When bridling a horse, occasionally the horse opens its mouth and is simply ready for the bridle. Take the thumb and slide it into a horse's gum to open its mouth for a bridle with helpful advice from a reining horse trainer in this video on bridling a horse.
Many times, he basically just opens his mouth and he's ready for it. But on a horse that's not really accustomed to it, let me show you what's happening. As I bring the bit up, alright, I'm taking my thumb and sliding it right into his gum, right into his lips right there. And notice how now he's kind of starting to chew, alright, that's opening his mouth and that's going to allow that bit to slide up in there. So as I reach down, I'm going to let my thumb slide up there and he'll just start working his mouth and that's going to open it up. Alright. I grab the bit, notice my thumb slides in there, he opens his mouth. Now the bit's in his mouth; again, I put it up over the right ear first; alright; then the left ear. Then I smooth everything down; make sure it's adjusted correctly. And that's what I'm going to show you next.
on May 11, 2010, 11:30 pm