What to Do If You Have a Stubborn Horse that Won't Accept a Bit

Most horse owners will tell you that one of the more frustrating and tedious tasks to perform when tacking a horse is getting the bit into the horse's mouth. Unfortunately, horses associate the bit with a lack of control as well as discomfort or pain, especially if they've had an uncomfortable episode with an inexperienced rider. The key to getting your horse to accept the bit without tossing its head and fighting you is to practice with the horse so it a doesn't associate bit insertion with pain and fear.

  1. Be Calm and Encouraging

    • One of the main keys to getting the bit in the horse's mouth is to be calm and patient. Approach the horse without the bridle in your hands while it is haltered and calmly standing in place. Place your hand on top of its head, right behind the ears, and gently press the horse's head down. When it relaxes and begins to lower its head, release your pressure, allow the horse to raise its head and praise the horse. Repeat this process until the horse learns to lower its head instinctively.

    Introduce the Bridle

    • Slip the bridle over the horse's head only when the animal is calm and submissive.

      Press the horse's head down, and slip the bridle over its head. Practice this with the horse until it will calmly accept the bridle without tossing its head or trying to back away from you.

    Insert the Bit

    • Rest the bit underneath the horse's jaw. Slide your finger or fingers into the corners of the horse's mouth to encourage it to open its mouth. (Horses don't have any teeth back there, so don't worry about losing any fingers.) With your hand on top of the horse's head, calmly and carefully insert the bit into the horse's mouth.

    Tips and Secrets

    • Try coating the bit with molasses or sugar. Your horse will eventually look forward to the sweet treat it receives when it cooperatively accepts the bit. Also, once the bridle and bit are in place, make sure everything fits properly and the bit isn't too far back in the horse's mouth. If the bit isn't placed properly, the horse will not want to wear it.