing when I was a kid and trained my pony to keep her head down super low that way too. Didn't even take very much effort. I think my pony also learned that when the hand was up top/between her ears it meant the bit going IN her mouth was also more stable and not going to bang her teeth going on. xD
This was excellent. Myhorse does everything this horse does ten fold. So I will try some of these techniques. When mine drops his head, he then shoves me with his head. I know the release techniques, but he does so many things wrong, it is hard to get to a release! But I thought this was a great video.
Ya!! come on over!! I was doing thee exact same thing with a gray.mare.. She came to me with this problem. I did everything you did except taking it away when she lowers her head. Im a small person, so ya!! just like the demonstration you did was perfect in reference to my perspective. Nice Job!!
My horse likes to swing her head all around and then smack me with it lol this has helped a lot. I'm what you guys call a green rider so I'm all new to everything
Hows she doing today? I been leasing a draft cross and he is 16.3 so its a reach for me at only 5ft when he throws his head all over. I plan to try this over the weekend
Hi im having the exact same problem with my mare ive had for 2 wks ,shes also attemted to bite me a number of times when putting her cover on or patting her. Shes 16.3hh so when she puts her head up it s impossible to get the bridle on so im going to try this method of yours. Ihavent put a saddle on her yet so ill do that first .
Sadly this is the type of thing I would get shouted at for if I tried it at any stables near me, "Stop messing with the horses head and just put it in!". *sigh*
WarwickSchiller I have only just found your videos after starting to research natural horsemanship the last couple of years. I am an animal behaviour and welfare student and seeing your work is so refreshing. Thank you for helping horses, and for helping people to help horses.
that sort of thing was happening to me, i was tightening the girth on one of the lesson horses and she bite me. I yelled at her and yanked on the halter a little bit and my trainer got mad at me.
I was 12 y.o. preparing a supposedly "trained" Hanoverian gelding for work (in a reputed German stable), had him saddled but couldn't get him to open his mouth for the bit. The minute I turned around to ask for help, he bit my left arm violently. Kept that scar over 5 years! I remember throwing that halter and bit at his head out of sheer anger (and pain) -- yeh maybe I shouldn't have, but I was also reprimanded for it! I've been questioning traditional training methods since then. So glad your video channel and others like yours have widened our understanding tremendously.
It's the conveyor belt attitude of many riding schools, sadly. Clients are in and out like they are in a sausage machine. Find somewhere that will let you get in some practice with handling the horses.
I noticed that in all the videos I've seen of horses being introduced to the bit they already were introduced to the saddle. Is there a reason why it's done that way?
I'm on a facebook group for Bitless Riders and time and time again people post that they stopped having behavioral issues with their horses once they stopped using a bit.
I ride a 16.4hh horse named Lumpy and I'm only 5.2 so he likes to act like a little angel with his head perfect and then when I get near his face with the bridle he swings his head in the air. I will try this on Monday before my lesson. I know I haven't looked but do you have any videos on how to get a horse to not try to bite you when you put his girth on... Lumpy is pretty aggressive at times.
do you have any suggestions for bridling an 18 hand horse when ur short? (5'2"). At his previous home he was manhandled into bridles and now is reluctant to put his head down so i can reach his head and bridle him
teaching him to put his head down and overcome that reluctance would be the first step. I would follow the video, start without the bridle at all and teach him to put his head down when you put your hand on top of his head, then with the bridle and taking it away as soon as his head goes down. (I'm 5'2" as well and having a step stool while you are teaching this might be helpful :p , but once he learns it you shouldn't need it as he will have learned to put his head down as part of the bridling process).
I bought my horse when he was 13. He has always refused to let me put his ears into the bridle. I have to take the bridle apart and I can't use a brow band, He is a little ear shy but i am working with him and he is getting better. how do I teach him to allow me to put his ears thru the bridle? he takes the bit without issue but pulls his head away when I get to the ear insertion.
Doesn’t look like he will have an issue for long with the correct training and 1 less thing for the horse to be anxious on. If you can take their anxiety away, why not?
Also, what am I supposed to do when I get close enough to his head so that I can work on putting the bridal on, but then he starts using me as a scratching post. We have done so much groundwork, but he still thinks he can rub on me whenever.
Have you considered meeting him in the middle and getting him a rubber-coated snaffle? You'll still have to go through the same training, but a rubber-coated snaffle will reduce the likelihood of him having a relapse if his teeth accidentally get banged with the bit by his owner.
hi i have 2 questions 1. my horse shakes his head around a bit when i take his bridal off and he tries to through his head up to what should i do to fix this? and 2. he is very girthy he will not bit or kick but he will bit and gnaw at the air even when im just touching where the girth sits if he has the saddle on he is girthy in the spot but with it off he is fine how do i fix it he is making me worried.
He clearly isn't twitching the horse's ear, hes holding the bridle up there. I am sure you, just like everyone else who has horses, will have to make sure that the bridle strap goes behind the ears. And when you slip the bridle over, you will have to touch their ears, or bend them over.
