I decided to give Kels a go with a bit yesterday, three weeks after her dental work.
Even though the dentist warned me that her issues with a bit were all in her head now her mouth's been fixed, I was really disappointed and disheartened that she's worse than ever - she threw her head all over the place when I tried to put her bit in (I was advised by the dentist to undo the cheek piece and feed it into her mouth rather than bridle her the conventional way). I got it in eventually, but we were both thoroughly upset by then, and getting on was impossible - her tongue was over the bit as usual, but now she's just fixing her neck and walking off, and there's no chance of stopping her. At least before she'd stop.
I guess the best way to go is back to the beginning with a training bit, but I've got a huge vet bill to pay (she was sedated for the dentist) and can't afford to buy one till payday, so I need some ideas to help her accept the bit without her getting upset again, either things I can try with her bits or just ways to get her to make friends with it, even if it doesn't actually go in her mouth yet. I'm thinking about wrapping the bit with an apple flavour Kelloggs Winder, or dipping it in molasses or treacle.
I've got a ported kimblewick, a Happy Mouth pelham, and a French link snaffle. Which would be the kindest to start with? Or should I just leave it until I can get hold of a training bit? Daft question - is it OK to ride her in a training bit?
She's absolutely fine with her bitless, as it's quite new so she has no bad associations with it - she'll put her head in it without fuss, and I've lunged her in it in side reins - but as I've not ridden her in it yet I'm very wary, specially as my confidence is two notches off rock bottom at the moment.
Even though the dentist warned me that her issues with a bit were all in her head now her mouth's been fixed, I was really disappointed and disheartened that she's worse than ever - she threw her head all over the place when I tried to put her bit in (I was advised by the dentist to undo the cheek piece and feed it into her mouth rather than bridle her the conventional way). I got it in eventually, but we were both thoroughly upset by then, and getting on was impossible - her tongue was over the bit as usual, but now she's just fixing her neck and walking off, and there's no chance of stopping her. At least before she'd stop.
I guess the best way to go is back to the beginning with a training bit, but I've got a huge vet bill to pay (she was sedated for the dentist) and can't afford to buy one till payday, so I need some ideas to help her accept the bit without her getting upset again, either things I can try with her bits or just ways to get her to make friends with it, even if it doesn't actually go in her mouth yet. I'm thinking about wrapping the bit with an apple flavour Kelloggs Winder, or dipping it in molasses or treacle.
I've got a ported kimblewick, a Happy Mouth pelham, and a French link snaffle. Which would be the kindest to start with? Or should I just leave it until I can get hold of a training bit? Daft question - is it OK to ride her in a training bit?
She's absolutely fine with her bitless, as it's quite new so she has no bad associations with it - she'll put her head in it without fuss, and I've lunged her in it in side reins - but as I've not ridden her in it yet I'm very wary, specially as my confidence is two notches off rock bottom at the moment.