my horse keeps throwing her head down

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horseluver4eva

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my new horse is perfect in every way ive only rode her today because she come yesterday but she keeps pulling her head down whilst riding. she is fine in walk but as we start to trot she throws her head forward and i fall too, she isnt as bad in canter but still does it. if i change rein she is fine for the first lap but not for the second.as the ride progressed she got better . do you think she is just trying me on because i am her new owner? or do you think something could be wrong? thanks
 
She could just be unsettled in her be home, if there is no improvement soon I'd get her teeth checked, if nothing is found or she doesn't improve then I'd also have her back checked over by a chiro.
 
thanks i think it might be her new home. she has just had her teeth done so it cant be that and whilst she was at her old home she was fine she has never done it before.
 
Are you being a little frim with your contact? you might be holding on tighter than you think if she is pulling you forward and trying to free her head? make sure you are really sitting up behind her movement so you won't be pulled forward
 
thanks i might be im not sure ill try to be lighter. the saddle is new but i brought it to her old yard and rode her in it at least 5 times so i would say that should be ok. thanks for your help though
 
horseluver4eva said:
thanks i might be im not sure ill try to be lighter. the saddle is new but i brought it to her old yard and rode her in it at least 5 times so i would say that should be ok. thanks for your help though
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was it properly fitted to her though? by a saddle fitter or saddler? I hae fitted one of my saddles on my new boy but am still getting my saddler out next week to make sure its fine - she is away at the moment. Have you changed the bit your pony was wearing or is the same as at her previous yard?

and at the end of the day, even the nicest horse will try to flex its muscles slightly. My horizontal youngster did a lovely flying leap today before remembering himself whereas yesterday he was completely following my every move!
 
Luci07 said:
Are you being a little frim with your contact? you might be holding on tighter than you think if she is pulling you forward and trying to free her head? make sure you are really sitting up behind her movement so you won't be pulled forward
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This^^^^^^^^.

Try to let go and ride with a really light contact. You are bound to be a little more nervous of her than you were at her old home, where some-one else was responsible for her, which tends to make your contact firmer. Don't worry, you will both settle down. Give it time, it probably won't take too long, she looks like a lovely horse.
 
horseluver4eva said:
yep the saddle definetly fits correctly, she has a new bit though its slightly too loose do you think that could be the problem?
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Do you mean it is slightly too low in her mouth, or slightly too wide?
If it is too low, that could well be why she is fussing with her head. If you think that putting it up a hole at each side would make it too high, just put it up at one side, then slide the head-piece along a bit to even everything up, until you can get a holepunch to do the job properly.
 
thanks everyone i removed the noseband but after the ride today, i have realised that she is just trying me on. she pulled on the reins so i made sure my thumbs were on top with a tight grip, so when she puts her head down i dont lose the reins and i kick her on. she has got the message more today and is doing a lot better. thanks for your help everybody
 
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