Bosal

Question
I bought my daughter a horse from the local sale barn. She (the horse) was 2 years old at the time. She is now 6 years old and still can't stand to have her mouth messed with. The owner before us hit and slapped her in the mouth and she will fight you if you try to put a bit, worm medicine or anything else near the mouth. We want to ride her and were wandering if a Bosal would be the right thing for her and if so how do you rig it up? The answers to your questions are 32 years old, 20 years exp, try to show her that good things can come from a gentle hand and not hitting her in the mouth, she is with other horses young and old, pasture. Thank you Heidi & Stormy

Answer
Hi Heidi, if you had the horse since she was two, what happen for the past four years?  Is she broke?  do you rider her?  What type of bit do you use?  You don't have to answer these but, this would explain some things.  You did not tell me how old your daughter is, that matter as well.

As for a bosal over a bit, this has helps many horses who have been ruined by rough or hard hands and improper use of a bit by inexperience hands.  Your 20 years of experience comments, makes me questions your experience.  I have a quote on my horse site, some people have 20 years experience and some people have one year of experience 20 times.  Not saying this applies to you, but your questions indicate you do not understand horse, what makes them tick, why they are the way they are, and other things that you need to know to fix this.

Not taking wormer is an issue, if she will not take it, how have you wormed her for the past 4 years?  Taking a bit, trailer loading, lounging are about things that deal with respect and the horse seeing you as leader and higher in the herd?  These issues are the symptoms not the actual problem.  

Visit my site and read my horse history page and my horsemanship page, then if that does not clear up some things, write me back.

Rick