Dressage Riders, Wobbly Head Syndrome, What's it all about??

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foxend

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Why do some riders nod their head? Just wondering really, some people do it but most dont. Why?
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and when you ask them if they thought the test went well how do they respond .........


"oh Yesh"


(Think of the Churchill Car Insurance ad)!



It really is awful to see the nodding head syndrome. I am sure if someone video'ed them they would soon sort it out. As the head is supposed to be one of the heaviest parts of the body and can seriously affect balance I am often surprised it doesnt make more problems for the horse and rider. However, I do think this is one of the more 'old fashioned' habits as I dont see hardly anyone doing it nowadays.
 
I can remember many years ago when I was a child having riding lessons, our teacher got on one of the horses, did an individual show for each of us and we had to point out what she was doing wrong....When asked what was she doing wrong, the only fault that I could see was that her head was nodding away merrily! - My answer was Wrong!
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[ QUOTE ]
and when you ask them if they thought the test went well how do they respond .........


"oh Yesh"


[/ QUOTE ]
FANTASTIC! Sums up so many dressage riders perfectly!
 
I've always been led to believe it's due to tension - not letting go as opposed to letting go too much?
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I've read about it somewhere I'm sure that someone will have a response - I'm happy to say I am not a nodder! LOL!
Kate x
 
Due to the rider not absorbing the movement through their pelvis and ankles...tension... the motion then comes out through "the top" ie... head bobbing!!
 
Head nodding is the result of the hips being closed and the shoulders not 'foldind down the back. These same peaple more often than not also have'piano hands' and elbows that are wider than the hand all resulting in breaks in connection and blocking the absorbtion of movement in their 'core' the lower back should not be used like a wobble board but the hips should open and close rather like sitting on a space hopper to bounce.
Whatever the reason its not correct!!!
 
It's when the seat isnt moving with the rythym, the head is instead.
In sitting trot something has to take the impact, it should be your hips but it can be your head (especially if you're tense in the jaw) or your feet
 
I personally have seen this on mainly the more mature riders. I always thought it was to do with the flexibility, as in not being able to absorb the movement so well, so the head bobs (I don’t think I explained that very well).
 
I agree with those who say it's tension in the lower back, hips, shoulders and jaw. I get all these and so I get mild "wobbly head syndrome". Then I promptly get yelled at by my instructor and I am slowly learning to "float" my head and loosen everything else instead!
 
I agree with all that's been said, but do you not think that in some better riders it is an affectation ie. that it is almost done for show or out of habit? I can think of one top event rider who does it quite badly yet rides beautifully in every other respect.
 
I was told it was called eventers nod! it was a long time ago so cant remember exactly why but something to do with riders in different disciplines crossing over to other disciplines & not having the correct posture. not sure any of that made any sense.
 
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