Horse throws head in the air in trot? Help?

[Meadow21]

I have recently bought an ex racer, I am however having some issues with his flatwork. I am taking things slow so only short sessions walk/trot under the saddle. He canters only on the lunge (he is super unbalanced) and short hacks just walking. In walk he is a dream, he is super supple and falls easily onto a contact. He’ll do serpentines, circles and even leg yields for a few steps at a time. He bends easily, extends and collects his walk just from the seat and a little half halt. As soon as I ask for trot all this goes out the window. His head shoots up into the air and stays there, and I mean literally pointing his nose to the sky. I cannot get his head down, I have tried everything. I have tried riding him through it, and his head just stays up lap after lap of the school. I have tried dropping the contact, wiggling my reins, holding my hands very low, keeping my hands still/unmoving, circling over and over. He has had back checks, teeth checks and saddle checks and everything is fine. I just don’t understand why he does this, as soon as we go back into walk he settles again and becomes soft. He is ridden in an eggbut snaffle with a lozenge. I have no issues stopping him, slowing him. He is happy to slow his pace from my seat, he just will not lower his head. I have not tried to canter him under the saddle yet due to this giraffe problem. Has anyone had a similar experience or any advice?

 

[Miss_Millie]

Have you had his saddle fit checked and also his teeth? The first things that spring to mind are saddle pinching in the trot or spurs on teeth causing discomfort and making him toss his head.

 

[Meadow21]

Have you had his saddle fit checked and also his teeth? The first things that spring to mind are saddle pinching in the trot or spurs on teeth causing discomfort and making him toss his head.

he has had them both checked last week, teeth done and saddle checked. I’m trying to get a the physio up for him.

 

[Berpisc]

Definitely check out for any sources of pain. Get a vet to look at him thenbwork from there. That would be my plan.

 

[AmyMay]

If most of your work is in the school, try doing more hacking. Hill work is great for getting the head down, as they can’t really get up the hill waving their nose in the air. It also means that they’re not having to balance themselves working on a small on a small circle.

 

[Spotherisk]

Lift your hands. https://legerete.co.uk/index.php/find-a-teacher/ Website is a bit basic but Google will give you much more info, vids etc.

 

[meleeka]

does he throw his head up when trotting on the lunge? I suspect the answer to that will help solve your problem.

 

[Sossigpoker]

Pain , head shaking or a bad habit.
If pain has been ruled out then you need a more consistent contact and more leg..and when you're using more leg , then use even more leg! Whatever pressure you have on the reins , the leg needs to be twice that strong.

 

[millikins]

Our Connie was like this when we first got him, he didn't understand the concept of leg aids and as a very forward going pony the temptation was less leg. I have to say no PC instructor grasped this, it was only when daughter had some lessons with a local horse importer/dealer who identified the problem in about 10 seconds that things improved dramatically and quickly. In our defence, we could both see what was wrong but didn't at that stage have the skills to solve it.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

How long has he been off the track? If only a short while his muscles may not be strong enough to support what your asking.

 

[Sossigpoker]

Our Connie was like this when we first got him, he didn't understand the concept of leg aids and as a very forward going pony the temptation was less leg. I have to say no PC instructor grasped this, it was only when daughter had some lessons with a local horse importer/dealer who identified the problem in about 10 seconds that things improved dramatically and quickly. In our defence, we could both see what was wrong but didn't at that stage have the skills to solve it.

My cob was like this. In fact he was scared of the leg. Thankfully I'm at a yard with a fab pro rider who sorted this and taught me to use leg even when I feel he's too forward. Not as a "go faster " aid but as a "please connect to my hand " aid.
It is do easy to just let a forward going horse run under his own steam

 

[vmac66]

My instructor says hands high and wide when my mares head comes up and she pokes her nose. It does work.

 

[Jellymoon]

I would prob get a second opinion on the saddle, or even a third! I only say this because my ish does a very good giraffe impression when his saddle is even the slightest bit wrong. Minor tweaks such as a change in flocking and shims, and he’s better again. Some horses buck and scoot when their saddle is wrong, this one just sticks his head right up in the air and won’t bring it down until I’ve had a chat with the saddler! He is young and weak over his back, so I’m working carefully on strengthening his back muscles so that he can tolerate his saddle a bit better. I also use a really physio. Also check your saddle isn’t too long for him - I’ve recently discovered how big a thing this is for horses. Even just half an inch too long can really upset them.

But if you are absolutely convinced his saddle is fine, then if it were me, I would find a trainer who is an expert in retraining ex racehorses. I think long reining may be your friend rather than lunging, but if you are like me and don’t do it that often, you might need a person skilled at it to start you off. I’d be googling to see who you have in your local area to help. I’d avoid the types that strap them down in gadgets for a quick result and go for someone who can really help you strengthen his back muscles over a long period of time.
Good luck on your journey!