Great lesson thank you. It’s always a good reminder to stay patient. It’s hard when they’re flaying their head and body around. I wear a helmet because horses can smack you with their head.
Thanks for making this video, my horse, she is not scared of the bit its just the fact that when ever the leather parts of the bridle begin to go over her eyes, she tosses her head around. And when I go to take it off her, she puts her head up and not down :( iv tried sqeezing the pole, but she always chuckes her head back up and I don't know how to make her stop putting her head up when I take it off. what can I do?
did you rule out Problems he might've been having with his teeth beforehand? hooks, sharp edges that might bother him when taking the bit? I've encountered headshy horses that just had bad teeth maintenance... just courious about your process.
My horse won’t even let me put my hand on his face without moving around too much he’s scared of the bit because he was ridden when he needed his teeth floated so it hurt him but his teeth are floated now and idk what to do I’ve tried this but I can’t even get the bit near him without him throwing his head up (he’s also 17.1 hh) so idk what to do any body have any advice
It doesn't give the horse that impression. This horse thinks that throwing his head around will keep the bridle from being put on. Basically, he uses his size and head to manipulate the owners and keep the bit from being on. By removing the bridle when he's still, the horse figures out that throwing his head isn't going to get him away from the bridle being put on. In other words, he can't win.
What do you do when your horse won't even let you put your finger in his mouth without throwing his head? I've had his teeth floated, his wolf teeth taken out, and made sure he has nothing wrong with his head or teeth. He was super face shy when I got him, and he has gotten better, but when i even get near his teeth he freaks out. What do I do?!
Would he do the same without bit? Like a rope halter maybe he'll like that more. Just try to do it easy, work with pressure and release. If you try to do the bit in don't push it be easy like him in the video Take time for it
This is fab, but my issue is getting it over his ears. The vet said there's no pain there, but he's so sensitive around there. I couldn't even get the reins back over his head without him freaking out and nearly injuring us both and I had to undo the reins and give up :(
I wish you could come train me and my horse. He was a high strung raining horse. And broke a splint bone so he no longer does any rodeo. I bought him from an equine program at a university. He isn't worked enough I know that, and he gets more and more towards green broke with less work. We are committed to working him more, but we are both in our sixties. He's 15.3 hands maybe 16. He throws his head, he moves his mouth away, he moves forward towards me, etc. I put him in a corner when working on him like this, I've gotten him to put his head down for me, and as soon as any little pressure is applied his head will go down. But as soon as I put my hands in or near his mouth the head stuff starts. Very frustrated, but I'll keep trying. He's a beautiful quarter horse with hall of famer blood lines. But he may end up being too much for me. Addie
xxxasassin xxx we got a young horse that was terribly mouthy and bit at us incessantly in play, dominance, and defensiveness. It seemed like he would never stop but over the years those habits are mostly gone. We tried lots of different ways of dealing with it. I think it would have gone a lot quicker if we’d done some round pen work like Warwick does. Watch his videos where he works with a 3 year old warm blood stallion. Using his principles have helped us come light years with our gelding.
Just my thoughts, and in no way trying to act like a snot or be argumentative. I typically start colts with just a halter and leadrope, then progress to the bridle.But this is stuff I have dealt with too:When avoiding a problem you end up allowing the horse to start boxing you into a smaller and smaller "space". When you ride a horse that is a bit worried about your legs on his sides do you stiffen up and keep your legs off of him? Or do you help him learn to accept that feeling and be confident about it? If he's had his mouth (or nose) pulled and jerked on and is overreactive to contact on his face, you aren't going to never guide him. You would help him learn to accept contact and teach him that YOU won't yank on him. It's the same with this bridling lesson.
+L-4Ranch Horse Training I see, I was wondering this. I personally do ride with both, Did ride bitless with a rope halter for example or a halter with a leadrope and than make reins out of it. And with a bit I personally don't really do mind as long as people know what they are doing Do you prefer riding with bit or ropehalter what is better for the horse ? You seem like a friendly person. I enjoy watching your videos :)
+L-4Ranch Horse Training When l do ride and the horse is worried about something l'll give release. I sort of work with pressure and release Sort of like what you were doing with the bit. In steps. Like teaching the horse it's okay, like l am paying attention
Thank you so much! I'm glad you liked them.For the sake of discussion, I really don't want to give advice on another trainer's channel, I view the immediate spot of a horse becoming worried as a "starting point", and I won't apply more pressure then, but remain at the same level until the horse relaxes and responds in a thoughtful way, then progress from there. Consistently releasing when they're worried I have found to be a problem in some horses I've worked with.As for the bridle question, it all really depends on where the horse is at in training, what I am trying to accomplish, and how he is responding at that moment. Most of the time I actually ride in a snaffle, but I regularly swap out to a bosal, or a low ported, barrel jointed bit, or just ride in a halter sometimes.
