I get asked, "Why not use a bitless bridle"? Here's why: They don't address the "Root Cause" of the chomping problem...they only address the "symptom". They are not legal at the horse shows. They do not allow for a precise feel when doing precision maneuvers.
Thank you for saying this! I have had this exact conversation with so many people. I am happy to switch to bitless if it is a pain issue, but once ruled out, it is just representative of something larger.
Thank you for instructing us about training horses with gentleness and positive reinforcement. I've wondered for years if we couldn't do away with bits. I'm glad I learned something today. It's great to see the animals taught with kindness. Our relationship with them should be based on wise and gentle teaching, sensitivity to the animal's needs and harmony with the horse.
My mare had same issue with the bit. I started riding in just a rope halter and then moved to a bitless (side pull) halter. She has nothing in her mouth to focus on, so her focus is on me more than before. I don't think I'll go back to a bit because she is very responsive in just a bitless bridle.
Great video and very helpful! I started my gelding after 10 years away from horses and he is doing great, but I personally struggle with using too much hand and not enough leg and seat (when I was first taught to ride, I sadly was not taught those critical aspects). It's a constant work in progress. We're working on leg cues and having him really internalize that legs mean more than go, and I'm starting to see that what I thought was resistance to leg cues (tail switching) was actually resistance to the bit cue that came at the same time or shortly after leg. But one more outstanding issue. When we stop and rest, he roots down at the bit like crazy. He doesn't do it while in motion, but is really bad when we're stopped (and only in the arena, not out on trail or on the ranch). Do horses ever root out of boredom? Last time he started doing this I switched him from a smooth D ring snaffle to a low port Western futurity bit and the problem went away. Maybe it's time to get a different bit, Myler 2-3 equivalent? Or could it be a different behavioral issue? He seems to be incredibly sensitive and I don't want to be inadvertently causing bit resentment.
I have a 14 year old Tennessee Walker that came to me not standing to mount, chomping and rooting the bit and bolting back to the barn from the trail at a full gallop. I sent him to trainer with 40 years experience and he came back standing to mount but the other problems persisted. I got him to stop chomping and mostly stop rooting by riding him in a rope halter. We get along great in an enclosed area now but I'm too afraid of the bolting issue to take him out on the trails for now. I find him to be an extraordinarily intelligent, exceptionally sensitive horse who lacks confidence and is always bottom of the pecking order. He is my first horse and he is a bit more complicated than I was ready for but I think he had a hard life before he was mine and I am committed to keeping him his whole life.
Wow! I've been waiting to find this video for over a year. My trainers over the past year and myself have been scratching our heads over a problem that you just explained in 8 minutes. #3 rang a bell for me and that filly acts exactly like my horse does. I got him off the track and he came with so much chomping it's insane! (All health/pain/tack issues ruled out.) I can't even begin to tell you everything I have tried. I'll take some of your advice in mind and see where we are at in a few months. Thank you so much for this.
Hi Raymond, Thanks for your input. I can understand your point. I'm just not a fan of the bitless bridles I've seen. I'd rather use a braided hackamore.
@@mikaylagillern1946 Changing to a braided hackamore is no big deal "IF" YOU KNOW HOW TO USE IT. Use it "wrong" and it won't work. I have an entire training course on my website about "Hackamore Training".
@@mikaylagillern1946 Keep in mind, simply changing to a bitless bridle isn't going to change the "ROOT CAUSE" of the chomping... and the root cause is the main thing that needs to be addressed... if you want a good horse.
Thank you for your video. i would love to practice this with my horse except he doesn't respond to my legs. If i ask him to.go forward wih my legs he just keeps standing still. So k cant make him bend or follow the bridle if he doesn't go forward. If use the whip to help he is not really reacting to the whip either
Larry, thanks for this video. Do you hang the [new, or any?] bit 24/7 for a week or just a few hours per day? For the first half hour or so my horse dives his head to the right (never to the left) and gaps his mouth. After being ridden for awhile there is none of that. Doesn't matter a hinged bit or a snaffle. Thank you!
