Horse throws head in then up? What could it be?

[deoni]

My tb who i got earlier this summer has always thrown her head in, then upwards. Does anyone have any idea of what it could be? She does it more on the way home on a hack, and towards the end of schooling her, sometime when you put pressure on her mouth (she doesnt like any pressure!)

She has had another saddle fitted last month as she is only young, which hasnt helped it.
Had a chiro out a few months ago and now getting a physio next week to see if that helps.

I have a feeling it could be her bit as she doesn;t like pressure on her mouth? She is a TB and easy to stop etc and is just in a loose ring french link snaffle. Any ideas? Also is anyone good on conformation who I can PM some pictures to? thanks

 

[asommerville]

my 5 yo does it as an evasion, once you have ruled out back, tacknetc i would get an instructor to have a wee look. the trick with mine is to push him.forwards, when he is forward he stops it

 

[Pearlsasinger]

It sounds like discomfort with the bit. Try putting it up a hole to start with.

 

[deoni]

my 5 yo does it as an evasion, once you have ruled out back, tacknetc i would get an instructor to have a wee look. the trick with mine is to push him.forwards, when he is forward he stops it

Her back and saddle are definitely fine. I'm wondering if it could be her bridle, i'm thinking of getting her a comfort bridle as she gets irritated easily and see if it helps.

 

[deoni]

It sounds like discomfort with the bit. Try putting it up a hole to start with.

I have a picture of the bit from yesterday, does this need to go up? this bit is a newish one we have tried, the one she came with was to small. https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd....x720/217979_10152044220755004_183503088_n.jpg

 

[Haha]

I have a picture of the bit from yesterday, does this need to go up? this bit is a newish one we have tried, the one she came with was to small. https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd....x720/217979_10152044220755004_183503088_n.jpg

Have you had her teeth checked?

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I have a picture of the bit from yesterday, does this need to go up? this bit is a newish one we have tried, the one she came with was to small. https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd....x720/217979_10152044220755004_183503088_n.jpg

My first thought is 'yes', although all horses are different but the rule of thumb is that the corners of the mouth should be wrinkled a bit. I'd put it up a hole each side and see if there's an improvement. Do let me know how you get on.

 

[deoni]

Have you had her teeth checked?

The vet did them when he did her jabs about 2 months ago, he rasped them and said they were ok. Have the dentist out next month though for another horse so going to book her in as have thought this too! she is only 4 so is a possibility if the vet missed something.

 

[Haha]

My first thought is 'yes', although all horses are different but the rule of thumb is that the corners of the mouth should be wrinkled a bit. I'd put it up a hole each side and see if there's an improvement. Do let me know how you get on.

I think the rule of thumb is 2 wrinkles either side. But I would still get her mouth checked if she is avoiding contact best to start checking teeth first where you put the bit.

 

[deoni]

My first thought is 'yes', although all horses are different but the rule of thumb is that the corners of the mouth should be wrinkled a bit. I'd put it up a hole each side and see if there's an improvement. Do let me know how you get on.

Thanks, I will try that tomorrow and see how it looks etc!

 

[Surreydeb]

If only young and towards end of the ride I would say not yet correctly muscled and back aching. If you give her the reins does she then stretch down? If so I would put my money on just a bit of a back ache and allow and encourage her to stretch forwards and down at the end of the hack or schooling session.

 

[deoni]

If only young and towards end of the ride I would say not yet correctly muscled and back aching. If you give her the reins does she then stretch down? If so I would put my money on just a bit of a back ache and allow and encourage her to stretch forwards and down at the end of the hack or schooling session.

She has the reins 100% of the time as she doesnt like pressure on her mouth and have only been hacking out mostly so it's easier to have no contact. In the school though (which is rare we go in) we give her the rein but she doesnt stretch down after, how can i encourage this? we have the physio coming, her saddle wasnt quite right when we got her but she has one fitted now.

 

[hogged cob]

My cob used to do this and I called the bit bank and they recommended a bomber happy tongue with rollers as he used to grab hold of the bit as well. What a difference, he is like a different horse, its brilliant and well worth a try. The only downside is the price!!!

 

[deoni]

My cob used to do this and I called the bit bank and they recommended a bomber happy tongue with rollers as he used to grab hold of the bit as well. What a difference, he is like a different horse, its brilliant and well worth a try. The only downside is the price!!!

Ooh thank you, just read it says
"A horse shaking its head when bit pressure is applied or its tongue trying to escape the bit are classic signs the horse has a sensitive tongue. With this in mind the Happy Tongue was created, it has a medium port creating space for the tongue, relieving pressure, allowing the horse to relax."

I might get it on a trail and see if it helps. Did you get this one http://www.horsebitbank.com/loose-ring-cherry-roller-happy-650.phtml

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Did you try putting the bit up a hole, what effect did it have?

 

[deoni]

Did you try putting the bit up a hole, what effect did it have?

Not yet, it didn't stop raining all day! Hoping to try it tomorrow

 

[Nickijem]

My horse was loads better when i changed to a hanging cheek snaffle. My instructor thought he had a sensitive mouth but the hanging cheek has made a big difference.

