Horse throwing head, excitement?

C

CeeCee

Well-Known Member
Joined
23 May 2011
Messages
130
Visit site
Hi all,

Have recently joined H&H forums in the hope you guys have an idea as to the reason my 6yr TB mare might be throwing her head.

I've only had her for 3 months and she's and absolute star however when jumping or out hacking, stuff thats fairly exciting, she's throwing her head massively, she actually chinned me today and its starting to worry me that something may be wrong. She's ridden in a martingale and a loose ring snaffle for general riding and mullen mouth pelham for XC etc.

She's excellent to school with the occsional head toss if moving into faster work or jumping, my gutt feeling is it's pure excitement what do you think?

Just to add teeth, back, saddle have all been checked recently.
 
yes, it could just be excitement but if i were you, i'd think about these:

-if you've had her for a few months and you're working her properly, she will be changing shape. SADDLER

-when were her teeth last done? DENTIST

-has she been a bit tight over the back or bucking? CHIROPRACTOR

-or have you got a new bit recently. she may not like it so you might need to change the BIT

sorry about spelling but i hope this helps:D
 
Could be the bit. Is it single Jointed? Is she better in the pelham?

Could be seasonal, pollen allergy, flies, uv etc. Have you tried a fly veil and/or nose net?

Did the vet check ears when doing back and teeth? Was the poll checked along with the back?
 
CeeCee said:
Hi all,

Have recently joined H&H forums in the hope you guys have an idea as to the reason my 6yr TB mare might be throwing her head.

I've only had her for 3 months and she's and absolute star however when jumping or out hacking, stuff thats fairly exciting, she's throwing her head massively, she actually chinned me today and its starting to worry me that something may be wrong. She's ridden in a martingale and a loose ring snaffle for general riding and mullen mouth pelham for XC etc.

She's excellent to school with the occsional head toss if moving into faster work or jumping, my gutt feeling is it's pure excitement what do you think?

Just to add teeth, back, saddle have all been checked recently.
Click to expand...


Why do you put a pelham for XC? its quite a jump from a loose ring snaffle and she might actually have problems with the shape/thickness of it (presume its not a jointed pelham). TB's very often have narrow mouths and a thick bit can be very uncomfortable. Chucking her head up (as you have covered bit/back/saddle) when in exciting conditions also suggests she is trying to evade the bit. If you need a stronger bit for jumping, how about going back down to a snaffle and say, try a french link loose ring snaffle and work up from that? also check behind her jaw. I have had a TB (large one) whose jaw was so narrow I ended up putting him in a the snaffle part of the bridoon as the that was the only snaffle I could find with small enough rings. A normal snaffle ring would actually catch the other one behind his jaw. You can rent bits from the bit bank, or look on ebay for bits.
 
Is she an ex racer, mine is and he does it usually when he is excited or cross. He is affected by pollen as well which makes him do it more, have tried him in a nose net but this made him worse so i put vaseline round his nostrils which helps. I ride him in a curved thinish snaffle and no nose band which he seems to prefer!
 
Ditto check the bit. Does it suit her mouth conformation? Could it also be you? Do you hang on to the reins more hence she fights the contact due to discomfort?
 
I'd consider switching the running martial for a standing as this acts on the nose rather than mouth. If she is uncomfortable in her mouth and checking her head up to evade it then getting socked in the mouth by the martingale it could be making matters worse. A standing will also mean you don't get hit in the face by her neck.
 
Thanks for the replies,

Horsegirl18, although i've only had her 3 months she was worked before so no change there really, her teeth were done when I got her with no sign of any problems and she's has never bucked so doesn't indicate a back problem.

The loose ring was what her previous owner rode her in so obviously have continued with that, she was advised by an instructor on a elasticated standing martingale but i'm more concerned as to why she's doing it.

KrismasKatt, interesting thought on the allergys my other TB suffers with pollen allergys and is ridden in a nose net however her head throwing is intermittent and very different to when he is uncomfortable, she will walk a whole hack with nothing but as soon as we canter that's when is starts...

No her poll wasn't checked do you think that may be it?

Luci07, Sorry should of said its a french link loose ring and obviously tried jumping her in this too with the same head throwing, the pelham was suggested by a friend (after a xc round in the loose ring with absolutely no brakes) who has recently taken some bitting course's and is now a stockist of neue schule bits so may well be an idea to go back to her to get some advice.

Pines of rome, no not an ex-racer but my other horse is and her behaviour defiantly reminds me of him in is younger years! LOL Hence why i think excitement.

TeddyT, i'm obviously very concious of her doing this now so very careful on what i'm doing with my hands, she works on her own outline with just the occasional "check" which she accepts. Today for the example the chinning incident was before a canter, i was anticipating her throwing her head so completely gave her the reins and encouraged her forward with my seat to which just threw her head before eventually going forwards, the head throwing is clearly uncomfortable but i'm aware that holding her is only going to make it worse.

If its the bit why would she be doing it when jumping or fast work and not other times?

Again thanks for all the replies!! :)
 
Well if it is pure excitement I would get a standing martingale on before you loose some teeth or get your nose broken.

Even if there is more to it than excitement this will keep you safe until you get to the bottom of it.

Discomfort in the poll or ears can cause head tossing. I'd keep investigating while using a standing martingale for safety.
 
Hello, dont knwo if I can help but ...

I have a TBx pony mare I bought as a 5yr old. She was very senstive. I had her teeth/back etc done after she arrived. Intially she was in a happy mouth straight bar eggbut. She was awfull to hack, thowing her head constantly up and down. If I gave the contact she used to just go faster but still chucking her head. I nearly gave up. Tried all sorts of bits and found she is happiest in a loose ring snaffle with a lozenge (made by cottage craft). It took 18 months but suddenly she relaxed. I always know when she is stressed as the head tossed starts to appear but if its any encouragement we have managed to do well BD medium and am now BE90ing. I do believe it can be soley excitement. Good luck
 
KristmasKatt said:
Well if it is pure excitement I would get a standing martingale on before you loose some teeth or get your nose broken.

Even if there is more to it than excitement this will keep you safe until you get to the bottom of it.

Discomfort in the poll or ears can cause head tossing. I'd keep investigating while using a standing martingale for safety.
Click to expand...

Thanks!

Yes think you might be right, really don't want to lose any teeth! :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top