I am curious , my horse chomps and chomps. He’s a 12 year old warmblood. I switched him to Bitless but, ideally would prefer a bit but the chomping got so distracting it seemed to all be was worried about. He is in a simple French link, I am curious if you would think a different bit also helps? Nothing stronger, just something not so distracting?
My horse pulls tricks out of his bag. supposedly ridden 4 months when I bought him. He resents anything faster than a walk and appears to be the laziest horse I have ever owned. His latest is slinging his head when i ask him to lope, which is a little disconcerting. I live in the Oklahoma City area, if there are any good, trainers in this area I need their help. You can answer this comment.
I am getting a new horse i did ride him yesterday and he chewed his bit like crazy he is 13 ,a gelding and he is a trail horse is it ok to change his bit? He had that snuffle bit ,i want to put a shank bud with a little bit elevated bump in the middle on him would that be ok ? I don’t know what the bit is called I am new in the horse world. I wished the people would have given me his old bit.
@@ltrocha thank you for answering so quick.I have another? The horse was playing a lot with this Snaffle bit and the bit had no curl chain should I put one on ?I am picking the horse up this morning .😅
My horse has been pulling a bit out of my hand but like jumping on the bed too and he don’t just pull it he like poles and shakes his head and yanks his head out of my hands
Larry, when she wasn't responding to the doubling how did you know it was time to quit and start collecting her instead to get her to give?? Awesome illustration how that 1 technique changed her mind
Hi Larry. Really love your videos. Have 7 yr old quarter. He is a real bit chomper. On trail, loose rein chomping, working in arena, chomping. He does all work willingly. Moves out nice. Holds his head too low. He is mouthy. Dont think #2 or 3 is reason. Dont know about #1. Am wondering if it could be a tooth. I don't know what I'm looking for in his mouth but looks ok to me. Any advice? I'm useing your transion bit and weighted reins.
Hi Penny, I would need to see the problem. Text me a video of the horse chomping the bit. Both being ridden and standing bridled but unsaddled with nobody on his back.
@@ltrocha Hi Larry. I have been working with Smokey every day. Your videos have helped so much. Thank you. Smokey has all but quit chomping the bit. Actually he would try to take hold of the shank with his lower lip. Not really chomping the mouth piece. I must have corrected what I was doing wrong. It's like I'm riding a different horse. So to video him at this time, you would see a horse behaving himself. Thank you for answering me tho.
@@mr.miaumiau2892 It wasn't a foolish question. Sometimes a loose molar cap will get wedged between the new molars coming in. Causes the horse to do weird things with their mouth, trying to spit the cap out.
I get asked, "Why not use a bitless bridle"? Here's why: They don't address the "Root Cause" of the chomping problem...they only address the "symptom". They are not legal at the horse shows. They do not allow for a precise feel when doing precision maneuvers.
Thank you for saying this! I have had this exact conversation with so many people. I am happy to switch to bitless if it is a pain issue, but once ruled out, it is just representative of something larger.
@@sydneyromero4378 Absolutely! Address the root cause of the problem.
Thank you for instructing us about training horses with gentleness and positive reinforcement. I've wondered for years if we couldn't do away with bits. I'm glad I learned something today. It's great to see the animals taught with kindness. Our relationship with them should be based on wise and gentle teaching, sensitivity to the animal's needs and harmony with the horse.
My mare had same issue with the bit. I started riding in just a rope halter and then moved to a bitless (side pull) halter. She has nothing in her mouth to focus on, so her focus is on me more than before. I don't think I'll go back to a bit because she is very responsive in just a bitless bridle.
best horse video i have seen in a long long time...
