Causes for head throwing

[That_midgit_equestrian]

My cob has been head throwing a lot we thought it was pollen but even after we have exploited Vaseline nose nets and anti histamines he still does it

 

[BSL2]

Many variables. Teeth, back, saddle. Get all these checked. Change of girth or saddle cloth?. Do all the basic comfort checks, then think about work, are you asking for more? Is he finding it difficult?. Also, weight gain at this time of year can affect the fit of all tack. So just check that. Hope you find the answer to his question.

 

[Sossigpoker]

Try giving her a bit more rein and ride her forward. In this she looks like she's fighting the short rein.

 

[Flying_Form]

My cob has been head throwing a lot we thought it was pollen but even after we have exploited Vaseline nose nets and anti histamines he still does it

might be trying to avoid contact if your reins are too tight, try loosen your reins a little bit - not super loose or anything just soften your contact.

nonetheless get the usuals checked - back, teeth, check for any lameness and check the saddle fit and bit fit. Might need a softer bit either! I had a pony who loved a hollow mouth snaffle but if ever I put him in a regular, slightly thinner snaffle he’d head toss too - it wasn’t hugely thinner than the hollow mouth but his behaviour was totally different between the two!

 

[Ratface]

This comment is not meant to be unkind. Consider taking some riding lessons with a BHS accredited instructor.
Consider the advice given by Flying_Form above.
Drop your stirrup leathers a couple of holes, to reduce the pressure on the rear of your saddle.
Relax your hands, wrists, arms, shoulders and avoid fighting your horse.
Ride at walk on a longer rein. Try steering with your weight in the stirrups, not on your pony's mouth.
Good luck, and I hope you find a comfortable way of riding together.

 

[Trouper]

Does he do it with a riding instructor?? If not, then all the above advice is good.
If he does, then I would pursue the medical route.

 

[scats]

Does this happen all year round or just summer?

 

[nutjob]

If he's lunged in just a headcollar does he do it?

 

[That_midgit_equestrian]

Many variables. Teeth, back, saddle. Get all these checked. Change of girth or saddle cloth?. Do all the basic comfort checks, then think about work, are you asking for more? Is he finding it difficult?. Also, weight gain at this time of year can affect the fit of all tack. So just check that. Hope you find the answer to his question.

100% sure the saddle fits has had it checked we want to exhaust all other options befote looking at those as it can be expensive the dentist is coming shortley any way and he was 5* vetted when we bought him no long aGo and he passes with flying colours

 

[That_midgit_equestrian]

Try giving her a bit more rein and ride her forward. In this she looks like she's fighting the short rein.

Will try that with him

 

[That_midgit_equestrian]

might be trying to avoid contact if your reins are too tight, try loosen your reins a little bit - not super loose or anything just soften your contact.

nonetheless get the usuals checked - back, teeth, check for any lameness and check the saddle fit and bit fit. Might need a softer bit either! I had a pony who loved a hollow mouth snaffle but if ever I put him in a regular, slightly thinner snaffle he’d head toss too - it wasn’t hugely thinner than the hollow mouth but his behaviour was totally different between the two!

I think avoiding contact may be likely as he has been pulled in at previous homes so trying to retrain the correct outline but he does it out hacking when I’m asking of nothing at all and have very loose reins

 

[That_midgit_equestrian]

This comment is not meant to be unkind. Consider taking some riding lessons with a BHS accredited instructor.
Consider the advice given by Flying_Form above.
Drop your stirrup leathers a couple of holes, to reduce the pressure on the rear of your saddle.
Relax your hands, wrists, arms, shoulders and avoid fighting your horse.
Ride at walk on a longer rein. Try steering with your weight in the stirrups, not on your pony's mouth.
Good luck, and I hope you find a comfortable way of riding together.

We was jumping that day that’s why they a bit short but will try work with the other options

 

[That_midgit_equestrian]

Does he do it with a riding instructor?? If not, then all the above advice is good.
If he does, then I would pursue the medical route.

He does not do it as much at all but will still occasionally but a head throw in

 

[That_midgit_equestrian]

Does this happen all year round or just summer?

Only had him since April but apparently had not done it in his previous home

 

[That_midgit_equestrian]

If he's lunged in just a headcollar does he do it?

I don’t lunge him he’s an absolute idiot to lunge he gets so exited bombing round that he can sometimes fall over ?

