Head Snatching

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katiex2

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Ok I have a warmblood mare (8 years old but treat her as a 4 year old) who I have had for 3 months now. She is very green and I am presently attempting to school her up. She can now walk, trot and canter on command and is proving to be quite a quick learner. However, she has now started head snatching!!! She is in a sweet iron loose ring french link and seems happy in it but as soon as I try to take a contact she is resisting. I am getting her teeth checked next week but what do you guys think???? Would welcome any thoughts!!!
 
Try a different bit as the french link might not suit her. To encourage them to take a contact, I sometimes swap them into a straight bar...nylon or nathe for a while. When they start to take a stronger contact in it, I change back to their normal bit.
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Agree - change the bit - flash noseband only. Work on getting her to work through from behind and working straight. Have had same issues with my six year old German Warmblood - now worked through it and going beautifully. Have battled with my hands as well - keeping them still as poss and taking good hold and not allowing reains to slip or her to grab.
 
And as an experiment, try working her on the lunge in side reins and see what she does - if she still rein snatches, then you've ruled out riding issues. On the lunge, she will learn to work in an outline more quickly, as if she resists, the side reins won't give, whereas you, as a kind and caring rider, probably do despite yourself.
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I have been lunging her in a pessoa which she is fine in - occasional snatch but nothing like when she is ridden!! She is very lazy so I can't help wondering if she is just looking for an excuse!!!
 
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I have been lunging her in a pessoa which she is fine in - occasional snatch but nothing like when she is ridden!! She is very lazy so I can't help wondering if she is just looking for an excuse!!!

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Try to keep your hands elastic but still...and when she starts, ride strongly forward from your leg, then when she softens relax the rein forward, and allow her to swing through.
I work horses into an outline with my leg, not moving my hands other than following the movement and that seems to help)
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