Bit advice for young Arab cross who headshakes

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YatesE

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I ride a 5 year old Arab x Welsh sec d. He was ridden in a full cheek snaffle but recently was changed to a French link. I have found he goes beautifully in it EXECPT for when he just wants to gallop! He doesn't listen to half halts or my positioning in the saddle and I hate having to pull at his mouth to get him to stop. On a normal ride he transitions beautifully and respects a loose rein with body position and voice to transition. I don't want a stronger bit but I have a feeling the bit is the reason for the headshaking. His teeth have been checked, saddle checked. We originally thought he was allergic to something so the owner brought him a net to go over his nose. Any help greatly appreciated.
 
Does he headshake all year round? During all activities? Some horses, particularly if young like this one, will shake when they are tired of the contact and working and just need to stretch down for a while... Others do so for heaps of other reasons.

If horse is not listening to non-bit aides then pulling on the mouth is (short term) the only way you are going to stop him. Putting a stronger bit in may mean you have to do less pulling to create the level of discomfort which will stop him - but you will still be using pain in the mouth to stop him even if you have to tug less. So, I guess you will want to work on getting him listening in other ways anyway... Circling and possibly one-rein stops are also 'emergency stop' type tactics you may want to get someone to show you both. But, more generally, learning how to talk to him so he will listen is probably the way forward.
 
I'm not sure about Arab crosses but I know sometimes my Arabs do like a head twirl kind of thing, not very helpful I know, off the top of my head I think some people call it drinking the wind. All mine are checked regularly by physio, vet ect with nothing wrong. It seems to be an Arab thing.
 
He has started headshaking I think since I changed his bit and it only happens after a time of me needing to use the bit as a stopping method or when he's been for a long hack, but I am the kind of rider that my instructor used to say "washing line reins"! Unless I need contact he has a loose rein as i'm only a happy hacker. I already use the one rein stop or emergency stop when really needed as I feel if I constantly keep hard contact he'll just pull harder against it. In a normal controlled canter I occasionally need to half halt him to steady his pace and he listens. I've had him in a gag once but I just hate stronger bits, yes I had to use less contact but he really hated it and became almost stand offish to it.
 
He only does it on the rare occasion with me (as he doesn't always gallop off)! But the owner apparently had a really bad experience on the road when he just wouldn't stop shaking his head so she felt like she had no control.
 
sounds like he just doesn't like that bit-if he only does it when it comes into play. some horses don't like a jointed bit-especially (in my experience) small natives and those breeds with low palates with thick tongues. something like a Cambridge snaffle might work-or my favourite bit, a peewee if you aren't interested in competing. I have used one on two Exmoors (one of which would not tolerate any jointed bit) and currently my Fell, who can be a bit strong but who has been brilliant in this-it also helps with turning. You can hire one I would think.
 
Thank you, I will have to google it as have no idea what either look like! In the mean time I am going to go back to his full check as this is single jointed and he never had a problem with it.
 
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