Head throwing - what Bit?

[jessicaamy88]

My friend has recently taken a horse on loan who constantly throws his head with any mouth contact especially in canter. I have a feeling it might have something to do with the bit he is currently in but we have tried different ones and nothing has helped. He sometimes just bounces on the spot and throws his head til you give him the reins then goes forward. If you give him more rein than needed tho he gets faster and faster. He can be quite strong and he is an ex race horse point to pointer so we dont expect him to drop his head and go in an outline. Has anyone got the same experience or any advice?

 

[JessPickle]

What bit is he in at the moment?

 

[RyanJoker]

Have you had teeth and back checked? One of these is more than likely the cause rather than a change of bit needed - and possibly schooling issues if ex racer - may just need time to adjust??

 

[jessicaamy88]

He has been out of racing 3 years and his owner said he has always done this with hid head. I asked her if she'd ever tried a different bit and she said no - dont think she was very experienced in the horsey owning world. His teeth and back etc are all upto date.
Not sure what bit she has him in at the moment but i will find out.
She has started doing abit of grid work and schooling with him but like i said - he does it mainly in canter in or out of the school

 

[morgan4eva]

Difficult to say without seeing him -unfortunately horses can quickly learn that when they put their head up they can evade the contact. Could be fear, could be pain (is he "headshaking"), could be being naughty. Someone with experience of lots of horses will probably be able to watch him and have a good idea. Otherwise it may be a case of trial and error. Anyway I would certainlly only ride him in something very soft with no poll action. Happy mouth mullens are always good and encourge horses to take up the bit properly.

 

[loopylucifer]

mine doesthis goes best in a myler 02 mouth. give tounge more room so can helpwith head throwing need to persaver for a few rides as the memory stays

 

[Sali]

Has he been seen by a dentist recently? First thing that came into my noggin was perhaps he's got a wolf tooth that needs coming out?
My coblet has had her wolf tooth for years (she's now nearly 12 and I've had her since she was 4) and it's only recently it's started to bother her - she started to throw her head about.

 

[CazD]

My mare used to do this - no matter what bit I used. A friend suggested I tried a Dr Cooks bitless bridle - which solved the problem completely. No idea why - the pone had her back, teeth etc all checked and there were no problems but she is definitely happier bitless.

 

[jessicaamy88]

He was passed to my friend in an eggbut snaffle but was out of work, the fitter he has got the more stong and silly TBy he has got. I dont think he tries to evade or avoid the bit, he does it when you take up contact for canter and ask for the transition then will do a few strides nicely then repeats this.
He has no wolf teeth and has had everything checked so we are still abit confused by him. We dont want anything with poll pressure as were not asking him to drop his head (he carries his head reasonably well for a TB out of racing not long) She has asked me to ask for any ideas to try - bits/excercises/bridles etc. Has anyone ever used those flexi reins? maybe these might help and when he pulls his head he wont keep unseating us.

 

[siant2]

My TB mare also used to do this with whatever bit she had in her mouth. Teeth and back also all checked and fine. A few months ago I changed her into a Dr cook bitless bridle and she is so much happier..... like a different horse

Ive figured she just dosnt like anything in her mouth, she goes equally well in her headcollar or hackamore.

 

[MandyMoo]

ever tried a nose net?? it seems silly but they can REALLY help with head throwers =)

or even try a hackamore if he/she is really bad with something in their mouth... id go with the nose net idea tho =) xx