Pony Problems

[rebchico]

Basically, I'm off to a show next week
I've had a last minute swap of horses, from a haflinger to a welsh section c x arab!!
I love him, always have, but I have noticed that when I ask for a halt he throws his head up into the air as if I have just yanked him in the mouth (which I haven't)
He does it if you put the slightest bit of pressure on, for example a few of us were trotting around the school, and he was going a bit fast so I sponged the reins - up goes the head.
I know his teeth are fine, the dentist was out recently, so is he being a drama queen?
It's not exactly pretty, and he works in a lovely outline the rest of the time.
Also, we were practicing the individual show and I'm going diagnoally through the middle past the other horses standing on the centre line, and he decides to stop. I gave him a pony club kick, which I obviously can't do, but it worked. My instructor told me to 'think positively' and 'use my seat' but if it happens on the day I'll look a complete numpty!
Other than that he's lovely ;D
Thanks guys
x

 

[tinkandlily]

It sounds like his past rider has been yanking him in the mouth, so he is flinging his head in antisipation of pain. No quick fix im afraid, once he realises there is no pain he should stop, unless its now a habit. All i can suggest is use your seat, my friends horse is like this, put any presure on the reins and he speeds up (strange i know) and throws his head around. As for him stopping, to get him light on your leg, give him a gentle nudge, if he doesn't respond, them give him a pony club kick, but let him run on, then bring him back, its no good kicking him with the brakes on, keep doing that and eventualy he realise if he listens to you first time he won't get a big kick just a nudge.

 

[ThePony]

with the halting, I wonder if you have your leg on when you ask for halt? If I'm not concentrating properly and ask my mare to halt without putting my leg on well, then she is a little resistant to it. So long as I ask for halt while having my leg on and just putting a little weight down the reins and using my seat, then we get a lovely halt - just rider error! Can you have a lesson on him before the show concentrating on your transitions? Should help to get him off your leg and for you to concentrate on getting a nice soft halt? Ensuring your hands are nice and giving and you aren't holding tension through your arms or shoulders should help alot too. Good luck with the show!

 

[mja]

Our recently aquired exracer TB boy did the same thing and his teeth etc were all fine.

He would pull and argue in downwards transitions and fling head up and stargaze halting.

In lesson we tried to be gentle and keep leg on and use seat mostly but he was continuously belligerent so instructor told us to move bit across his tongue asking him to come back on bit as soon as he did it then release pressure as reward as soon as he stopped it.

We did this and in time he learned and doesnt do it now - it was all about the timing and we had to react quick when he did it and when he stopped it.