+L-4Ranch Horse Training Sounds great, we kind of are the same to certain things. I like how you're working with the horse animal friendly that's nice! Taking the time for things. He is also a very handsome horse! :) How is he doing now? :)
Going to bitless when he has this problem is only avoiding the prob. Sure, Warwick could go bitless. If his owner decides to use a bit, what would Warwick tell them? "I'm a horse trainer but I couldn't fix that problem!" Or, say they sell the owner sells the horse. Are they going to tell the next people that "bits are bad because he doesn't like them"? Easy isn't always right, avoiding problems doesn't make them go away. There's no reason this horse can't accept a bit, as you can see in the vid.
@@WarwickSchiller yes but also if more competitions are open to people riding bitless the more people are open to finding what type of bridle might work better for their horse to be in. As not all horses do better in bitless and many don't do as well in a bits. I would just like them to be more leanant to what you choose to ride in so more people could have opportunities.
When ever I try to put the bridle on my horse she will put her head in the air there is a little door behind where you can tack them up so if I try to tack her she will back out of the barn and run around the barn for a while the go to her pasture then you have to fight her to put the bridle on!! :(
Haha u should have tried that with my horse back when he wouldn't take a bit u would have no no where my horse has broke a metal snap on his lead before and my horse is the same hight as this one. He has been that way for 5 years 1 week of just working with the bridle by putting it to his mouth and just waiting for him to open his mouth I stood there an hour with the bridle not in his mouth yet and he finnally took it and now after a week of doing that he opens his mouth when he sees the bridle in my hand
If he broke a snap on a lead he probably could have used some groundwork to help him overcome that anxiety or whatnot before trying to bridle him (and perhaps that is what you did). Sounds like overall you used the same principles as in this video though, and had the patience to stick it out rather than forcing it.
I know how to fix this problem..... don't use a bit! BOOM! WOW I AM A ROCKET SCIENTIST!! :O and here comes the little 2 years olds crying about how bits are good. BOO HOO
Why is it against the law, morally unacceptable and generally frowned upon to cause a dog or cat pain, perfectly fine to cause a horse pain? I have to wear an upper partial denture and though it was "fitted" for my mouth when I first got it, it HURT LIKE HELL! After having it fit, it was sore for ages and now it is just plain annoying. See where I'm going with this? A bit was made to cause pain. Someone that truly knows what they are doing with any animal can do so without PAIN! I adore your teachings, but this, this matter I fully disagree. You don't need it (bits and pain).
Dk, check out Shelby Dennis, her bit debate video, her video where the vet checks her horse's mouth for bit damage, and watch how her horses ride around w/ a bit in.
@@lindaandscott6616 bits are a pain device. They were made to cause pain. Even in a very gentle riders hands they are still uncomfortable. Horses are incredibly good at ignoring and becoming accustomed to pain. Bitless riding options will almost always be more comfortable for a horse when used properly. Of course, if you have rough hands, it will hurt your horse no matter what device you use.
@@haleylahaie3740 I so agree with you, Haley. How does Warwick say he feels about bits? People give many arguments about why bits are fine and that THEY themselves have soft hands. And that "MY horse Likes the bit." i don't believe it. But I also think bosals are hard on the face/nose of a horse--too rough and hard. There used to be a short ten-part film by famous international vets, called Ten Myths About Bits, who showed clinical photographs of the ripped up mouths of competitors' horses used in various horse events. The photos of the damage from bits were enough to .make one sick at heart for the horses and ashamed of the riders who put their ego-fix in the competition ring ahead of the welfare of the horses who couldn't protect themselves .One woman competitor in an event yanked and pulled that bit so hard and insistantly to keep her horses head over-collected, the tongue was finally cut in two at the point of worst digging of the bit. Can you imagine the pain to that innocent horse? It's nothing less than abuse. Another damage being done to the horses is the over-collection of the head and how it starts a poll-to-tail breakdown in the horse. But there are none so blind as those who WILL NOT see. One can do ground work to teach a horse to work and be ridden as well in a rope halter (not a stiff one) as a bridle. The international vets said that they had famous and rich clients bringing their horses to them who didn't want to be told about the pain and damage bits were doing to their horses' mouths, and because those clients were their livelihood, the vets felt they couldn't press the reality of the damage the clients were inflicting on their horses. But it got too much for the vets and they made the films. Then they shortened the film to have the most cogent information. I hope it's still up. I'll go and see.
Next ride think about horse him nervous all mouth you are rude to horse i hate bit im happy i dont use it i watch this and i see you are just rude think about horse he dont wana because he know this is pain why you dont see????!!!!😠
Best of luck holding down a 100 pound head with a 100 pound body. The point is not to *force* the horse, because some (most) people aren't physically strong enough.
+Katrina Devlin cmon, you know that dosnt always work.. Im here because I groom race horses, and my new filly gives he hell. She can easily lift my 220 lb ass off the ground.. Not to mention they can step back, throw their head into your face or pretty much all of the above at once.. What I got out of this video, was more of a sense of how a horseman makes a horse with bridal issues better, with the effect of making it easier for the horseman to bridle the horse..
