Advice on Horse that keeps turning it's head during riding

K

kitjayne

New User
Joined
3 December 2012
Messages
6
Visit site
I currently ride in a riding school and have just moved onto riding a new horse. He is a 16h arab warmblood he is great to ride however, whilst I am trotting him around the manege he has a habit of turning his head to right, almost as if he is looking at the wall. After discussion with some people about this, I've been told it is because he is trying to "get away from me". He doesn't tend to pull on the reins as long as i keep my hands soft, but this head turning is most annoying! Is there anyway I can stop this or is there a piece of tack which could prove useful in stopping this? He currently using a snaffle bit and a running martingale.

Any advice greatly appreciated! :)

Charlotte
 
I asked this question a couple of months ago, although mine being funny with his head was a one off. The replies said get teeth and back checked, get physio out for back, and get yourself checked over too in case you're doing something easily fixable that's making him a bit skew-wiff. Hope you sort it soon!
 
It's impossible to say without seeing you ride him. It could be pain, your riding, his lack of schooling, or a combination of things. But, as he's a rs horse, your instructor should be able to identify why its happening, & either sort it or teach you how to correct it.
 
The_angel_littlelegs said:
It's impossible to say without seeing you ride him. It could be pain, your riding, his lack of schooling, or a combination of things. But, as he's a rs horse, your instructor should be able to identify why its happening, & either sort it or teach you how to correct it.
Click to expand...

This. A properly qualified (BHS) instructor and a vet would be my first port of call. My Tb did this, the instructor pointed out a problem following her schooling going nowhere, the vet confirmed bone spavin and compensation through back and shoulders.
 
Last edited:
Yes, bone spavin or hock arthritis is def a possible reason. When my old horse starts to do this it is the first sign that his hocks are getting stiff, cue expensive hock injections again...
 
Many thanks for all the responses, I have decided not to buy him now and he has actually been sold to someone else. However wanted to ask, he does have some oblong shape scars on his hocks they are about 1inch high by 1 cm wide could this be significant? They puzzled me as never seen anything like this before?
 
The_angel_littlelegs said:
It's impossible to say without seeing you ride him. It could be pain, your riding, his lack of schooling, or a combination of things. But, as he's a rs horse, your instructor should be able to identify why its happening, & either sort it or teach you how to correct it.
Click to expand...
This.

Does the horse do it wen ridden by other people?
 
As above - consult with your instructor. Could be something physical in the horse causing it to create a block or it could be something as simple as you not sitting entirely straight or blocking the horse more with your outside leg causing it to want to bend around it, without seeing you ride it is impossible to say. You need someone on the ground to help you with this specific horse. Is the reaction the same whether you ride sitting trot or post to the trot?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top