Help required - keeps pulling head down

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Billie

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Over the past year Billy has developed a habit of pulling his head down when hacking out. It is something he has always done if he is tired at the end of a long ride and I'll let him have his head to stretch and then he is ok but he has started doing it on short rides/early on in the ride etc and it will vary everytime, sometimes he starts doing after 10 minutes other times it will be 1/2 hour. I have had his back/teeth/saddle checked and all is ok. It is quite annoying and he persists until I let him have his head. I ride on a fairly long rein when hacking anyway.

It's not a naughty thing and I'm sure he genuinely does need to stretch but why?

Any help/advice would be apprieciated
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Would a waterford be of any help? that way it is harder to pull you down, I use one with pickle because he had a habit of putting his head down innocently so that later on it would be easier to run away!
 
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Would a waterford be of any help? that way it is harder to pull you down, I use one with pickle because he had a habit of putting his head down innocently so that later on it would be easier to run away!

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Thanks for the idea but it isn't a strength issue. He just pulls his head down like he needs to stretch.
 
Maybe its a muscular issue and not a back problem?? As he is getting older his muscles may be a bit stiffer than they used to be and some days are better than others.

As you know Trike had a lot of muscular issues and he used to do this all the time.

I could be way out though as it could be a number of reasons. He could just be trying to evade work.

Maybe give Nicci a call??
 
[ QUOTE ]
Maybe its a muscular issue and not a back problem?? As he is getting older his muscles may be a bit stiffer than they used to be and some days are better than others.

As you know Trike had a lot of muscular issues and he used to do this all the time.

I could be way out though as it could be a number of reasons. He could just be trying to evade work.

Maybe give Nicci a call??

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Hi Kelly!

Thanks for your reply. I think you're right about it being a muscular issue and maybe not one that can be picked up as a general thing by a physio, just older aching muscules. I'm going to call Nicci this week and see when she is around next. There are quite a few things I want to ask her anyway.

Hows Senza going? Any more shows planned?

A friend of mine has moved to my yard and we're hacking out together, it is great, I'm getting in a lot riding and Billy seems really well (other than this neck pulling thing!)
 
Hi ya

I definatly think its probably more to do with age and achy muscles than him being naughty as he is usually such a gentleman. I'm sure Nicci will be able to suggest something if it is that.

Aww i'm pleased you have a new riding buddy
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Bet Billy is loving all the hacking and it gives you some company.

Senza is going really well, we have had a bit of an easy month over December and probably Jan too as i have no shows planned until Feb but she has calmed down now and settled in really nicely. Still doesn't like the others going out without her though and has a hissy fit but no more caving in the stable walls LOL.

She has dropped a bit of weight lately though which is worrying me. I put her on Topspec which didn't work at all and she was having loads of other stuff as well. Now i have changed her to the soaked oats diet and she has been on it for about 3 weeks. She seemed to put a bit of weight on but has stopped again
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You can see her ribs and she has poverty lines on her bum but i cant get weight on her for love nor money. She also has about 6 wedges of hay a night and is in a field with excellent grazing for this time of year too.

Vicky reckons i wont get any weight on her no matter what i do as she is probably going through one of those youngster stages.

How are the wedding plans going??

Sorry to ramble on LOL
 
He seems bright and happy to be out hacking so I hope it isn't anything to uncomfortable for him. He is nice and lively out hacking and as his hacking buddy is an old friend of his from years ago he seems very happy
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Not sure what to suggest for Senza. Maybe it's a growth thing and she'll fill out in time, she is still very young, has she had any time turned away? Maybe reduce her work load? Have you tried Blue Chip?
 
How strange this is exactly what Axel has been doing too! I often let him have a stretch but he will suddenly pull his head down almost pulling me forward out of the saddle. he does this in the school and out hacking. He's only 5 this year so can't be an age thing. His back saddle teeth have been checked.

Sam x
 
She was on Topspec and that did make a bit of a difference but not as much as i would of liked. My friend thinks its just a growth spurt but she has been like it for about 6 weeks now
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She hasn't been turned away but she has had weeks off here there and everywhere and since her last comp (2nd Dec) she has just been in light work a few days a week. Just a gentle hack around the block usually and she has olny been jumped twice.

She has also just changed fields to the bigger one with a lot more grazing so i am hoping that will help too.

I'm sure she will fill out when spring comes but i just worry that people think she looks like a hat rack!!!
 
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