Arab owners....do your Arabs toss their head?

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Charla

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There are 4 Arabs at our yard and they all have the 'Arab head toss.' you see them doing it in the field, being ridden etc. Mine seems to do it when put under a bit of stress. It isn't often. He will just toss his head round once or twice. It isn't a big problem, but can be slightly irritating under saddle. If I'm asking him to attempt something new his head will go! Do you find a lot of Arabs do this? Does anyone know why? And do you correct it or ignore it?
 
Spud and Felix have the 'because I'm worth it' head toss thing going on, but Spud doesn't do it under saddle and Felix is too young to be under saddle. H doesn't do it at all.
 
Yes, all three do (one is only 50% arab). :)

When riding, I ignore it.

I have been told - by a really mean person ;) - that it's because their brains have slipped out of place and they need to shake it back into the correct place (small brain rattling around in a big skull). :p :D
 
I have never known an arab that doesn't, and I have known a great many of them :) Very few did it when under saddle though.

If they do it under saddle I generally ignore it. My current arab only does it when she is chasing the quad around after food.
 
Yes, I love it! Mine only does it in the field, usually when playing, or when he' s had a roll, a shake and then does a dramatic head roll and bats off down the field, head and tail in the air!
 
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Yep, mine does it when she is about to be naughty!! Gives me a bit of warning there. She will also bob her head if it's windy and her forelock is tickling her ears!!
 
Mine Never does it when ridden, occasionally when showing off in the field/stable. Usually accompanied by a snort that sounds like she's breathing fire- does anyone else's do this?
 
The only two arabs I have ever known both did it. I hated it, I know that sounds extreme but it irritated the pants off me - mind you that thread that is titled 'what breed of horse don't you like'........... ;)
 
Mine does that really dramatic jerking from side to side show off stuff when he is loose in the field and sees a reason to get epic.

when I am riding him, he did it a lot with badly fitting saddle but now that is sorted, he does it when he is excited - before or after a gallop - and challenged -- I make him goes past a tractor, or in the school when he is finding going in circles abit like hard work.
 
Neither of mine do this when ridden but very often in the field when that are messing about and my 5 year old has always tossed his head if I am leading him.
 
Suelin said:
But it isn't neurosis, it's fun and because they can. joie de vivre and all that. To be celebrated.
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Exactly! I like a horse to show it's enjoying life.
My arabs have always done the head toss thing when playing about in the field, but don't do it when ridden.
 
Mine does it when he's particularly happy with himself, mainly when out in the field when something fun's happening. He also does the dragon snort occasionaly when he's on high alert (because of little ponies behind a hedge- when you need to be at your most alert :D) it was quite unnerving the first time he did that under saddle!
 
Yes! Including the anglo's who think they're purebreds anyway ;0) They do it in the stable, in the field and under saddle, basically, when they are excited by anything - dinner, turnout, trotting, jumping etc! My Mum uses an irish martingale on hers, as he does it to such an extent that he'd often end up with one rein between his ears, teehee.

One of my previous ones also did the arab snort, sounded like an angry warthog and was EXCEPTIONALLY loud!
 
This thread has just confirmed in my mind what I think my lad is as he does it too! When you say 'head toss' do you mean diagonally? My lad will put his head down to the left and then flick up and to the right?
 
Broke_But_Happy said:
This thread has just confirmed in my mind what I think my lad is as he does it too! When you say 'head toss' do you mean diagonally? My lad will put his head down to the left and then flick up and to the right?
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They vary, mine usually do a full circle, but some do a semi circle, and some just a diagonal line ;0)
 
Broke_But_Happy said:
This thread has just confirmed in my mind what I think my lad is as he does it too! When you say 'head toss' do you mean diagonally? My lad will put his head down to the left and then flick up and to the right?
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It's the diva ..look at me, I'm beeeauutiful hair toss :D love it. Friend's little chap does it all the time but not when ridden. Can be a bit of hazard sometimes on the ground as he uses head and neck as a weapon like a giraffe:eek:
 
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