Head shaking youngster

[Olliecp77]

Hey there, my 4 yr old has started head shaking and reversing trying to avoid going forward to work. I am trying my best to keep pushing him forwards but some days he gets stubborn and won't work. I try to perserve and end session on a good note. He was broken in November then had a break until Feb due to snow. I have some help with him but would like any tips. He's in a mouth bit with full cheeks which has been better than the snaffle I started him in.

 

[Echo Bravo]

Check his ears, bridle fitting well or are you near fields of rape as lots of horses get allergic to the pollen and that causes a lot of headshaking.

 

[unicornleather]

As Echo Bravo has said check the bridle as one of the most common causes of headshaking and largely overlooked is the browband being too short.
It has the effect of pulling the headpiece up onto the back of the horse's ears, irritating them.
To eliminate the browband see if you can get 2 adult sized fingers under it with ease when on the horse,
if so then you can cross it off the list, Oz

 

[Olliecp77]

Thanks for the replies. He has been very difficult to put the bridle on since the farrier did his first trim so I suspected they twitched his ear - I have to drop the bridle 2 holes each side to get it on due to his fear of ears being touched so I'll try riding a hole down and check the browband.