Head Nodding

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SamanthaToby

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Hi All

Still finding my feed with the horse world.

We have been hacking out and he had recently started what I can only describe as Nodding?
I have changed his bit so its not that. He seems to tank on if I let him have the rains so I can't let him take it.
I have taken off the Martingale.
I have has his teeth checked and all clear.
He doesn't do it any other time than hacking down the road.

Any ideas would be appreciated.
 
AdorableAlice said:
Young horse or an older unfit horse ?
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He is 11, he is hack only so may be unfit. But I have been told that I cant school him? any help is greatly appreciated.
I do ride with a wip but i realy don't like using it i only take it to stop cars from getting too close. Other than this (and tanking off) he is a pleasure to hack out.
 
AdorableAlice said:
How long into the hack before he starts nodding ?

I have a young horse that nodded violently when he got tired. It rectified itself with a careful fitness plan but still appears if he has climbed one hill too many on a hack.
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He does it the minute we get off the stable for about half of the Hack and then he settles down and is his normal tank self.
 
SamanthaToby said:
He does it the minute we get off the stable for about half of the Hack and then he settles down and is his normal tank self.
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If it is the moment you get on him I think you need to look towards getting a good instructor to have a look at you and him. I am not sure what you mean by 'tank' but if it is a description for him leaning all over you and carting you along, you need to mention that to the instructor too. He could just be rude and being evasive, or his bit is perhaps not comfortable for him.
 
Not sure what you mean by nodding? Get someone experienced to take a look for you. It could be anything from absolutely no issue at all to a badly lame horse. Not sure how we are to judge on an internet forum without seeing what is going on.
 
The horse I ride does this when I am holding him back, he almost nods to say get off, let me go (he would gallop a whole 2 hour hack if I let him).

The fact you say he is a tank makes me think it could be the same? But you can't get better advice than already given, get someone experienced to take a look and see what they think.
 
If the horse consistently nods in time to one foreleg, then that may indicate lameness.

Some horses seem to be entranced by the feeling of the reins running through a running martingale. They nod up and down to feel the reins. This does not always be in time to one foreleg.

Youngsters tend to head toss near the end of a ride, I thneed they get backache.

Some horses head too when they are excited and resent being held back by the bit.
 
Try riding without a browband, or a much bigger one, although I usually find this behaviour shows up at the end of a hack when they get hot, or tired. My mare was quite bad doing any schooling, or when getting hot. I found out that a heavily padded headpiece stopped it, as she had suffered a trauma to C1 at some stage.
 
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