Head nodding - what to do about it?

[Mamamia]

I wonder whether any of you wonderful and talented riders can help me with a small problem I'm having with my new horse?

He is lovely on the flat, and very easy (bar some idiotic and totally irrational spooking!!). I've noticed recently however that in canter on the right rein he nods his head, a bit like the Churchill dog. It was also picked up in a recent Novice BD test I did. At the same time he flicks his tongue out of his mouth to the right - doesn't hang it out, just curls it up and flicks it in and out.

I'm guessing it's a contact issue and I have tried closing my left hand and straightening him (does tend to curl to the right), but that doesn't seem to help much.

Does anyone have any tips on how I can resolve this? My trainer isn't coming up for another couple of weeks, and I'd like to nip this in the bud now if I can.

Thank you!

 

[Britestar]

You maybe need a bit more power and balance in the canter. Mine did this for ages, but once he was stronger and more on the leg it stopped.

If he does it now, I know I'm slowing him down to much and just ask for a bit more, and it stops.

 

[MCTM]

Well I'm neither talented nor wonderful, but I'll let you have my thoughts!

I have the same problem sometimes in canter - basically agree with what Britestar said re power/impulsion/balance in the canter. When I get my mare moving forwards from behind better this is reduced greatly. What really helps with her is to do quite a lot of counter canter movements - straightens her up, engages the back end more and then it stops more or less completely.

 

[Mamamia]

Thanks both. I'll give that a go. He does have such a lovely lollopy canter, it can go a bit flat and stretched out without me really noticing. Do you have problems on both reins or just one?

Problem with counter canter is that he is facing out of the arena/towards the horse eating boards/dog/blade of grass which results in him either changing or stopping dead, pitching me out of the saddle. He thinks it's really funny, but it gets a bit boring after a while! I was warned that gingers have a sense of humour

 

[Britestar]

I found it worse on his stiff rein, but he still did it to the right, but to a much lesser degree.