Grackle - help, throwing head in air

[Dotilas]

Reading someone's post last night about a grackle, made me wonder...

My boy in canter throws his head up so high and seems like he is panicking - he's in a grackle because he tore apart his bridle and I don't have another flash...

He's doing this, but he just runs and runs... If I don't have spurs on, he does it practically on the spot and I can't send him forward...

Could a grackle cause this?

 

[Scribbles]

You could take the grackle off, ride him without a noseband, and see what difference it makes.

It could be pressing on his teeth - has he had them done recently?

 

[Elle1085]

i don't think so especially as you've got it low so it's not really working as a grackle more like a flash. did he do it before or is it just with the grackle? it is possible he just doesn't like it but it could just be a habit. i assume you've had his teeth etc checked. have you tried lunging him to see if he does it on his own or only with a rider, tbh what you describe sounds like it's caused by pain but you know your horse. i would have thought if the bridle was the problem he would do it in trot aswell

 

[Silverspring]

He might just be being an overly excitable pony but if in doubt take the grackle off and try him either with no noseband or a cavesson if he continue then you know it's not the noseband.

I would get his saddle and teeth checked anyway, it's always best to rule out a pain response then you can just get on with zooming round the field

 

[teddyt]

Firstly i would say get his teeth checked by the vet and his back at the same time.
I would also say that the saddle looks too far forward in your picture, almost on top of the shoulder blades. The points of the tree need to sit behind the shoulder blade or it will restrict the front end and your horse may not physically be able to go forward. Lift up the flap and towards the front of the saddle you will see a horseshoe shaped stitch line (There may be a girth strap over it). That is the position of the tree points and they need to go behind the shoulder. You also seem to be sitting at the back of the saddle, not in the middle.

With the saddle in the right place are you 100% sure it fits? This may contribute to the problem if it doesnt, so get professional help if youre not sure.

Once you have ruled out teeth/pain/saddle fit you could book a lesson with an instructor to help you. It may be your riding or the horses lack of balance but he/she will be able to help.

Good luck

 

[Forget_Me_Not]

Hello again!! You sound like me last year!! Spider was very similar with his head, up, up up and tense. I had his teeth, back and new saddle done and he did it less and less but adopted a false behind the bridle outline. In the winter he went to an event rider who put on a standing martingale which she said completly stopped this head throwing quite quickly. I think it might of been her decent schooling playing a part too. She also rode him in a full check happy mouth. I think maybe yours too has a very sensitive mouth like Spider so I would recommend this as it gave Spider something to take hold of alittle more, thus ride into instead of behind it. It wasn't too 'scary' either so he didn't panic when applied. Spiders always been in a flash and he can try to crank his mouth open. Rider wise Spider needs ALOT of leg to support and firm hands (so he doesn't get long and hollow) but light relaxed arms and elbows to get good work from him.

In short...

Teeth, back and saddle checked.
A standing martingale.
A happy mouth full check.
LOTS of leg.
Relax and soft arms.

Look familiar....

He had completly cracked canter with his rider but I haven't. This is the best I get really as I haven't mastered soft arms and shorter reins yet!!