Not accepting the contact...

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CastleMouse

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Ali usually accepts the contact instantly when we're warming up, but Friday and today he's just not accepting it at all, he has his head stuck in the air most of the time, and he never used to do that. Any ideas please? Dressage is in 3 weeks and I don't want him to be doing a horrible giraffe impression, it's just not like him
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I flex his neck from left to right in walk to warm up, do figures of eight, serpentines etc. He listens to all my aids and is responsive but he hasn't accepted the contact in the past two schooling sessions, help please!
 
Could he have possibly tweaked something more recently? Perhaps out in the field?


Is he touchy with his mouth or back?
 
I think it would be worth checking again, def his back, as its a sudden change he could have tweeked something in the field, twisted awkwardly etc. Rocks did something similar about 4months ago, hes usually very good to school but then got really ratty, had the physio out and his back was completely out from a hard refusal he'd done XC a few days before.
 
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Could he have possibly tweaked something more recently? Perhaps out in the field?


Is he touchy with his mouth or back?

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No he isn't at all, and he's happy to let me stretch his legs out before I ride or lunge him.
 
Will get the back person out, probably a long waiting list though
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Is it possible the flies are really getting to him? (Sorry if that's a silly thing to suggest...) I was loose jumping him yesterday and he cleared 1m25 no bother at all, and he didn't look to be in any pain at all.
 
Is he fussy with his mouth? maybe ask the vet to give him a once over, check his mouth etc, as he may have a sore bit in his mouth??
 
We have a horse who does this every so often and it is just because he gets board of having the same bit. He needs his bit changed ocasionally and then he is back to his normal self again! Just a thought in case your horse is the same!
 
Echo others re getting him checked over first and foremost- particularly as the problem seems to have come about so quickly.

Given how long you have had him there is of course the possibilty he is testing you out a little...???
 
I don't know, he used to be fine. He's currently in a single-jointed fulmer (has always been in it previous owners for dressage & showjumping), would a rubber fulmer make much of a difference as a change of bit?
 
Like the others I would suggest:

Checking his back by a physio
Checking his teeth/mouth

Also you could try different bits or perhaps a different noseband.

Could try lunging with side reins and see if you get the same problem, or if it occurs only when ridden.

Hope it improves. I think he probably has tweaked something in the field or uncomfortable in his mouth. When were teeth last rasped/checked by a dentist?
 
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Will get the back person out, probably a long waiting list though
crazy.gif
Is it possible the flies are really getting to him? (Sorry if that's a silly thing to suggest...)

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Could be, I remember a horse acting the maggot on a lesson once, turned out a fly had gone in it's ear!!
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I was loose jumping him yesterday and he cleared 1m25 no bother at all, and he didn't look to be in any pain at all.

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Well that's a good sign! Have you ridden him over that height?!
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The flies were out yesterday morning, and the fly spray I ordered online still hasn't arrived, argh! He does get quite fidgety with the flies though, when I was hacking him out at home he used to stop and throw in little bucks lol. Ridden him over 1m25...er... not yet!
grin.gif
 
You could have the same fault I've developed of Tight-Hands-itus. My youngster has just reached the stage where I'm trying to make her more collected and realised after a horrible session of failing to get canter, that rather than riding her from my seat/legs like normal, I had suddenly morfed into a horrible hanging off the mouth rider. It is all suddenly because I tried to up a gear to the next level of her training and instantly forgot everything I know and tried to force the change in outline. Idiot!

A few long and low sessions have gone a long way to restoring her trust in my hands and it may help you too if you've tightened up under the pressure of preparing for your dressage.
 
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