My TB Gelding has had this problem since before I had him and me (Short ass, 17yr with no real experience with hard to bridle horses) Didn't really know how to deal with the situation to use to just keep trying until he gave in, which I hated because I rather work with him then against and I was suggested by a friend to watch this video, so I did and I tried this method today, it took 15 minutes and by the end of it he was excepting the bit with very little fuss at all!!! Thank-you
So much better than other modern trainers like Parelli--- I love how you figured out the basic specifics right away, like that it wasn't a "bridle problem" but a "putting things in his mouth" problem. Having Asperger's, I often notice how trainers don't see those details and it drives me crazy! Very well done, Schiller!
You've heard of Temple Grandin?
It is great to watch your approach and breaking it down into smaller achievable parts is a good lesson for all things that are difficult. Thanks for showing us this.
I've been learning from Warwick since 2014 when I got my first horse Bonny and discovered I didn't have the skills to help her overcome her behaviours. Since then, I've gained a new appreciation of the importance of being consistent in my handling and training. I've become more mindful of what I'm doing around my horse and more confident in my ability to teach and also to make mistakes and then undo them. This training is not just about training the horse, it's also about training yourself. I've come a long way these last six years and with the mentoring and support provided by Warwick and fellow subscribers, I've been able to build a 'toolkit' that has helped Bonny flourish, and has set me up for the successful backing of my young horse last year. This is my favourite of Warwick's TH-cam videos because it focusses on the most important thing. Whatever you are doing when you release the "pressure" is what the horse learns is the right behaviour. If you get the timing right, you build on the previous successes. Keeping this principle in mind throughout your training will set you and your horse up for success.
#journeyon20 #WSPH
I was searching through Warwick’s videos, looking for some tips to work with my new pinto mare, Bonny! ❤
I used this method this weekend after watching your methods and it worked! A month ago my mare wouldn't even allow a bit less bridle, and yesterday she took the bit! It only took about two sessions to get it where I could take it on and off a dozen times. Thank you for the great vid, and helping me and my horse out.
Watched a lot of trainers on the computer, your definatey one of the best and easiest to understand. Thanks
The dental hygienist once managed to catch my lip with some join or gap or something on the polisher, cutting it open. Since then, I've had to really restrain myself when they're running that thing in my face. I rather relate to horses with bridling problems...
@Barrett Deangelo Nice bot reply.
@Archer Phillip Don't hack into private accounts you piece of shit.
This is the one!After 2yrs of struggle,day 3 and my horse is practically asking me to put it on!.Thank you so much.xx
Excellent to see a horse trainer work with a genuine untrained horse , most horse training videos on here only use very quiet already trained horses but try and make out it is their first time . All credit to Warwick Schiller a true master horseman
I love this. THANK YOU. You are being so patient and doing all the right things so the horse is as comfortable as can be. I'm sure it will help many people and maybe change the minds of those who use force for this.
my 17.3hh gelding had terrible manners before bridling, but now within acouple of days hes he improved with patience :)
Oh I needed this so bad. I just adopted an off the track TB and it took me half an hour today to bridle him today. Guess what we are doing tomorrow now. 😛
Great video! Very helpful to demonstrate with the problem horse as opposed to with an already trained horse. Thank you.
Watching this video helped me so much with my 17 year old horse that I am training. He caught on so quickly to the snaffle using this method and even though I am currently using a training Bossel on him, I can still put the snaffle on after a long time and he takes it flawlessly. I also have to say that I tried so many different training methods on my horse and they either did nothing or they made the problems so much worse and created new ones, until I tried yours and they did miracles for my horse!!! I can't thank you enough!!! #journeyon20
I am so glad that I found this one again.
Ah... Bridling issues are like the plague! The way people handle horses around the head, ears & mouth... & the way some instructors teach how to do it, create a lot of work for horse trainers to fix & then blame the horse! See & hear it all the time... Love your work Warwick!
This is FANTASTIC ...makes so much sense , thanks Warwick. will try this on a new horse :)
Thank you so much! I have three Arabians that needed me to learn this!
Marvelous example of using patience with a horse that has obviously been mishandled in the past.
My mare always gave me a difficult time bridling. Watched this video, did it just this way, and got the same great result!!! Thank you!!!! ❤️
use the same concept of pressure and release that Warwick uses in this video. only release when you get the response you want, but of course you won't get the full response right away, you'll have to be patient and take baby steps.
This has been the best video on bridling a difficult horse! Thank you for your insight and tips. I am going to go out and work on bridling my boy now.
This is the best video on youtube! You use a horse that isn't really good with it, which is great because mine isn't either. I totally get the process and now I am sure with some time and patience we will get there! Thank you
You are amazing, I love your videos and you make such a difference.
Watching this video made me think, "this is why so many people end up having big issues with horses. Smaller ones turn into bigger, more dangerous ones." People just don't want to take the time.