 

[mcnaughty]

My old horse used to do this at the end of exercise - I always used to put it down to tiredness through the back. It never affected him in any way.

 

[Copperpot]

I have a bomber happy tongue too. My horse goes better in this than his NS verdibend.

 

[Bertolie]

My horse used to do this - I now ride him in a Dr Cook's bitless bridle.....he doesn't do it anymore!

 

[Miss L Toe]

I would try her with a bigger brwoband, or take this one off, to me it all looks too neat round the ears.

 

[cremedemonthe]

I would try her with a bigger brwoband, or take this one off, to me it all looks too neat round the ears.

I agree as a saddler I see this from time to time,
it's one of the most common causes of headshaking and largely overlooked is the browband being too short.
It has the effect of pulling the headpiece up onto the back of the horse's ears, irritating them.
To eliminate the browband see if you can get 2 adult sized fingers under it with ease when on the horse,
if so then you can cross it off the list, Oz
PS if you are not sure, try removing the browband completely as Miss L Toe has suggested,then go in the school for a while to see if it makes any difference

 

[deoni]

I would try her with a bigger brwoband, or take this one off, to me it all looks too neat round the ears.

I agree as a saddler I see this from time to time,
it's one of the most common causes of headshaking and largely overlooked is the browband being too short.
It has the effect of pulling the headpiece up onto the back of the horse's ears, irritating them.
To eliminate the browband see if you can get 2 adult sized fingers under it with ease when on the horse,
if so then you can cross it off the list, Oz
PS if you are not sure, try removing the browband completely as Miss L Toe has suggested,then go in the school for a while to see if it makes any difference

Thanks, that is something i have worried about to, bought her a comfort bridle cob but was way to big and couldnt find a bridle to fit her weird, tb small head! I know it feels a little tight up the top and i asked my intructor but she didnt think it was that, but i cant get 2 fingers under it with ease - they squeeze under though! I'm thinking of buying a micklem bridle, would this help? Thinking about it when i tried her she was in a different bridle (noseband - grackle and bit - gag) and she didnt shake her head as far as i remember. she came with this bridle though.

 

[cremedemonthe]

Let us know how you get on, Oz

 

[devonlass]

My tb who i got earlier this summer has always thrown her head in, then upwards. Does anyone have any idea of what it could be? She does it more on the way home on a hack, and towards the end of schooling her, sometime when you put pressure on her mouth (she doesnt like any pressure!)

Do you mean she's head tossing?? Sorry if misunderstood but sounds like what you're describing??

If so and she's doing it at the end of riding then I would guess allergies and it's when her airways are opening up and she's getting irritated in her nasal passages.
Or you ride a lot in the evenings and have the same problem I have with my lad which is flies and midges around his face which are worse towards the end of the day.

I now use a riding face mask and nose net and the problem has pretty much gone.

Apologies if not what you meant,just sounded similar problem to what I had (frantic chucking up and down of the head!!),but it is possible having had the problem I now see it everywhere lol

Hope you work it out soon

 

[Irishbabygirl]

Sorry if I sound rude, but is that het martingale you have threaded through her bit? Why?

 

[deoni]

Sorry if I sound rude, but is that het martingale you have threaded through her bit? Why?

its ok! She doesnt have one on, they came on the bridle as reins! Never thought about it as were already attached. Just looked at martingales but def not one of them as is exactly like reins except how they attach! Think I need reins on my list with a new bridle

 

[deoni]

Do you mean she's head tossing?? Sorry if misunderstood but sounds like what you're describing??

If so and she's doing it at the end of riding then I would guess allergies and it's when her airways are opening up and she's getting irritated in her nasal passages.
Or you ride a lot in the evenings and have the same problem I have with my lad which is flies and midges around his face which are worse towards the end of the day.

I now use a riding face mask and nose net and the problem has pretty much gone.

Apologies if not what you meant,just sounded similar problem to what I had (frantic chucking up and down of the head!!),but it is possible having had the problem I now see it everywhere lol

Hope you work it out soon

Haha sorry was just trying to describe the way she does it! like casually in then up sometimes 5 mins apart I ride in the evening a lot, but she does it any time of day. Could be this, theres so many things to try! new bridle is first and i'll borrow a nose net too while this arrives.

Also the person that suggested tightening the bit, the pic was deceptive, there was wrinkles and couldnt really go up again so left it!!

 

[lula]

Sorry if I sound rude, but is that het martingale you have threaded through her bit? Why?

they're just a type of rein that use rings to attach to the bit rather than billets or buckles.
Not very common in every day use but ive seen them used on show jumpers. Think its a safety feature.

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

Deoni try dropping the bit down a hole or two then. Not all horses will tolerate it jammed up against their back teeth, which it sounds as if yours is. It could make either her mouth or poll uncomfortable. The wrinkle at the corner of the mouth rule is nonsense, it all depends how fleshy your horses lips are. Some horses will be comfortable with several wrinkles, some with none.