Head tossing on a hack

[Gorgeous George]

You may have read that I took George's martingale off when I rode him in the school and this was very successful. However, yesterday I rode him out on a hack across the park without it and he was tossing his head about, especially when I asked him to slow or stop - oddly though he didn't become any stronger or naughty

Ideally I'd like not to put it back on as it is just masking the problem, so wondered what I should be doing when I'm riding to help the problem? If it's any help I hack him in a dutch gag with the reins on the middle ring.

Thanks

 

[madhector]

Hard to comment without seeing, but head tossing can be an eviasion method, I found when mine used to do it he was more likly to do it out hacking, and at the end of a particully tough schooling session. Try really working him from your leg and keeping him working the whole hack, rather than just hacking, everytime he tosses his head push him on with your legs into a contact so he has to work. He should eventually get out of the habit and you can start to give him his head a little.

 

[Walder]

Ditto MADHECTOR - use your legs very strongly - Juno tried that trick for a while after seeing another pony do it (she is a great copyer) but soon stopped after the leg treatment.x