Shaking her head again...

JackDaniels1

JackDaniels1

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Rode new girly again tonight and she was fine for the first 10 mins then started shaking her head up and down again (i rode her without the running martingale this time.) She seems to be opening her mouth and sort of grinding her teeth.
 
Only thing i thought was maybe because i have changed her bit. Previous owner had her in a happy mouth snaffle, i've got her in loose ring french link snaffle ?

Teeth are not due to be done but have booked her in.
 
Can you borrow a happy mouth to try and see if it's that simple??

I'm trying to sort out the same thing just now and find that riding on a longer rein is helping. My style of riding is a little too tight as the other horse I ride - like a very "clear" signal and responds well. New horse seems to like a gentler approach.... I am moving from a gelding to a mare and I think that's something to do with it...


You know the saying you can bully a gelding, tell a stallion but only ask a mare...
 
Hmm... can't think of anyone who has a happy mouth that i could borrow
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I don't like to lengthen my reins too much as she is prone to a little bucking so don't want her to be able to quickly get her head down and buck. Only my third time riding her since she's been with me so not too sure of her tricks yet
grin.gif
 
My mare shook her head on 2 consecutive rides,only started near the end of the 1st one and about 1/2 way into the 2nd one. I had checked the bit but when I checked again I realised that there was a slightly roughened patch on the sweet iron. I rode her in a borrowed bit the next time and all was well. It was only a tiny patch and it was really hard to find but it obviously made her uncomfortable. It could be something as simple as this which is causing your problem.
Could you hire a happymouth bit from a bit bank?
The other thing that comes to mind is that it is possible that the bit is too high/too low in her mouth and making her uncomfortable.
 
i would put my quid on teeth but if not is her browband tight or loose, either bug some horses,
or are there flies about? i had a mare who was fine till a fly went near her head, of course she was worse in summer and after she warmed up, we put a fly fringe on her browband and another on her nose band = cured.
 
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