OK, back to horsey stuff - head throwing in youngster - advice WANTED!

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Gingernags

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The Ivy-monster is quite literally a bit of a head banger... we laugh at her as one of her attention seeking tricks if we are dealing with the other two, is to play at being a mosher and throwing her head up and down. Sometimes if she's really feeling left out, with a bucket in her chops to make us laugh.

Which is fine in her stable, but she does do this now when she's bridled. Not all the time, not for any particular reason, but it seems just "playing". When she's being led as well as sat on.

She was mouthed with a straight bar rubber bit, but now in the interest of steering she has a full cheek french link and she accepts it well, and mouths it fine and has a nice wet mouth. But she does have these little head flinging episodes.

Do we just let her get on with it and assume its a phase she'll eventually grow out of as she's ridden more and gets used to a contact and working?

She is changing a few teeth at the moment but isn't at the age she'd need teeth checking yet for a good while.

Has anyone else had this with youngsters? I never have with any I've backed and brought on so I think its more just a phase she's going through but I don't want to miss a sign if there's something there or something we can do to stop it?
 
sirocco did this at 3 years old , we got his teeth checked just in case & it turned out he had a infection under one of the teeth that where coming through
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pollen allergy? does she snort alot aswell?

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No... only if you move the electric fencing if she is anywhere near!!! Silly moose!!!

She doesn't seem in any discomfort, it really does seem more like playing! Will get her teeth looked at just in case when we get the others done.
 
erm gingermare. I hate to tell you this, and being a little less in the know than others I'm sure it shouldn't come from me but................ i think there's something wrong with your horses ears..?
 
looks like a fungal growth to me......nasty
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A neddy at Belmongate used to do this. He was stabled 24/7 during the winter and being an arab didn't really take too kindly to it. Did it under bridle too but not as much by any means. The owner just growls at him if it gets too bad and he settles down. I think it is just generally a very annoying habit with him and sort of another version of weaving
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Not sure how you would deal with it to be honest....it seems to me to be an impatience sort of problem
 
Hmm, I think it could just be an attention seeking thing? You've taught her to do this by looking at her when she did it before and so by doing it she got your attention. She may be doing it now to stop you doing what ever it is that your doing... I never make much sense
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But if it is an attention seeking/impatience type thing like door banging, then ignoring it and not giving her the attention good or bad that she wants may stop her doing it.

ETA: just read it through...
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and if you followed what I just wrote then you deserve a cookie. Very good at writing nonsense
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looks like a fungal growth to me......nasty
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Ah, now luckily it seems to be easily removable - isn't she looking pretty again? Instead of just darned cute and fluffy?

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Not sure how you would deal with it to be honest....it seems to me to be an impatience sort of problem

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PMSL - her grand-dam was called Impatience!!!!

But she is being very good being backed other than that...

action shot...
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standing quiet
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I think we'll just ignore it and see how it goes, but get her choppers checked just in case when the dentist is out, we need t'others doing anyway!
 
Yes but you can't see me - I'm hiding! I didn't post the ones with ME on!!!!
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You'll have to come over at the weekend if you want and meet her for real... if you dare? Oh and are we riding on Saturday again? Her orangeness should be back to being a 4x4 by then (green powered though, no climate change here!!!)
 
I haven't had this problem over here as I back and ride away all of my youngsters in head collars....however back in England I had a couple who had already been bitted when they came and they used to do this. My way of dealing with it was to ride on a very loose rein, so that when they tossed their heads or tried to pull away, they could! By doing this, it shows them that there is no battle therefore no point in continually doing this so eventually they gave up.

Try to keep the reins slidey in your hands - if she does this, just allow the reins to slip through your fingers. Once she stops then gently take up a light contact again and if she does it again just let her take it.

This may not be what everyone does, but it has worked for me and within a couple of weeks they seem to forget they ever did it.
 
Mine does EXACTLY the same thing, he has done it since I've had him (age 3) he is now 7 and still does it. It is IMO partly showing off, partly impatience and I think he likes the noise those flapping lips make. Mainly he does it when he thinks something ought to be happening and it isn't, like dinnertime, or going somewhere. I just ignore it, the more notice I take of it, the more he does it. He is a pony of great character and comedy value anyway, is yours the same?

btw, I have his teeth checked regularly, he does it when wearing tack, and not.
 
My YO's youngster did this in the stable and still does. He does it to get attention or when he's being impatient. Cant remember if he did it under saddle but he doesnt do it now, he will occasionally still do it in the stable tho.
 
It seemed to work for me. I think when you are first backing them particularly at 3 or 4 they are more just playing around. If you try to ignore it and just allow them to experiment then I believe they soon forget about it.

As you know, mine over here are backed much earlier than this - they are just babies and take everything in their stride without questioning anything so that by the time they are 3 or 4 they just do what is asked.

There is a lot going on in their mouths at this stage....plus little bursts of things going on in their heads LOL!! Keep her occupied, don't fight with her and see how it goes.
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*shhhhhh!!!!*
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Not 3 yet for a while, but bl**dy huge so getting it done before she gets too big and to keep boredom at bay!!!!

She's much better now she's getting things done, the agressive streak is hardly seen and TBH she does love the attention of being taked up and the groundwork and the odd 5 min session with a rider.

But mentioning her age means running the gauntlet of being jumped on!!!
 
Stinker can be like this - anything in reach is grabbed and chewed/thrown. He was very heady in the past - throwing it anywhere until he caught me in the t*ts and I screamed and slapped in hard in a real pain (for me reaction).

I used to have the same bit - full cheek french link cyprium until he outgrew it and now use a loose ring lozenge cyprium which he seems to like though does play with it a lot - but at least he has a nice relaxed mouth.

He only tends to start being heady if he is being asked to do something he does not want to do - he can be very strong willed. I tend to ignore him or if he is really being a pain will growl or hiss at him which puts a stop to it.

I would rule out physical problems and then try a growl to see if it is her being a little baggage.

I also found Chancer is a lot better on a firmer contact - he seems more confident about things if I take up the contact rather than having him on a very soft rein. All are different.
 
My 8 year old does it too though - what's his excuse!! arrggghhh

I find lack of work makes him like this and once I get him listening to me he's ok.

Typical bloody TB
 
Will definitely come over and see her
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I am a very brave person
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Riding sounds good. Hopefully Ellie will keep all her shoes on until Danny can come on either mon or tues (he has yet to decide which). One is a bit loose so I hope it stays on
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Went out on our own today and on Sunday and I am managing ALL the gates on my own
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but it definiteyl more fun with a 'friend'
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PS can you not have a sister that looks nothing like you to save confusing me
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My sister looks nothing like me....I am gorgeous,intelligent, slim and witty and she is none of these
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B***H
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Well the gospel according to the evil one who gets insulted if anyone says "which is the eldest" or "are you twins" is that I just look younger as my face is fatter which irons out the wrinkles!!!

Gotta love her???? NOT!

She's taller, blonder with longer hair, and usually hiding behind me in case of arguments. Oh and she's the one who gets on the spotty oik - I usually escape this "pleasure"!!

*whispers*

And she has the Smith family nose - mine is MUCH daintier!!!
 
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