Horse

Question
My dad and I just bought a 2 1/2 almost 3yrs old gelding a couple weeks ago. I've been able to halter, lead, pick up his hooves. He was ridden by a high school girl at the sale. But every time you try to put a bit in his mouth he throws his head and starts side stepping. He also won't stand still to saddle. What can I do?  I want him to be able to have a young kid on him a year. Thank you for your time.

Answer
Was the horse being ridden outside of the sale barn, or just in the ring?  And did you see what he was wearing as a bit, I am assuming she had him saddled?

It could be that the horse was drugged so that he could be saddled.  Could have been not fed or watered much too.  Could also have been so worn out that he submitted to anything at all.  And, if you have gotten the saddle on him, it could be it doesn't fit and is painful too?

Without knowing how much experience you have with horses, I will just tell you how young horses are normally started, and of course this is assuming that what you really have here is a horse that has not been properly trained for bit or saddle, instead of a rogue.

But some questions first.  Will he stand tied?  What type of bridle and bit are you attempting to use?  Does he start moving when you approach with the saddle, or as you attempt to set it on his back?  Do you have a round pen, or small paddock?

Begin by taking a saddle blanket and laying it and removing it casually on his back.  Rub his body with it, and up and down his mane to his ears and back down to tail.  Keep your hands on the blanket and don't let him pitch it off.  Slow up if he gets nervous, but keep at it.

Get some old towels too, to use for rub rags, and rub him all over, the extra fabric flopping will settle him down, and make him less skittish.  Don't flop or flip it, just rub like you were polishing a table top.

Also during this time, take a lead rope and use it to rub him over all his body.  Legs, back, neck.  Don't flip it at him, just rub like it was a soft brush in your hands.  Be slow and easy, but persistent.

In a day or two, let the rope dangle over his back, in the cinch area, and then reach under and bring the loose end to you and without tying anything, just see saw the ends back and forth on his midriff, and back towards his tail.  Gentle and slow, not fast, gently tighten it in your hands to get him used to the feel of the tightness.

Also, make sure you are working with him to get him to move over from side to side and back up too from the ground.

Over several days, continue with the blanket, and towels and lead rope.  Then bring the saddle up, let him sniff it and see it, and then lay it on and off his back.  Each time you lay it on his back, make sure he sees you remove it and carry it.  Don't let him buck it off.  

Make sure the off side stirrup and cinch don't bump him, and don't just fling the saddle on, but rather lay the cinch and off side stirrup over the seat, so that they don't flop and hit him in the side.

After a day or two of this, depending how he acts, and of course, remember to walk around him, and move the stirrups and pat the saddle meanwhile, reach under and slowly pull the cinch up, not tightening it, but with your hand.  When he seems to accept it, then cinch up, but make sure the cinch doesn't pinch, and you aren't cinching too tight.  Don't yank it, or lean and pull.  Then let it out, and remove the saddle.  Do this several times each time you work with him.

When he will stand with the saddle tightened down then move the stirrups back and forth, lean your arm across the saddle and lean a little weight on it.  Walk him around, and if you have a round pen, send him around it so he gets used to the weight and feel.

When he is settled to this, you can get someone to hold his halter, and you can put a foot in stirrup, and raise yourself up, and just stand there, getting up and down, gradually then swing you leg over and just set on him.  You can, at this point have a handler walk you around.

As for the bridle.  Are you trying to put a curb bit on him, or a snaffle?

Is the bridle big enough?  If a curb, has he ever worn one?  Is the curb chain too tight, and are you bumping his lips and mouth?  Or are you coming at him from the front, rather than the side and underneath?  And it could be the bit, of either type is too small from side to side too.  It could also be he has something wrong with his ears, a tick may be in there, or a sore.  That will make one act up.  And could have teeth problems too.

If it fits, and all else is fine, I would start him with a O ring snaffle, or a D ring.  Standing at his shoulder, facing the same way as him, bring your right arm under his neck, with the top of the headstall in your hand, and supporting the bit in your left, slowly raise the bridle, and use your left hand to guide the bit into his mouth, and bring the headstall over his ears. Rather than reins, use driving lines to drive him from behind, as someone leads him, with you using the lines as reins to guide him.

Eventually you will be driving him from the ground without a helper.  This gives him a chance to get used to a bit, and the pressure of stopping and going, and turning.  After a couple days of ground driving, you can incorporate this into being used with you in the saddle.

Slow and easy is the key.

It could also be, that this horse will require a trainer.  He may be older than 3, unless you have his papers, and even then could not match him.  And what breed is he?  Didn't think to ask.
And what age child is going to be using this horse next year?

The horse could be reacting out of fear, stubbornness, or simply never have been saddled or ridden until the sale.  It happens.  

Working him in a round pen, teaching him to listen to you, and to get used to doing what you want will help too usually.