I don't mean that by anything you're doing, Warwick, but rather how you realized that you needed to go back to previous steps, *multiple* times, but people in general don't have that kind of patience. They want quick fixes, fast results. They're not willing to take the time it takes "now" so it doesn't become a huge problem later.
This is what my horse does! This is so going to be put ti good use.
This is so great. Thanks for breaking it down. Very helpful.
Well you have to think, how would you like something in your mouth especially metal.
I like this man he is very thoughtful of the horse.
My youngster wouldn't put his bridle on even after an hour of trying yesterday as when i went to take it off last week he threw his head back and it caught his teeth, i'm going to do exactly what youve done and hope he starts to take his bit/bridle again thank you, your amazing, i love your work
Thanks Warwick. I am learning SO much from your consistent, patient approach to Everything! It's also made me notice more tries from my horses. Hope you keep on making the clips. While I already have a full subscription to your videos, I would LOVE to be able to buy dvds, and/or books. Any plans?
i was taught to bridle a horse alot different to this, we don't really use halters unless we are trailing them. So I was taught to put the reins around the horses neck so it cant pull away (because they don't live in stalls we catch them straight for the pen when they come in for morning feed), put the bridle in your left hand and put you right hand between their ears so they can't throw their head, pull the bridle up to your right hand and then use your left hand to put the bit in the horses' mouth
YES! Same! My trainer did the same thing when I was a kid and trained my pony to keep her head down super low that way too. Didn't even take very much effort. I think my pony also learned that when the hand was up top/between her ears it meant the bit going IN her mouth was also more stable and not going to bang her teeth going on. xD
That's how I was taught too and haven't had any issues even with my 18 hand giant
@@ashleykerridge8776 You wouldnt have any trouble anyway , would you ?? 17 h you'd probably already be on a ladder , wouldnt you ?? hahahaha
This was excellent. Myhorse does everything this horse does ten fold. So I will try some of these techniques. When mine drops his head, he then shoves me with his head. I know the release techniques, but he does so many things wrong, it is hard to get to a release! But I thought this was a great video.
Tried this out on my mare this evening, worked great. Thank you Warwick!
+Mistivious Glad to help
You the Man!
Ya!! come on over!! I was doing thee exact same thing with a gray.mare.. She came to me with this problem. I did everything you did except taking it away when she lowers her head. Im a small person, so ya!! just like the demonstration you did was perfect in reference to my perspective. Nice Job!!
Love your videos, Warwick, great job! :)
My horse likes to swing her head all around and then smack me with it lol this has helped a lot. I'm what you guys call a green rider so I'm all new to everything
Hows she doing today? I been leasing a draft cross and he is 16.3 so its a reach for me at only 5ft when he throws his head all over. I plan to try this over the weekend
I am never lol when hit in the head..you must be one tough person.
Hi im having the exact same problem with my mare ive had for 2 wks ,shes also attemted to bite me a number of times when putting her cover on or patting her. Shes 16.3hh so when she puts her head up it s impossible to get the bridle on so im going to try this method of yours. Ihavent put a saddle on her yet so ill do that first .
Truly amazing!
Awesome vid, will try it
Sadly this is the type of thing I would get shouted at for if I tried it at any stables near me, "Stop messing with the horses head and just put it in!". *sigh*
yes, thats a common thing, forget this part and just shove the bit in, and wonder why yo have troubles later on.
WarwickSchiller I have only just found your videos after starting to research natural horsemanship the last couple of years. I am an animal behaviour and welfare student and seeing your work is so refreshing. Thank you for helping horses, and for helping people to help horses.
that sort of thing was happening to me, i was tightening the girth on one of the lesson horses and she bite me. I yelled at her and yanked on the halter a little bit and my trainer got mad at me.
I was 12 y.o. preparing a supposedly "trained" Hanoverian gelding for work (in a reputed German stable), had him saddled but couldn't get him to open his mouth for the bit. The minute I turned around to ask for help, he bit my left arm violently. Kept that scar over 5 years! I remember throwing that halter and bit at his head out of sheer anger (and pain) -- yeh maybe I shouldn't have, but I was also reprimanded for it! I've been questioning traditional training methods since then. So glad your video channel and others like yours have widened our understanding tremendously.
It's the conveyor belt attitude of many riding schools, sadly. Clients are in and out like they are in a sausage machine. Find somewhere that will let you get in some practice with handling the horses.
I noticed that in all the videos I've seen of horses being introduced to the bit they already were introduced to the saddle. Is there a reason why it's done that way?
Because I do all the groundwork in a the halter, then all the initial riding in the halter. the bit doesnt come into play until later on.
@@WarwickSchiller it makes sense. Thank you!
I'm on a facebook group for Bitless Riders and time and time again people post that they stopped having behavioral issues with their horses once they stopped using a bit.
I ride a 16.4hh horse named Lumpy and I'm only 5.2 so he likes to act like a little angel with his head perfect and then when I get near his face with the bridle he swings his head in the air. I will try this on Monday before my lesson.
