baffled by tail swishing

[impresario08]

My new ex-racer, whom I've had for a few months, seems to swish his tail quite a lot under saddle and on the lunge. Physio, back, teeth, saddle, feet all checked/done. Bit unsure as to where to go next? It is the type of tail swishing as if he's trying to get rid of a fly or something tickling his back (there's nothing literally irritating him, I've checked!)

 

[Spins]

Ulcers maybe? Mine swishes his tail everytime i put my leg on but it was definitely pain related! Sorry not much help!

 

[Dave's Mam]

Some are just swishy.

 

[impresario08]

Thank you he does swish his tail when I put my leg on actually...physio checked some typical ulcer trigger points and no reaction. Hmm.

 

[Dave's Mam]

There is a vid of Bleu Hors Matinee doing a freestyle dressage test & she swishes the whole way through, but it really does look like exuberance & loving what she's doing. Our Arab does same, as soon as things get "fun" the tail starts to go!

 

[muckypony]

I have known horses to be very tail swishy when they're nervous?

 

[Kadastorm]

my boy has a swishy tail!

 

[Shady]

umm, i have to say iv'e never known mine to do this unless they are seriously irritated by something , whats the rest of his body language telling you? ears for example.

 

[Marchogaeth]

Mines a tension thing, she's generally quite stressy anyway, but if she starts swishing she's tense about something or other.
My old boy used to do when he was agitated, say you asks him to do something he didn't want to, eg. go more forward or lateral work (he was lazy!) he'd swish, sort of like he was annoyed and my riding instructors horse is swishy if the pressures up when his fitness isn't quite there, like during schooling and riding more demanding movements like piaffe or a pirouette

 

[impresario08]

thanks all for the replies so far

 

[Mrs G]

My horse is a swisher too - its like his tail has a mind of its own, its nearly always on the move. Like you OP, I was concerned at first but now I think its just how he is because its so constant. Does your horse only do it when ridden/lunged? What about in the stable or field- is the tail active there too? If its only when under saddle/being worked then I would think its discomfort or tension, otherwise and if there are no other signs or symptoms that concern you I wouldnt worry x

 

[impresario08]

My horse is a swisher too - its like his tail has a mind of its own, its nearly always on the move. Like you OP, I was concerned at first but now I think its just how he is because its so constant. Does your horse only do it when ridden/lunged? What about in the stable or field- is the tail active there too? If its only when under saddle/being worked then I would think its discomfort or tension, otherwise and if there are no other signs or symptoms that concern you I wouldnt worry x

thankyou sadly it is mainly under saddle/on the lunge.