Tales from the Horse's Mouth: Part One
© Sally White
This gives some idea of how damaging it can be if a bit is introduced without taking the time, sympathy and patience to do it right. Many behavioural problems seen in young horses can be traced to a simple pain response to a poorly-fitting or badly-used bit. It is possible to save yourself, and your horse, a lot of frustration by paying proper attention to this vital part of his education.
The key ingredient is time, and plenty of it. Since you will be thinking of starting to train and eventually ride your horse in his third year, you should make sure he is very used to his tack well before this. Horses wear halters from foals, and winter rugs from not long after - it is a simple extension to introduce a bridle and saddle.
I began introducing a bit to my horse when she was about two. Some prefer to start right from the start, by putting the bit into a feed bucket and allowing an inquisitive foal to play with it, mouthing it and investigating it for himself. Personally, I don't use this approach simply because a more timid foal is just as likely to be afraid of the bit and develop a morbid distrust of it: but you know your horse best, and how he is likely to react.
Whatever age you choose, the first thing you need to reach for is not the bit and bridle, but the telephone and the number for your nearest vet or horse dentist.
The soft tissue in a horse's mouth gets damaged very easily, and probably the most common cause of discomfort in a horse's mouth is sharp or uneven teeth. Young horses should, in any case, have their teeth checked every six months (and older horses once a year) by a professional. A dentist or vet will rasp spurs and spikes which develop on growing teeth down to a smooth, comfortable surface. This is especially important when starting to use a bit, when the horse's cheeks can be pressed against his teeth by the bit rings, and a call in the vet or dentist to see your youngster's teeth in the weeks leading up to the day the bit will be introduced is an essential part of his preparation.