I know I haven't looked but do you have any videos on how to get a horse to not try to bite you when you put his girth on... Lumpy is pretty aggressive at times.
Guineagirl59210 16’4 is 17hh
Brilliant n/m
do you have any suggestions for bridling an 18 hand horse when ur short? (5'2"). At his previous home he was manhandled into bridles and now is reluctant to put his head down so i can reach his head and bridle him
teaching him to put his head down and overcome that reluctance would be the first step. I would follow the video, start without the bridle at all and teach him to put his head down when you put your hand on top of his head, then with the bridle and taking it away as soon as his head goes down. (I'm 5'2" as well and having a step stool while you are teaching this might be helpful :p , but once he learns it you shouldn't need it as he will have learned to put his head down as part of the bridling process).
I'm a rookie and got the bit in a new horses mouth in just about 30 mins ..he's an ear shy horse as well ..qtr horse
Why did my one horse bite my girlfriend when she was grooming him .I don't get why he is so aggressive ears always back when he is approached
Really good
I bought my horse when he was 13. He has always refused to let me put his ears into the bridle. I have to take the bridle apart and I can't use a brow band, He is a little ear shy but i am working with him and he is getting better. how do I teach him to allow me to put his ears thru the bridle? he takes the bit without issue but pulls his head away when I get to the ear insertion.
why dont they just use a bitless bridle idk i dont ride western but wouldnt it be easier?
He should be comfortable in both.
Doesn’t look like he will have an issue for long with the correct training and 1 less thing for the horse to be anxious on. If you can take their anxiety away, why not?
great video!
Also, what am I supposed to do when I get close enough to his head so that I can work on putting the bridal on, but then he starts using me as a scratching post. We have done so much groundwork, but he still thinks he can rub on me whenever.
+Saylor Abbas As soon as he starts to rub on you push him away and if he continues growl a him a little bit.
Have you considered meeting him in the middle and getting him a rubber-coated snaffle? You'll still have to go through the same training, but a rubber-coated snaffle will reduce the likelihood of him having a relapse if his teeth accidentally get banged with the bit by his owner.
hi i have 2 questions 1. my horse shakes his head around a bit when i take his bridal off and he tries to through his head up to what should i do to fix this? and 2. he is very girthy he will not bit or kick but he will bit and gnaw at the air even when im just touching where the girth sits if he has the saddle on he is girthy in the spot but with it off he is fine how do i fix it he is making me worried.
He's huge and so beautiful !!
He clearly isn't twitching the horse's ear, hes holding the bridle up there. I am sure you, just like everyone else who has horses, will have to make sure that the bridle strap goes behind the ears. And when you slip the bridle over, you will have to touch their ears, or bend them over.
Great lesson thank you. It’s always a good reminder to stay patient. It’s hard when they’re flaying their head and body around. I wear a helmet because horses can smack you with their head.
Also thank you for demonstrating with a tall horse, most videos demonstrate with super short horses.
Thanks for making this video, my horse, she is not scared of the bit its just the fact that when ever the leather parts of the bridle begin to go over her eyes, she tosses her head around. And when I go to take it off her, she puts her head up and not down :( iv tried sqeezing the pole, but she always chuckes her head back up and I don't know how to make her stop putting her head up when I take it off. what can I do?
Great!!
Very good
did you rule out Problems he might've been having with his teeth beforehand? hooks, sharp edges that might bother him when taking the bit? I've encountered headshy horses that just had bad teeth maintenance... just courious about your process.
that horse is adorable. :)
Excellent, little steps, not big jumps.
My horse won’t even let me put my hand on his face without moving around too much he’s scared of the bit because he was ridden when he needed his teeth floated so it hurt him but his teeth are floated now and idk what to do I’ve tried this but I can’t even get the bit near him without him throwing his head up (he’s also 17.1 hh) so idk what to do any body have any advice
This gives the horse the impression that as soon as the bridle is on, it's coming back off.
It doesn't give the horse that impression. This horse thinks that throwing his head around will keep the bridle from being put on. Basically, he uses his size and head to manipulate the owners and keep the bit from being on. By removing the bridle when he's still, the horse figures out that throwing his head isn't going to get him away from the bridle being put on. In other words, he can't win.
Desensitization, by advance-and-retreat. Same principle really as slowly teaching then to trailer load.
What do you do when your horse won't even let you put your finger in his mouth without throwing his head? I've had his teeth floated, his wolf teeth taken out, and made sure he has nothing wrong with his head or teeth. He was super face shy when I got him, and he has gotten better, but when i even get near his teeth he freaks out. What do I do?!
Would he do the same without bit?
Like a rope halter maybe he'll like that more.
Just try to do it easy, work with pressure and release.
If you try to do the bit in don't push it be easy like him in the video
Take time for it
This is fab, but my issue is getting it over his ears. The vet said there's no pain there, but he's so sensitive around there. I couldn't even get the reins back over his head without him freaking out and nearly injuring us both and I had to undo the reins and give up :(
Break it down. can you run your hands over his ears with no bridle present ?
