Is she a headshaker?

Cazza525

Cazza525

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Just started riding mums mare, been 3 times in last 4 days. Both had a 2 year break. Anyhow, she's always done this....Been a bit fussy with her head. She doesn't shake up and down, but she's very fussy ie. trying to stretch down a lot trying to scratch nose on legs and going from overbent to slightly above the bridle(but not too high). I ride her in a full cheeked eggbutt snaffle, drop noseband and a breastplate to keep saddle in place (she's a bit rotunned due to being a field ornament for 2 years!). She is half warmblood,half arab and is homebred and was a late starter. Do you think she's just always had me on? She also leans quite alot on my hands.
 
Have you had her back and saddle checked?
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No I must admit i haven't recently. She does have a made to measure saddle that was fitted admittedly some time ago. I am reluctant to do anything too drastic until she manages to lose a bit of weight.....I will obviously get it seen to if you think it could just be that??
 
also my pony used to stretch down alot and put her head out to the side as if to evade the bit, then friend one day looked in her mouth as I wanted to make sure bit was sitting properly and there was a tush tooth just poking through, it must have been sore at point of coming through and this could also be why yours is being funny.
I'd get all the normal check ups done
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she had wolf teeth removed about 3 years ago. Not been checked since. I WILL get them seen to asap as i have a 25yr old companion pony that could also do with being checked. I must admit though that she has always done this.........
 
Sounds like my pony, and yes I would class it as mild headshaking.

It's annoying when you ride him, but probably more so from his point of view! We find he is happiest if we start on a fairly long rein and after ten minutes or so gently take up more of a contact.

He has a habit of putting his head down as if to scratch his nose, but often, having put his leg forward as if to scratch, he then doesn't. I have found a half nose net doesn't help, but a full nose net does. He is worse of an evening and when the air is still. He doesn't headshake when he is jumping, bizarrely.
 
Headshaking covers from the very very mild right up to the horrendously dangerous. Your girl's does sound like the mild end of headshaking, which can include just rubbing the muzzle against a foreleg after sweaty work. There's some good advice from previous posts on this Forum and you will be able to get more advice from any reputable veterinary website.
 
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