 

[scats]

Only had him since April but apparently had not done it in his previous home

I ask because I have a horse who headshakes in bright sunlight. She can be a nightmare to ride on a sunny day. She’s much more settled in the winter and on grey days.

 

[That_midgit_equestrian]

I ask because I have a horse who headshakes in bright sunlight. She can be a nightmare to ride on a sunny day. She’s much more settled in the winter and on grey days.

Ooo that’s very interesting maybe she’s sensitive to the sunlight to her eyes? That’s a possibility i INOW you can get like ride sunglasses

 

[DZ2]

Ooo that’s very interesting maybe she’s sensitive to the sunlight to her eyes? That’s a possibility i INOW you can get like ride sunglasses

Try putting fly mask over the bridle and ride in it and see if it helps (and if it does you can then buy better looking bridle net to ride in). This made huge difference to my headshaker.

Mine also didn't headshake in his previous home but something setting him off at our yard, I suspect he's allergic to some crops growing nearby.

 

[Keith_Beef]

I'm following this thread with interest.

On Friday and on Sunday the horse I had for my lesson was throwing her head around. On Friday evening, I wondered if I had tightened the noseband to much, but my instructor said "no, it's probably tiny flies"; so tiny that I couldn't see them.

On Sunday morning she was doing the same thing and I was trying to keep my hands as soft and light as possible. She even did it when we were just standing at the end of the lesson listening to the instructor's feedback, leaving the reins completely slack.

I went up to the yard to see here tonight, in the box, and she wasn't throwing her head around, nor rubbing it against her legs or the masonry.

I'll be riding again on Thursday and Friday evenings and Sunday morning, so if I get this horse again I'll try taking her into the shade to see if she still shakes her head when out of the sun.

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

100% sure the saddle fits has had it checked we want to exhaust all other options befote looking at those as it can be expensive the dentist is coming shortley any way and he was 5* vetted when we bought him no long aGo and he passes with flying colours

I had my pony 5 stage vetted and she passed with flying colours too then started headshaking. She had a fractured tooth but the fracture was in the root of the tooth so we only found it by x ray. Is he young? Could be a wolf tooth? I also kept a diary when my pony’s headshaking was bad (before we found the fracture). I’d jot down what time of day I rode, the pollen count, if it was sunny/wet/overcast, the tack I was in (I tried different bits plus taking noseband off etc).

Can you get someone knowledgeable to watch you trot him up to check for lameness? Being a bit of a prat on the lunge is often because of pain or weakness.

 

[Miss_Millie]

Have you had the bit and bridle fitted by a professional? I see so many horses fighting against bits that are clearly uncomfortable for them, ill fitting bridles which are putting pressure on the poll, sensitive nerve endings getting pinched on the face etc. Professional bit and bridle fitting is just as important as saddle fit imo.

Cobs often have big fleshy tongues and low palettes - not much room for a bit to fit comfortably in the mouth without constant pressure. If the head shaking is non-stop I would not ride again until you have had a full dental inspection and a bit fitter out to check your bridle over. Your horse may be in pain which is not fair on him.

I would also agree that your reins look quite short in this photo - try riding from your seat and loosen your contact. Good luck with finding the solution.

 

[That_midgit_equestrian]

I had my pony 5 stage vetted and she passed with flying colours too then started headshaking. She had a fractured tooth but the fracture was in the root of the tooth so we only found it by x ray. Is he young? Could be a wolf tooth? I also kept a diary when my pony’s headshaking was bad (before we found the fracture). I’d jot down what time of day I rode, the pollen count, if it was sunny/wet/overcast, the tack I was in (I tried different bits plus taking noseband off etc).

Can you get someone knowledgeable to watch you trot him up to check for lameness? Being a bit of a prat on the lunge is often because of pain or weakness.

He’s 12 so not very young he has a baby face tho ? the dentist is coming soon anyway so we can see any issues there and that’s a really goof idea keeping a diary of that I’ll try it and ooo get someone to someone to watch me trot him up, I don’t think he’s in pain ok the lunge I think he just gets really exited and hasn’t been taught how to do it

 

[That_midgit_equestrian]

Have you had the bit and bridle fitted by a professional? I see so many horses fighting against bits that are clearly uncomfortable for them, ill fitting bridles which are putting pressure on the poll, sensitive nerve endings getting pinched on the face etc. Professional bit and bridle fitting is just as important as saddle fit imo.