I wish you could come train me and my horse. He was a high strung raining horse. And broke a splint bone so he no longer does any rodeo. I bought him from an equine program at a university. He isn't worked enough I know that, and he gets more and more towards green broke with less work. We are committed to working him more, but we are both in our sixties. He's 15.3 hands maybe 16. He throws his head, he moves his mouth away, he moves forward towards me, etc. I put him in a corner when working on him like this, I've gotten him to put his head down for me, and as soon as any little pressure is applied his head will go down. But as soon as I put my hands in or near his mouth the head stuff starts. Very frustrated, but I'll keep trying. He's a beautiful quarter horse with hall of famer blood lines. But he may end up being too much for me. Addie
Should I get rid of my biting horse .I believe the previous owner wanted to pawn him off to an unsuspecting rookie like me
xxxasassin xxx we got a young horse that was terribly mouthy and bit at us incessantly in play, dominance, and defensiveness. It seemed like he would never stop but over the years those habits are mostly gone. We tried lots of different ways of dealing with it. I think it would have gone a lot quicker if we’d done some round pen work like Warwick does. Watch his videos where he works with a 3 year old warm blood stallion. Using his principles have helped us come light years with our gelding.
Did you try without bridle?
Some people ride with rope halter and reins.
Do you like that idea?
Just my thoughts, and in no way trying to act like a snot or be argumentative. I typically start colts with just a halter and leadrope, then progress to the bridle.But this is stuff I have dealt with too:When avoiding a problem you end up allowing the horse to start boxing you into a smaller and smaller "space". When you ride a horse that is a bit worried about your legs on his sides do you stiffen up and keep your legs off of him? Or do you help him learn to accept that feeling and be confident about it? If he's had his mouth (or nose) pulled and jerked on and is overreactive to contact on his face, you aren't going to never guide him. You would help him learn to accept contact and teach him that YOU won't yank on him. It's the same with this bridling lesson.
+L-4Ranch Horse Training I see,
I was wondering this.
I personally do ride with both,
Did ride bitless with a rope halter for example or a halter with a leadrope and than make reins out of it.
And with a bit
I personally don't really do mind as long as people know what they are doing
Do you prefer riding with bit or ropehalter what is better for the horse ?
You seem like a friendly person.
I enjoy watching your videos :)
+L-4Ranch Horse Training When l do ride and the horse is worried about something l'll give release.
I sort of work with pressure and release
Sort of like what you were doing with the bit.
In steps.
Like teaching the horse it's okay, like l am paying attention
Thank you so much! I'm glad you liked them.For the sake of discussion, I really don't want to give advice on another trainer's channel, I view the immediate spot of a horse becoming worried as a "starting point", and I won't apply more pressure then, but remain at the same level until the horse relaxes and responds in a thoughtful way, then progress from there. Consistently releasing when they're worried I have found to be a problem in some horses I've worked with.As for the bridle question, it all really depends on where the horse is at in training, what I am trying to accomplish, and how he is responding at that moment. Most of the time I actually ride in a snaffle, but I regularly swap out to a bosal, or a low ported, barrel jointed bit, or just ride in a halter sometimes.
+L-4Ranch Horse Training Sounds great, we kind of are the same to certain things.
I like how you're working with the horse animal friendly that's nice!
Taking the time for things.
He is also a very handsome horse! :)
How is he doing now? :)
thanks:)
Going to bitless when he has this problem is only avoiding the prob. Sure, Warwick could go bitless. If his owner decides to use a bit, what would Warwick tell them? "I'm a horse trainer but I couldn't fix that problem!" Or, say they sell the owner sells the horse. Are they going to tell the next people that "bits are bad because he doesn't like them"? Easy isn't always right, avoiding problems doesn't make them go away. There's no reason this horse can't accept a bit, as you can see in the vid.
I am 5'6 and my horse is 17 hands she lifts head and spits out the but even on tippy toes I can't reach .
Y is the camera so far away
It son the roof of the barn.
It would of been much easier if the rider just went bitless. But sadly in many competitions they don't allow bitless😕
I dont believe bitless is the answer. bitless only causes less discomfort if the hands of the rider are uneducated. The key is rider education.
@@WarwickSchiller yes but also if more competitions are open to people riding bitless the more people are open to finding what type of bridle might work better for their horse to be in.
As not all horses do better in bitless and many don't do as well in a bits. I would just like them to be more leanant to what you choose to ride in so more people could have opportunities.
it depends on the horse.
ya I like it a Nd that says allot
When ever I try to put the bridle on my horse she will put her head in the air there is a little door behind where you can tack them up so if I try to tack her she will back out of the barn and run around the barn for a while the go to her pasture then you have to fight her to put the bridle on!! :(
i can just see little 5'3" me trying to do that with a 17 hand him LOL!