Larry good man here...😊👍
Thanks. I'm glad you like it
What I like about all of your videos: you tell us what you like and what you don't like and your explanations make sense. Thanks
Thanks. I appreciate your feedback
Thank you ! this helped me a lot!
you are welcome
Great video and very helpful! I started my gelding after 10 years away from horses and he is doing great, but I personally struggle with using too much hand and not enough leg and seat (when I was first taught to ride, I sadly was not taught those critical aspects). It's a constant work in progress. We're working on leg cues and having him really internalize that legs mean more than go, and I'm starting to see that what I thought was resistance to leg cues (tail switching) was actually resistance to the bit cue that came at the same time or shortly after leg. But one more outstanding issue. When we stop and rest, he roots down at the bit like crazy. He doesn't do it while in motion, but is really bad when we're stopped (and only in the arena, not out on trail or on the ranch). Do horses ever root out of boredom? Last time he started doing this I switched him from a smooth D ring snaffle to a low port Western futurity bit and the problem went away. Maybe it's time to get a different bit, Myler 2-3 equivalent? Or could it be a different behavioral issue? He seems to be incredibly sensitive and I don't want to be inadvertently causing bit resentment.
All the answers and solutions to your questions are demonstrated in the videos on my channel. Watch them.
Love your videos. Only been riding about 8 months and I refer to your instructions often. Simple and uncomplicated. Cowboy Up
I have a 14 year old Tennessee Walker that came to me not standing to mount, chomping and rooting the bit and bolting back to the barn from the trail at a full gallop. I sent him to trainer with 40 years experience and he came back standing to mount but the other problems persisted. I got him to stop chomping and mostly stop rooting by riding him in a rope halter. We get along great in an enclosed area now but I'm too afraid of the bolting issue to take him out on the trails for now. I find him to be an extraordinarily intelligent, exceptionally sensitive horse who lacks confidence and is always bottom of the pecking order. He is my first horse and he is a bit more complicated than I was ready for but I think he had a hard life before he was mine and I am committed to keeping him his whole life.
Hi Jenna, I have an online training course that will show you how to fix the bolting problem. You may want to check it out.
The title is "Groom, Saddle, Ride & Fix Bad Behavior"
Great video.. thank you
Thank you Mr. Trocha!
You are welcome, Meri
Love watching, you have good advice
So cool.
Very good training video! Straight to the point!
Thanks Sharon
Wow! I've been waiting to find this video for over a year. My trainers over the past year and myself have been scratching our heads over a problem that you just explained in 8 minutes. #3 rang a bell for me and that filly acts exactly like my horse does. I got him off the track and he came with so much chomping it's insane! (All health/pain/tack issues ruled out.) I can't even begin to tell you everything I have tried. I'll take some of your advice in mind and see where we are at in a few months. Thank you so much for this.
This was a good video with good explanation and execution. Very nice mare. Thank you.
You are welcome, Donna
I quit using bits 10 years ago. I went with bit less bridle so long ago.
Hi Raymond, Thanks for your input. I can understand your point. I'm just not a fan of the bitless bridles I've seen. I'd rather use a braided hackamore.
How did your horse take the change? I’ve been planning to switch mine over
@@mikaylagillern1946 I have fiour horses they all switched with no problem. I use the Dr Cook bridles
@@mikaylagillern1946 Changing to a braided hackamore is no big deal "IF" YOU KNOW HOW TO USE IT. Use it "wrong" and it won't work. I have an entire training course on my website about "Hackamore Training".
@@mikaylagillern1946 Keep in mind, simply changing to a bitless bridle isn't going to change the "ROOT CAUSE" of the chomping... and the root cause is the main thing that needs to be addressed... if you want a good horse.
Thank you for your video. i would love to practice this with my horse except he doesn't respond to my legs. If i ask him to.go forward wih my legs he just keeps standing still. So k cant make him bend or follow the bridle if he doesn't go forward. If use the whip to help he is not really reacting to the whip either
There are many ways to teach a horse new things without causing resentment and shut down
Nice!
Larry, thanks for this video. Do you hang the [new, or any?] bit 24/7 for a week or just a few hours per day? For the first half hour or so my horse dives his head to the right (never to the left) and gaps his mouth. After being ridden for awhile there is none of that. Doesn't matter a hinged bit or a snaffle. Thank you!
Only a few hours a day. Plus you need to get your horse really supple at all times.
@@ltrocha Thanks so much Larry. I'm in Montana now or I'd bring Mickey to ya to correct this. I think you are a great trainer.
I am curious , my horse chomps and chomps. He’s a 12 year old warmblood. I switched him to Bitless but, ideally would prefer a bit but the chomping got so distracting it seemed to all be was worried about. He is in a simple French link, I am curious if you would think a different bit also helps? Nothing stronger, just something not so distracting?
