Head shaking, bit evasion? Ideas please!

[Cazza525]

I have an old girl, homebred, quiet happy hacker, never really been schooled but is a saint to ride. She has had nearly a year off due to splint fracture and then granulosa thecal cell tumour removal. She has come through winter well and looks fabulous for 21 and what shes been through

I hopped on her just over a fortnight ago and hacked her out and she was just as shes always been, safe and sane, just a tiny bit spookier. I have ridden her a further 4 times, 3 times hacking and ten minutes in the school today, just walking and a tiny bit of trot.

She has always been what i would call 'fussy' with her head. She has a lovely soft mouth, has never been hauled about ( i know this, i bred, broke and been her only rider...ever!) she will offer an outline for a few seconds, then will either go behind or above the bit. She will try and rub her nose on foreleg whenever possible, she struggles more in trot with working properly and tends to evade.

I know i have only ever done a little school work over the years with her, but i have always schooled on hacks, i never allow her to slope along, i practise transitions etc whilst out, but i would like to do some basic schooling in the school with her now.

I ride her in a happy mouth snaffle, cavesson noseband, her teeth are up to date ( 4 weeks ago) a back lady checked her in december and said shes great for her age, no problems at all. Her saddle is made to measure for her and was checked 12 months ago....so due again!

Is this classic headshaking and if so, what can i do for it? Is she just naughty perhaps and being half warmblood she can be lazy! Perhaps she works for a bit, finds it too hard and then evades? And now its habit??

 

[Pearlsasinger]

The poor old girl has had a year off, you've ridden her 5 times and you are expecting her to be able to work in an outline and sustain trot? I'm afraid you need to go back a few steps re-introduce ridden work very slowly and carefully and build up her ridden work over time. I'm not surprised that she can't do what you are asking.

 

[Cazza525]

Oh god, im sorry, ive not made myself clear! I really havent asked much of her apart from having a couple of pootles around the block (10 mins)'in the last couple of weeks and five minutes walk in the school today! I really wouldnt ask very much at all from her ( after all, im blessed that she can be ridden and see a bit of life after all!).

It just struck me today in the school, as she was a little on her toes! The dartmoor hunt was in the vicinity you see, and i think everything on the yard was getting excited! I walked her around in hand for a good ten minutes to settle her, in and out of cones and bteween two poles on the ground and then getting her to stand and listen to me beside her. I got on her and walked her literally around outside of school on a loose, relaxed contact as she felt a little on her toes, she jogged a bit and i settled her with my seat and voice and talked to her gently. It was just that she was going behind and above the bit, trying to stop to put her front leg out to scratch her nose etc, and at this point i realised that she's ALWAYS done this.

I understand from my first post that it has made me come accross a lot different than i meant too! Sorry