I'm a firm believer in Monty's methods, which is why I feel the need to find a safe and comfortable way to solve the problem I have with my 9year old mare Josie. She was quite green when i got her and have been starting her pretty much from scratch. She joins-up/follow's up very well and long lines also. She has come on wonderfully with the Dually halter and I am feeling very positive with her for our future. The problem I am having is that when I try and take off her bridle she swings her head up and I find it very difficult to keep hold of it at the time where where the snaffle would come out it is now starting to become a problem and she is now not wanting to put the bridle in.. I have just read from Monty's book(from my hands to yours about the honey when putting it on) Does anyone know of any tricks I could use to keep her head down whilst taking it out????
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Hi gerihaldane,
I recently watched the "Centaur"-series again on this Uni, particularly the many lessons on Abigail. I was at Flag is up Farms, when these videos were made, so I saw the mare in question and followed her improvement. She was an extreme case for headshyness and Monty and his staff took their time to solve her problems. I invite you to watch these lessons, maybe several times, because I'm convinced you'll find the solution for the problem you have with the bridle and your mare! I think it's more than some "trick" to help her, she first needs to trust you're not going to hurt her. Someone has broken her trust earlier in life and you'll have to work to gain it. This can be a very rewarding journey!
Please keep us posted,
Miriam
Hi Miriam,
Thank you very much for taking the time to answer me. I have now watched the "Centaur" series and I was so excited to put it into practiced it today. I was unable to use another horse so I had to improvise with standing on a high block. I did use the honey, the spoon and then the bit we had great fun. Josie was not as head shy as Abigail which made me feel better and it was a great lesson to watch (as they all are) and with a bit more time we will have tackled another problem with Monty's help. You must feel very privileged to have visited Monty at his farm. I am in Scotland and I'm afraid it would probably be a bit too expensive to get out there, although i've been lucky enough to have met him at his last 2 visits to Scotland. Once again, I really appreciate your answer and wish you well.
Geri Haldane
Hi Gerihaldane - So pleased you had success after watching the Abigail videos - they are so great. From your post I am wondering if your mare was initially O k with putting the bridle on. If so then was it possible that she caught the bit on her teeth while you were taking it off at one stage? Maybe this happened prior to you getting her as this will make them worried about having the bridle taken off. If she was shaking her head around as you took it off then it is quite possible that the bit hit her teeth while doing so. Now you are making good progress so continue to do so with the enlarged loose headstall of your bridle as Monty does with the honey until she is totally accepting of it. Encourage her to keep her head low for you by scratching her on her poll while doing so. - honey will help too so try now to get down off your block . Just hold the bridle and bit with the honey at about your waste so she has to come low to lick the honey. You may need to teach her to stand still with the dually first - join up with the farrier is good for demonstrating teaching to stand still. Have fun.
Some great advice from everyone Geri; I am in North Wales; I spent a week at Flag is Up, if you are careful with your flight choices and willing to rough it a bit you can get there for a few hundred pounds :-) I had no money so sold my furniture hahaha - priorities eh? ;-) I must be mad!
I have a similar problem with my girl who is unbroken, she HATES having her face touched at all, so thanks for the tip on which videos to watch (I'm on satellite internet and have as small download so sadly can't do as much as quickly as I'd like to!). I need to be able to touch her face as I want to start putting sunscreen on her, with her being a cremello AND having white patches on her nose I want to protect her :-)
Thanks also for giving me the idea about going there! I saw Monty live a few months ago and it was fantastic, but would love to see more...
Hi Geri and all,
So glad you and your horse profit from the Centaur series! There is another series called "Georgia's phobia's" that don't include the other horse, but deals with the same problem of headshyness. Since you don't have a Magic ( he really is a miracle!), you might find these video's a great help as well. Remember that Monty calls Abigail an extreme case and Georgia was used as a recipient mare, so both might have suffered from ear-twitches apart from other forms of abuse. From what you describe I gather your mare might have had a negative experience with the bit hitting the teeth, so as MaggieF states above you're well on your way.
Doing the Introductory- and Advanced Course at Flag is up Farms has always been my dream, somehow I managed to make it come true....
Thank you for letting us know how things go and please keep us posted on your progress!
Miriam
Hey Miriam,Maggie Vicci and Pinkie,
Thanks for all your comments, It's great to see everyone wanting to use Monty's ways I wish everyone would. Maggie, your right it was me I'm not very tall and struggled to keep her head down and she did strike her teeth which was really upsetting as I want to cause her NO pain at all. I wish i had watched the centaur first. The good thing is she now opening her mouth for the bit(which i had practiced with the spoon first) and not moving away as much. So until I can get her to keep her head down I have been undoing the bit at one side and taking it out gently, I have done join-up from the start and used the Dually which is the best thing EVER and she stands still noo problem.I am determined to make the bridle something she wants to do so it was amazing when she opened her mouth of her own accord.. Vicci I think it's amazing you sold your furniture I would do the same lol, that would be a dream come true. Miriam, thank you again I will have a look at those too and I will keep you posted, Me and Josie really appreciate the help from you all xxxx
Just had a read through and clicked the 'invisible like button' to all your comments :D x