Horse throwing head when hacking out, how can I get him to pay attention?

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Horseymumma

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As the title says really, I have a TB who gets a little anxious/excited when I hack him out and throws his head around like a loony, it wouldn't be so bad but he doesn't pay attention to where he is putting his feet and he can be a bit all over the place. I am worried he will fall over because of it as he does it even when cantering.

He is, however, fine in the school and is mostly very well behaved.

I believe it's linked to slight nappy behaviour and he does sometimes try to reverse as well but will go forward eventually.

I have had all checks done, new saddle, teeth, back, bit....everything! To rule out any physical issues and I have also starting riding him in a martingale to try and deter him from doing it, it's helped slightly but he's still doing it.

I just wondered if anyone has any tips to get him paying attention to me whilst we're out and about? Or if anyone has a horse that does this too and how you deal with it?
 
He was in a happy mouth loose ring snaffle but I've recently changed it to a Neue Schule starter bit as they advised this would be the best for him. He does it in both styles.
 
It's actually quite common TB thing :) so you are not alone, basically, you are right, nappiness and trying to evade contact in order to do their own thing.
You could try bitless, it suits some, my personal opinion is that it is just avoiding the issue and I believe you need to school it out of him. I know it is easier said than done, but perseverance will get you there. School on hacks as well. Imagine that your hands need to control the whole front of the horse, not just the head, spread your arms away from the neck, encompass the shoulders; now all you need to do is keep your leg active and maintain straight, direct line between your hand and his mouth at all times. He bends and evades to the left - your right hand goes even further to the side, he straightens, you straighten etc. It's a bit difficult to explain, but I hope you get the picture :)
Mine then does a last ditch attempt at the ''fish out of water impression'' and then actually takes notice of me :)
 
My ex racer is exactly the same. In fact he was so bad in the beginning, that I wouldn't hack out until we had sorted out the schooling side, i.e. transitions, working on the bit etc. He used to hack out at 100 miles per hour, spin in circles when I asked him to wait as traffic was passing etc, or threatened to rear if he was unable to keep his feet moving. It is unfortunately, a typical ex racer trait. So, we went back to basics with regards to the schooling etc. Then, walked him in hand a lot, letting him graze, so he could see the traffic, the bikers etc, then progressed to hacking short distances, and kept the same route. BUT, as soon as we leave the yard gates, he HAS to 'work', he is kept in an outline and we incorporate transitions etc. If he doesn't work, then he starts to look for tigers in the hedge, his eyes get bigger and I can feel him starting to nap and it wouldn't take much for him to spin round and tank off for home. Funny enough, often on the way home now, I give him his head and he will walk back at the end of the rein buckle, I find its the first 10 minutes that he is all over the place and that's when I have to keep him in an outline. I also ride in a neuve schuele team up bit, as recommended by Rowena Cook at the ROR.
 
exracehorse said:
My ex racer is exactly the same. In fact he was so bad in the beginning, that I wouldn't hack out until we had sorted out the schooling side, i.e. transitions, working on the bit etc. He used to hack out at 100 miles per hour, spin in circles when I asked him to wait as traffic was passing etc, or threatened to rear if he was unable to keep his feet moving. It is unfortunately, a typical ex racer trait. So, we went back to basics with regards to the schooling etc. Then, walked him in hand a lot, letting him graze, so he could see the traffic, the bikers etc, then progressed to hacking short distances, and kept the same route. BUT, as soon as we leave the yard gates, he HAS to 'work', he is kept in an outline and we incorporate transitions etc. If he doesn't work, then he starts to look for tigers in the hedge, his eyes get bigger and I can feel him starting to nap and it wouldn't take much for him to spin round and tank off for home. Funny enough, often on the way home now, I give him his head and he will walk back at the end of the rein buckle, I find its the first 10 minutes that he is all over the place and that's when I have to keep him in an outline. I also ride in a neuve schuele team up bit, as recommended by Rowena Cook at the ROR.
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This.

If you HAVE to hack, and he's being unsafe, then I'd resort to either draw reins or a bungee until he settles- when Reg is in high spirits Al has to hack him in a bungee on a loose setting. It just prevents the worst of the hurling himself about and getting his head right up to evade without strapping him in.
 
He's actually well behaved in traffic on the roads, he does it more when we are in fields,I think the open spaces overwhelm him a little. I'm lucky that he doesn't try and tank off with me, it's more that I'm worried he'll slip and fall because he just doesn't look where he's going and will lose his footing when we are on uneven ground.
 
I will try and keep him in an outline and school out on hacks too as suggested. That may give him something to think about other than "let's race!"
 
My tb mare - 7yo - does the same. I get covered in slobber and occasionally nearly head-butted! It's linked with nappiness, confidence and tension. I'm told that when trust in me increases, and therefore confidence then this will subside.

I have seen evidence of this in the field and yard...when she first arrived she would do it quite a lot, but now only tends to do it when asked to do something alone ie. Leave the field alone, or when she thinks you are late with her tea!
 
Go bitless. I bought a TB mare specifically for LDR - an ex high class showjumper whose pictures always showed her with the kitchen sink in her mouth. She flung her head about (and also jig-jogged endlessly).

I started to ride her in a hackamore (I'd never used one before so a bit of a learning curve) and she was a different horse. Lots of people now (this was some 12 years ago) would probably say try a Dr Cooks bitless bridle . I haven't used one myself but many swear by them.

The mare is sadly long gone, but I always ride bitless if I can. More comfortable, more practical - it's (to me) a no-brainer.
 
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