Head shaking, pulling down at canter

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HorseandGroom

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Hello

We have a stocky cob black & white about 16 hands he must be close to 10 years and has always been a bit of a pain to live with (I know its not a good start to a post but hey ho!) he is very quick in the brain, first to the food, always trying new tricks to fool you & will look at water and sometimes walk through it other times clear it at 6ft so hopefully thats painted a picture for you of what he's like.

When trotting he is generally fine but speed up to a canter, especially at this time of the year and he chucks his head around so much its a real problem that stops the canter as the rider feels unsafe as they are likely to be unseated.

Could this be Pollen and if so do the masks for pollen work at all and advice on this really would be good. I have read that some use magnesium based food for this.

Or is it possible this is habit and dirty tricks if so what can be done to stop it!

Thank you, Hopefully yours
Ian
 
When you say "he chucks his head around so much its a real problem that stops the canter as the rider feels unsafe as they are likely to be unseated." this does not really seem to point to headshaking per se especially if this only happens in the canter. Could it be that you ride him less in the winter and more in the summer so he is much fitter? Or could it be that as you increase his workload in the summer if you dont ride so much in the winter, he is beginning to hurt somewhere using muscles he's not accustomed to.

Have you had his teeth checked recently in case of sharp points? Is the bit to wide, tight or if you use a flash is it overtighted or too low? You really need to get these things checked first to elminiate pain as the cause before you assume the horse could be being difficult. Of course he could be excited with the cantering which makes him throw his head around a little or maybe he is being held in too much or the rider is a little unbalanced, and tosses his head around as a result of frustration.
 
Borrow a nose net and try it.

Get his teeth checked (my mare was doing this, turns out her teeth were shocking!).

Get his back checked over.

Is his saddle ok? As he starts to muscle up he'll be changing size and shape.
 
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