Haha u should have tried that with my horse back when he wouldn't take a bit u would have no no where my horse has broke a metal snap on his lead before and my horse is the same hight as this one. He has been that way for 5 years 1 week of just working with the bridle by putting it to his mouth and just waiting for him to open his mouth I stood there an hour with the bridle not in his mouth yet and he finnally took it and now after a week of doing that he opens his mouth when he sees the bridle in my hand
If he broke a snap on a lead he probably could have used some groundwork to help him overcome that anxiety or whatnot before trying to bridle him (and perhaps that is what you did). Sounds like overall you used the same principles as in this video though, and had the patience to stick it out rather than forcing it.
Would this horse be happier with a HACKAMORE?
hey maybe you could send the horse an email and ask them...
I'd be happy to be a millionaire , but that is'nt happening anytime soon hahaha
Hackamores can actually be damaging to the horses face and are quite servere for bitless
side pull or rope halters are best x
That wasn't the point of the video. The point WAS how to do it with a bridle. Probably the video wasn't for you.
I don't blame the horse
Psyco the Super pup why though
so your fine with having metal in your mouth
I train all my horses to take their own bit.
watch?v=xWGOBQSBOC0
Parelli makes the world a much happier place for humans and horses!
Why the rush to get rope in his mouth
That's pretty much just telling the horse that if they fight against you they'll get what they want.
If you HAD bridaling issues with the horse why didn't you video THAT? We need to see you work the horses when they FIRST come to you ?
This is nothing compared to a paint horse I had.
parelli teaches the same thing...sheesh...
I know how to fix this problem..... don't use a bit! BOOM! WOW I AM A ROCKET SCIENTIST!! :O and here comes the little 2 years olds crying about how bits are good. BOO HOO
The man is an idiotic BULLY for twitching the horses ear. If you will notice the horse gets head shy the more the man does that.
Why is it against the law, morally unacceptable and generally frowned upon to cause a dog or cat pain, perfectly fine to cause a horse pain? I have to wear an upper partial denture and though it was "fitted" for my mouth when I first got it, it HURT LIKE HELL! After having it fit, it was sore for ages and now it is just plain annoying. See where I'm going with this? A bit was made to cause pain. Someone that truly knows what they are doing with any animal can do so without PAIN!
I adore your teachings, but this, this matter I fully disagree. You don't need it (bits and pain).
Dk, check out Shelby Dennis, her bit debate video, her video where the vet checks her horse's mouth for bit damage, and watch how her horses ride around w/ a bit in.
Well horses aren’t humans
Aaaaand, you're watching this video WHY??
@@lindaandscott6616 bits are a pain device. They were made to cause pain. Even in a very gentle riders hands they are still uncomfortable. Horses are incredibly good at ignoring and becoming accustomed to pain. Bitless riding options will almost always be more comfortable for a horse when used properly. Of course, if you have rough hands, it will hurt your horse no matter what device you use.
@@haleylahaie3740 I so agree with you, Haley. How does Warwick say he feels about bits?
People give many arguments about why bits are fine and that THEY themselves have soft hands. And that "MY horse Likes the bit." i don't believe it. But I also think bosals are hard on the face/nose of a horse--too rough and hard.
There used to be a short ten-part film by famous international vets, called Ten Myths About Bits, who showed clinical photographs of the ripped up mouths of competitors' horses used in various horse events. The photos of the damage from bits were enough to .make one sick at heart for the horses and ashamed of the riders who put their ego-fix in the competition ring ahead of the welfare of the horses who couldn't protect themselves
.One woman competitor in an event yanked and pulled that bit so hard and insistantly to keep her horses head over-collected, the tongue was finally cut in two at the point of worst digging of the bit. Can you imagine the pain to that innocent horse? It's nothing less than abuse. Another damage being done to the horses is the over-collection of the head and how it starts a poll-to-tail breakdown in the horse. But there are none so blind as those who WILL NOT see.
One can do ground work to teach a horse to work and be ridden as well in a rope halter (not a stiff one) as a bridle. The international vets said that they had famous and rich clients bringing their horses to them who didn't want to be told about the pain and damage bits were doing to their horses' mouths, and because those clients were their livelihood, the vets felt they couldn't press the reality of the damage the clients were inflicting on their horses. But it got too much for the vets and they made the films. Then they shortened the film to have the most cogent information. I hope it's still up. I'll go and see.
Next ride think about horse him nervous all mouth you are rude to horse i hate bit im happy i dont use it i watch this and i see you are just rude think about horse he dont wana because he know this is pain why you dont see????!!!!😠
And thats why hold your right arm over the nasal bone. God sake it's not really that difficult.
Clever cloggs ...
Best of luck holding down a 100 pound head with a 100 pound body. The point is not to *force* the horse, because some (most) people aren't physically strong enough.
+Katrina Devlin cmon, you know that dosnt always work.. Im here because I groom race horses, and my new filly gives he hell. She can easily lift my 220 lb ass off the ground.. Not to mention they can step back, throw their head into your face or pretty much all of the above at once.. What I got out of this video, was more of a sense of how a horseman makes a horse with bridal issues better, with the effect of making it easier for the horseman to bridle the horse..