 

[ycbm]

OK everyone, get your guns ready ?

Always provided everyone is absolutely certain this horse is not in pain.

It is not good for his back to trot with his head in the air. You already have the walk nicely sorted, so there is now no ridden option but to trot to sort this issue.

I would put him in draw reins.

NOT to pull his head down, but to stop him from sticking it up, it's quite different. NOT into an outline, just getting away from the giraffe, with his nose in front of the vertical and without the upside down neck.

Just for short sessions.

I've retrained a fair number of ex racers and sometimes what they need is to be shown that they can move a different way.
.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Our Connie was like this when we first got him, he didn't understand the concept of leg aids and as a very forward going pony the temptation was less leg. I have to say no PC instructor grasped this, it was only when daughter had some lessons with a local horse importer/dealer who identified the problem in about 10 seconds that things improved dramatically and quickly. In our defence, we could both see what was wrong but didn't at that stage have the skills to solve it.

I suspect its a problem similar to this as you need that leg to hand connection and he doesn't understand, it's just good old fashioned basic schooling really and his muscles are not developed to hold himself in a frame yet, I would have some lessons with a good instructor but it's going to take time.

 

[sbloom]

Check for pain, second opinion on the saddle, and postural groundwork. At the moment he has no idea how to carry you when he has to move with suspension. You can physically improve him much more easily from the ground, and teach him yields that will help him understand rein aids, though ultimately the rider's body, seat, legs and general contact is much more important. If it's helpful I can email the list of groundwork links I send to all my new customers, if you pm me your email address.

 

[LegOn]

OK everyone, get your guns ready ?

Always provided everyone is absolutely certain this horse is not in pain.

It is not good for his back to trot with his head in the air. You already have the walk nicely sorted, so there is now no ridden option but to trot to sort this issue.

I would put him in draw reins.

NOT to pull his head down, but to stop him from sticking it up, it's quite different. NOT into an outline, just getting away from the giraffe, with his nose in front of the vertical and without the upside down neck.

Just for short sessions.

I've retrained a fair number of ex racers and sometimes what they need is to be shown that they can move a different way.
.

100% draw reins are an excellent tool if used correctly and to help a horse understand what you are asking. Sometimes in the gym, you need a trainer to hold your position in the correct posture if you are lifting weights or are lifting incorrectly for the set of muscles you are looking to target, or you might use a Pilates band to hold your form - until the muscle memory is built up correctly to be able to feel when your form is right or wrong - I feel the same applies for horses.

 

[ycbm]

100% draw reins are an excellent tool if used correctly and to help a horse understand what you are asking. Sometimes in the gym, you need a trainer to hold your position in the correct posture if you are lifting weights or are lifting incorrectly for the set of muscles you are looking to target, or you might use a Pilates band to hold your form - until the muscle memory is built up correctly to be able to feel when your form is right or wrong - I feel the same applies for horses.

I've had horses put in draw reins say "oh THAT'S what you wanted! Ooh, how surprising, it's much more comfy than being upside down, isn't it? " and click from that point on.

I think a "head in the air" problem is very different in a horse that's been in racing stables from a newly starting horse. As a big generalisation, nobody cares much if a horse on the way to the gallops for fast exercise trots like a giraffe, and it can be a bit of a habit.
.

 

[littleshetland]

Draw reins definitely. They worked a treat on an ex racer I had. I didn't need to use them for very long, and he soon got the idea.

 

[Rumourhasit22]

Our Connie was like this when we first got him, he didn't understand the concept of leg aids and as a very forward going pony the temptation was less leg. I have to say no PC instructor grasped this, it was only when daughter had some lessons with a local horse importer/dealer who identified the problem in about 10 seconds that things improved dramatically and quickly. In our defence, we could both see what was wrong but didn't at that stage have the skills to solve it.

Hey I've just been looking and your Connie sounds very similar to mine I'm having a lot of issues with him started in school now going on the hacking. Could I message you would be great to know what your instructor done. Many thanks

 

[Shilasdair]

Could be a habit of his - or it could be your riding.
If you lunge him in trot, in longish side reins - what does he do?

 

[Annagain]

Usual caveat of ruling out pain applies but are you sure you're not accidentally / unwittingly hanging on to him a bit? After having my confidence knocked a bit I've started riding my friend's very sweet but green cob. I was struggling with him lifting his head and curling back at me and it wasn't until I had a lesson on him that I realised (was told) I was subconsciously trying to hold his head there and ride him with the hand break on. I needed to push him forward to 'fill the rein' as my instructor calls it and not worry about where his head was. As soon as I trusted that he wasn't going to run away with me if I pushed on we started to get it. My new mantra is "hands up, soft rein, leg on" as opposed to "heavy bits back" as it had to be with my previous horse.