bluewhippet
Well-Known Member
I love riding and handling my new horse. I have only had him 10 days and so although he seems fairly calm, he is obviously still unsettled. He is a bit nappy/spooky hacking alone and is very fidgety in the stable, when I groom tack him up - otherwise pretty perfect.
When I put the bridle on him, he raises his head so that I have difficulty putting the head piece over his right ear - I have to move round to the right side and do it very carefully and quickly. I can see that he has rubbed at the back of his right ear - as some of the hair has gone and he does not like having it handled, especially around the base - he is not head shy in any other way.
My yard is run by a vet and he had a look but couldn't see anything obvious in the ear. He also shakes his head both in the stable and when I am riding and this doesn't seem to have much to do with contact from me - which I try to keep very light. He was ridden in a flash and martingale - his head tossing is not high enough to warrant a martingale I don't think - which I have removed, and he is in a French link snaffle.
I do get the feeling that he is not comfortable in his bridle. He doesn't have the same issues when I am putting on his head collar.
He is an Arab and is a fidgety sensitive horse and I know it is very early days and we are getting on great. I have an instructor coming to give me a lesson in a week and my yo is very helpful. I just wondered if the headshaking and the ear issue were connected in any way. He also nods his head up and down when I pick up his feet - which I don't really understand?
When I put the bridle on him, he raises his head so that I have difficulty putting the head piece over his right ear - I have to move round to the right side and do it very carefully and quickly. I can see that he has rubbed at the back of his right ear - as some of the hair has gone and he does not like having it handled, especially around the base - he is not head shy in any other way.
My yard is run by a vet and he had a look but couldn't see anything obvious in the ear. He also shakes his head both in the stable and when I am riding and this doesn't seem to have much to do with contact from me - which I try to keep very light. He was ridden in a flash and martingale - his head tossing is not high enough to warrant a martingale I don't think - which I have removed, and he is in a French link snaffle.
I do get the feeling that he is not comfortable in his bridle. He doesn't have the same issues when I am putting on his head collar.
He is an Arab and is a fidgety sensitive horse and I know it is very early days and we are getting on great. I have an instructor coming to give me a lesson in a week and my yo is very helpful. I just wondered if the headshaking and the ear issue were connected in any way. He also nods his head up and down when I pick up his feet - which I don't really understand?
