Putting head right down in Trot

[jessikaGinger]

My mare has had a foal (as most will know)

I plod her around the school once a week just to make it easier bringing her back into work

I started lunging her a few weeks ago and now when i ride her she puts her head right down in trot (she has been known to buck before)

Any suggestions (i will be getting everything checked when she is brought back into work)

 

[tallyho!]

Sounds like she is stretching her back thats all but do check the saddle still fits as everything changes once she has had a foal.

 

[take it easy]

my gelding does this,he has been known to do this so he can buck...got him in grass reins now an they seem to be doing the trick.

he has had his back checked and all is well

 

[jessikaGinger]

Ahh thanks I have just ordered some grass reins

 

[be positive]

Having had a foal and time off she is probably in need of stretching her muscles and topline, I would be encouraging her to do this on the lunge, while keeping her moving actively forward. She is less likely to buck if she is soft in her back and going forward properly.

 

[jessikaGinger]

As I said she has only started doing this since I lunged her should I allow her to do it whilst riding aswel?

 

[tallyho!]

Yes I have to agree with be positive! Grass reins will stop her stretching her longisimmus dorsi and this is the most important muscle to strengthen for ridden work I would allow her to stretch down until she is stronger and developed some topline muscle.

 

[little_critter]

As I said she has only started doing this since I lunged her should I allow her to do it whilst riding aswel?

I would say it depends on how she feels. If she feels like she's just stretching then I'd allow it (my mare does this).
If it feels like there's some mischeif going on then I wouldn't allow it.

 

[tallyho!]

As I said she has only started doing this since I lunged her should I allow her to do it whilst riding aswel?

Yes I think so. In my lessons I get told to give the reins for stretch after nearly every transition so it's not abnormal but you do have to draw the line at excessive stretching which could indicate a sore back or something but if she is stretching and blowing in trot that is a good sign.

 

[jessikaGinger]

Funny you should say that she does snort whilst she's doing it

I will see how she feels saturday when we have another plod and see if she feels mischeivous (she did a mini buck last night)

I feel myself tense up when she does it as i antisipate a buck Thanks for the advice i will avoid my new grass reins for now

 

[tallyho!]

Funny you should say that she does snort whilst she's doing it

I will see how she feels saturday when we have another plod and see if she feels mischeivous (she did a mini buck last night)

I feel myself tense up when she does it as i antisipate a buck Thanks for the advice i will avoid my new grass reins for now

The snorting is a good thing as you know she is using her stomach muscles to blow out the air from her lungs as she exercises and this will build up he abdominals which she will use when carrying a rider. I would expect all this to subside once she is stronger and her loose muscles tighten up.