Cobs often have big fleshy tongues and low palettes - not much room for a bit to fit comfortably in the mouth without constant pressure. If the head shaking is non-stop I would not ride again until you have had a full dental inspection and a bit fitter out to check your bridle over. Your horse may be in pain which is not fair on him.

I would also agree that your reins look quite short in this photo - try riding from your seat and loosen your contact. Good luck with finding the solution.

Last night he wasn’t half as bad as when I carried a whip and I thibk the other part it pollen allergy he’s in a poll pressure bit a Wilkie but will try him in the other one he came with a half cheek Waterford

 

[cauda equina]

Both those can be quite severe - could you borrow a plain snaffle and see what happens?

 

[Miss_Millie]

Last night he wasn’t half as bad as when I carried a whip and I thibk the other part it pollen allergy he’s in a poll pressure bit a Wilkie but will try him in the other one he came with a half cheek Waterford

If you are confident enough or have a more experienced rider who can help, perhaps try riding him in just a headcollar in the menage and see if this makes any difference. If it does then you know that the head tossing is due to bit pain. Please get a professional bit fitter to help you fit an appropriate sized and shaped bit - you can you do so much damage with an inappropriate bit. This website should tell you which bit fitters are local to your area:

https://www.horsebitfit.com/find-your-local-consultant-here.php

 

[Hormonal Filly]

My 4yr old started to do this, it seemed just like a pollen allergy. I bought a nose net but haven’t yet used it. I lowered the bit in her mouth, by one hole just to see what she went like. The bit wasn’t noticeably high but since I’ve done that she’s not shaken her head once!

She’s always been in a Neue Schule Loose ring snaffle. It’s only been a couple of weeks so time will tell. Thought it was worth mentioning. Obviously don’t want it low or hanging in their mouths but definitely look at your bit and bridle too.

Guessing you’ve checked her ears?

 

[sbloom]

I don’t lunge him he’s an absolute idiot to lunge he gets so exited bombing round that he can sometimes fall over ?

I'm not saying it's the only cause, or even the main one, but underlying your issues is a lack of balance for this little cob. He needs to learn to move more efficiently then he won't need to use his head and neck to balance so much. If you're game then the very best way to help him is from the ground, and I'd recommend https://www.wildmagicllc.com/master-class, but you'd also get benefit from a more "fun" (I think doing the very best by your horse, learning about them etc is the best fun you can have, but...) approach such as Jec Ballou 55 Exercises book, great resources out there from Ritter Dressage, Manolo Mendez - they all look at posture, balance, way of going, and long term soundness but they also impact on behaviour and mental well being for the horse too.

For your contact make sure your hands are slightly lifted, and slightly offered forwards, thumbs always on top (so few people seem to be able to maintain this but it's critical) and for me, I like the "flat fingers" approach where you can see your fingernails flat on the palm of your hand, with fingers not bent at the uppermost knuckle.

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

My 4yr old started to do this, it seemed just like a pollen allergy. I bought a nose net but haven’t yet used it. I lowered the bit in her mouth, by one hole just to see what she went like. The bit wasn’t noticeably high but since I’ve done that she’s not shaken her head once!

She’s always been in a Neue Schule Loose ring snaffle. It’s only been a couple of weeks so time will tell. Thought it was worth mentioning. Obviously don’t want it low or hanging in their mouths but definitely look at your bit and bridle too.

Guessing you’ve checked her ears?

So I had a bit fitting the other day and I ended up with this bit and she said especially for green horses it’s best to put it lower than you would normally because they can then hold the bit where they find it comfortable. Then as they become less green you can pop it up a hole. My mare was exactly the same. I tried it a few years ago (putting it where I would normally put a bit) and she hated it. Popped it down a hole the other week and she went much better.

 

[Miss_Millie]

So I had a bit fitting the other day and I ended up with this bit and she said especially for green horses it’s best to put it lower than you would normally because they can then hold the bit where they find it comfortable. Then as they become less green you can pop it up a hole. My mare was exactly the same. I tried it a few years ago (putting it where I would normally put a bit) and she hated it. Popped it down a hole the other week and she went much better.

Bits which are fitted too high can also put constant pressure on the 'grass muscle' on the tongue.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I see a lot of horses with the bit too high I think its a really common problem so many people are really not aware of the issues it can cause.