“NOT the BIT!” says Midori.
By Patty Wilber
In January 2020, I had Birdie, who was the first colt start I’d ever had that was absolutely NOT interested in accepting a bit. In fact, she ran backward the first time I approached her with a bridle! Most colt starts are usually quite willing to take the bit, but Birdie took about 8 days! https://www.changespell.com/wordplay/index.php/2020/01/24/training-with-a-buddy/
Fast forward to 2025, and I have another colt start that is having a hard time with the idea of putting the bit in her mouth. It turns out, she is a half-sister to Birdie! Luckily, she is a much quieter personality, overall, but this bit thing…tough!
This one has been a 10-day ordeal...and I am not quite sure we are through it yet!
2/17. I put a bit, hung on baling twine, on her. She argued some, but it wasn’t super terrible, and she didn’t run backward. It’s not so unusual for a little resistance with the bit the first time, so I didn’t think much of it. I didn’t bang her teeth ad her mouth was quiet once the bit was in.
2/18. I decided to put a bridle on her. I got it on, but it was more of a struggle than 2/17. Still, I didn’t worry. It was a bridle, not just a string. It was different. It seemed ok.
2/19. I could barely halter her. She kept turning her head, evading the halter, and I finally snapped to the fact that she was evading the (non-existent) bit. Nothing like backward progress. There was no hope of getting a bit in her mouth, so I tried the trick I used with Birdie, and tied the bit to the halter with twine so she could get used to it.
This seemed somewhat promising!
She put the twine in her mouth. Later, she chewed a hunk off, and ate it. Seriously? The bit ended up dangling and not in her mouth.
2/20. Haltering was still hard, so I caught and haltered her twice during the day and tried to get the bit in. I fed her cookies as incentive. And I tried and tried and tried. I mean, COME ON! This is easy!
Except obviously, it wasn’t!
Finally, I had her go around with the bit attached, again. I also messed with her mouth some, but at this point I should have really committed to seriously desensitizing her lips and gums, putting her head down and bending her neck. But no, I was stubbornly stuck, still thinking she’d give in and take the bit.
2/21. I started thinking outside of the box a little. Got an idea! A chain is metal like the bit, but slinky like the twine. Maybe I could try getting a chain in her mouth. At least eating the chain would not be a thing!
The chain went in fine. Bit? NOPE.
2/22. Zero progress. I was feeling really frustrated. I lost my patience for a minute there with the horse. I almost never do that, but I cracked.
2/23. Maybe bribery? (Note I didn’t continue with serious desenitization…I was still thinking too linearly.) I put molasses on a treat. Winner. Molasses on the chain. Winner. Molasses on the bit. WINNER! Ok, big sigh of relief. I have found the key. (or NOT!)
Rope halter and web halter. The chain and the bit are in her mouth and she is perfectly fine. No gumming the bit or any signs of discomfort. I have two halters on her so I can have the lead rope on the green halter so as not to pull on the bit or chain attached to the red halter. And she accepted them so nicely! On 2/22 anyway…
We even got some round pen work in and she was not bothered by the saddle or bit at all! That seemed promising!
2/24. Day off.
2/25. Caught her! Put the bit in twice (with molasses), but she didn’t suck it right in. We struggled. I was beginning to have very strong uncharitable thoughts about this horse, because clearly, it is her not me. Right? Yeah. Going back to advice I got a long time ago when whining about not winning some classes: “Get better.” But how?
2/26. Caught her. Molasses. Bit. Fail. Fail. Fail. But dammit, I was going to win this battle. I spent a long time not winning. No one was winning. Back to the chain. That went in. Bit went in. It was pretty late, so I left her with the bit and chain in and fed everyone, but her. I took the bit out and put it back in. I gave her some alfalfa and she ate with the bit and chain in while I distributed grass hay to all. Then, I unhaltered her.
2/27. Caught her. I put only the red halter on. I FINALLY decided to really work on desensitizing her mouth, putting her head down, and flexing her neck, which it seems like I should have been committed to last week… Then I got the bit, smeared it with a dab of molasses, and standing in front of her, offered it to her. She did not throw her head. She did not push the bit away with her amazingly agile upper lip. She did not turn her head in avoidance. Nope. She TOOK THE BIT! Right away.
Only one halter. Just the bit! No chain!
Was this the breakthrough I have been hoping for? I have no idea! We will be back at it 2/28, and I will spend a lot of time messing with her face, mouth, and gums before I try the bit. I will use molasses, and if it is a fight, will go back to the chain and think about changing bits to something with copper that might taste better to her. Fingers crossed!
I hope I am on the right track, now!
Note: The chain was never pulled on or used for control.
Happy Friday and good luck to me!