You can experiment with different bits but I doubt that's the root cause of the chomping. Perhaps try the things I talk about in this video.
Great video. Very helpful to see the progress from your training techniques.
Thanks Sibyl
Great video and advice.
Thanks Lynette
My horse pulls tricks out of his bag. supposedly ridden 4 months when I bought him. He resents anything faster than a walk and appears to be the laziest horse I have ever owned. His latest is slinging his head when i ask him to lope, which is a little disconcerting. I live in the Oklahoma City area, if there are any good, trainers in this area I need their help. You can answer this comment.
There are tons of horse trainers in your area. Shouldn't be difficult to find a good one. Ask at the tack or feed stores.
I am getting a new horse i did ride him yesterday and he chewed his bit like crazy he is 13 ,a gelding and he is a trail horse is it ok to change his bit?
He had that snuffle bit ,i want to put a shank bud with a little bit elevated bump in the middle on him would that be ok ? I don’t know what the bit is called I am new in the horse world.
I wished the people would have given me his old bit.
Call them up and ask them where you can get his original bit. BTW, make sure you are adjusting the bit correctly in the horse's mouth
@@ltrocha thank you for answering so quick.I have another? The horse was playing a lot with this Snaffle bit and the bit had no curl chain should I put one on ?I am picking the horse up this morning .😅
@@Conny226 In reality, the FIRST thing you should do is get some lessons. Otherwise you risk injury to yourself or the horse.
My horse has been pulling a bit out of my hand but like jumping on the bed too and he don’t just pull it he like poles and shakes his head and yanks his head out of my hands
Yeah I never do anything with the bit. They will wear a bridle without reins. And jist focus on the ground work for a while.
Have a mare with navicular and is only 5. What should I do???
Call a horse vet... and don't breed her.
Navicular is is hereditary. You sure wouldn't want to pass it along.
Shes beautiful!
Larry, when she wasn't responding to the doubling how did you know it was time to quit and start collecting her instead to get her to give??
Awesome illustration how that 1 technique changed her mind
Hi Brad, simply experience.
Hi Larry. Really love your videos. Have 7 yr old quarter. He is a real bit chomper. On trail, loose rein chomping, working in arena, chomping. He does all work willingly. Moves out nice. Holds his head too low. He is mouthy. Dont think #2 or 3 is reason. Dont know about #1.
Am wondering if it could be a tooth. I don't know what I'm looking for in his mouth but looks ok to me. Any advice? I'm useing your transion bit and weighted reins.
Hi Penny, I would need to see the problem. Text me a video of the horse chomping the bit. Both being ridden and standing bridled but unsaddled with nobody on his back.
@@ltrocha I will try to get a video of him chomping. I'm alone and not good with sending videos. Might be able to get a friend to video this weekend.
@@pennyjohnson3665 Be sure you are close enough to the camera so I can clearly see the whole picture.
@@ltrocha Hi Larry. I have been working with Smokey every day. Your videos have helped so much. Thank you.
Smokey has all but quit chomping the bit. Actually he would try to take hold of the shank with his lower lip. Not really chomping the mouth piece. I must have corrected what I was doing wrong. It's like I'm riding a different horse. So to video him at this time, you would see a horse behaving himself. Thank you for answering me tho.
why can't i see it where she resisted the bit, regardless of rewatching? was it a feel?
👍
CHAMPING AT THE BIT
Could it be something in the mares theet Boss?...
It can be. That's why I always check their teeth
@@ltrocha A foolish cuestión I had asked, sorry
@@mr.miaumiau2892 It wasn't a foolish question. Sometimes a loose molar cap will get wedged between the new molars coming in. Causes the horse to do weird things with their mouth, trying to spit the cap out.
@@ltrocha I should have assumed that you would check her teeth, hahahaha
@@ShannonSouthAfrica Nope. Not the teeth
I know nothing about horses. This makes me wonder how many man-hours it took to get all of the horses in the old western movies to be so well behaved.
You wear a bit. Fifty years of riding western, never used a bit on a horse.