Swingy head in trot

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djlynwood

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My mare swings her head side to side in trot.

I think its somehing to do with my hands but Im not sure what. My instructor says its because Im fiddling but Im really not doing anything, at least I dont think I am.

Im so conscious of my hands that Im concentrating on keeping them still but her head still swings side to side. Ive tried widening my hands and that does help to some degree but the swing is still there.

It does seem to be the lower part of her head which starts to swing out first which suggests that its me pulling her......

Any suggestions, ideas how I can stop it, it looks awful!
 
Does she do it when your instructor rides or just with you, it is usually a sign that they are not in front of the leg and need to work more forward to a still outside rein before asking for flexion to the inside.
Plenty of work to get her forward and stretching down on a long rein in your warm up, transitions to keep her listening to your legs and help keep her in front of the leg, spirals are useful as they get you using you aids very clearly, also riding off of the outside track so they are not supported by a fence but really connected at all times.
A change of bit may help, something with full cheeks could exaggerate any movement, a loose ring may absorb some or a hanging cheek may keep the bit more still.
 
My instructor says that she can feel that my mare is wanting to swing her head in trot but does not do it with her.

I know its my riding. She is ridden is a loose ring french link with a losenge. We have started using a flash for jumping as she was getting cheeky running off. It has helped and I have carried on using it in flat work as Ive heard it can help to keep the bit steady.

Being in front of the leg makes sense. She is quite forward going and I tend to forget that I still need to use my leg!
 
I agree it sounds like it's you. Can you get someone to give you lunge lessons on her in trot without you holding the reins at all until your core muscles have built up a bit and you have got out of the habit?
 
riding on the lunge is a good idea, will give that a try. Ive never ridden on the lunge before. My horse likes to be lunged, but not sure how she will be with me on her. Can only give it a go and see.

I think it will be benifical for me as we have been having some issues with her running out jumping lately, purely my fault.
 
My mare used to Do this with her shoulders. I tried a Dr cooje bitless bridle and completely solved issue. Tried bit again and she swung her shoulders! No bit for her then! !
 
You are subconsciously 'sawing' from side to side with your hands. Very easy habit to get into. Also, you probably aren't riding forward from the leg enough to push her into the contact so you are trying to pull her into it instead.
 
Moomin1 said:
You are subconsciously 'sawing' from side to side with your hands. Very easy habit to get into. Also, you probably aren't riding forward from the leg enough to push her into the contact so you are trying to pull her into it instead.
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Agree with this, try lifting your hands, bending your elbow, allow your horse to go forward.. Are you conscious of getting a 'pretty' head position? Just wondering as this is normally a sign of a hand ridden horse, like when someone is trying to bring their horse into an outline by their reins.
 
Ginger Bear said:
Agree with this, try lifting your hands, bending your elbow, allow your horse to go forward.. Are you conscious of getting a 'pretty' head position? Just wondering as this is normally a sign of a hand ridden horse, like when someone is trying to bring their horse into an outline by their reins.
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ahh, this makes sense. My mare used to hollow a lot and argue when asked to go with her head down. She had an upside neck when I got her.

My instructor taught me to lock the contact (not to pull back) and let her find her way to it. When my mare gave in even slightly I would soften my hands but was told to still give small vibrations down each rein. Think this is whats turned into the sawing, something I never intended to do in a million years!

Im not bothered about the pretty head position but have been told that its not doing her any favours by letting her go around like a girraffe.

So, its more leg and less hand jiggling?
 
My horse used to do the same, and I found I was squeezing my hands alternately without knowing it. Its hard at first but you really have to concentrate on keeping your hands still. Might help to ride with a short whip between your hands if your horse doesn't mind, then you can see when each hand moves, it should help you see what you don't even know you're doing!
Good luck, I had the same problem but solved it quite quickly once I started doing it right! :)
 
agree, i have this habit and it is a NIGHTMARE to try adn get out of, I actually like riding the two horses I know that swing thier heads from side to side in trot as it shows up when I'm doing it!

Try putting your stick horizontally over your thumbs, if you see what I mean (e.g. your hands make a platform wiht your thumbs on top while you are riding, and then you trot round with your whip under your thumbs horizontally. helps to hold them still. Also, if you feel comfortable, try crossing your reins into the opposite hands and/or holding the reins with your hands upside down (if you see what i mean!) - i.e. your palms open with reins across them - your thumb will be nearest the horse's head? This relaly helps with feel and is a great exercise...
 
horsemadelsie said:
My horse used to do the same, and I found I was squeezing my hands alternately without knowing it. QUOTE]

Yes, I can see it now, thats what Im doing doh!

Thanks so much for the advice, Im going to try holding the whip in my thumbs tonight and have a go with holding the reins just like Morgan said.
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djlynwood said:
ahh, this makes sense. My mare used to hollow a lot and argue when asked to go with her head down. She had an upside neck when I got her.

My instructor taught me to lock the contact (not to pull back) and let her find her way to it. When my mare gave in even slightly I would soften my hands but was told to still give small vibrations down each rein. Think this is whats turned into the sawing, something I never intended to do in a million years!

Im not bothered about the pretty head position but have been told that its not doing her any favours by letting her go around like a girraffe.

So, its more leg and less hand jiggling?
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You need to ride inside leg to outside hand, NO JIGGLING at all..lol you could even bridge your reins to stop you fiddling with them.

Going round like a giraffe can be bad for their back but going round overbent hanging on the bit wont do them any good either.. Even if they are infront of the vertical it's not the end of the world & the head position will come..

Where are you based?
 
Im on the Wirral, Merseyside.

The jiggling stems from me being asked to send vibrations down the reins as if im squeezing a sponge. My horse does seem to give when I do this.

I had always thought that the contact should be still. Thats why Im confused.

I tried riding with a whip across my hands last night. Made me realise how much I rely on them!

My mare started going long and flat but I just pushed on with more leg. It was more to make me realise what my hands are doing.
 
Right so sit, knees on knee roles, grippy thighs, there should be no gap betwen your thighs & the saddle, the bottom of your leg (knee down) should be able to swing freely. Sit on your bum bones, elbows bent as high as you like to start with as long as they are not down by withers & pulling the horses head in.. you can ask with the reins until your horse gives but not a constant jiggle.. try walking in the menage really slow, keeping hands still with a contact & just sit there until your horse gives, when he/she does give forward with your hands a little. When a horse is carrying a rider the most comfortable way for them to carry themselved is with their head lowered in some sort of outline...when you get the feeling of them carrying themselves there is no mistaking it, you will feel it. Is your horse quite a quiet ride, if so play about, give him/her long reins, ensure you are sitting correctly & see where he naturally wants to put his head.

If you had long & low last night that's an excellent starting point..
 
I find vibrating both reins doesn't lead to a steady outline anyway so you could be being counteractive. How does she go if you ride inside leg into outside rein, steady outside contact and give and retake inside ring when she gets heavy? Lots of circles doing this, leg yields etc. and seeing how she drops then?
 
PonyIAmNotFood said:
I find vibrating both reins doesn't lead to a steady outline anyway so you could be being counteractive. How does she go if you ride inside leg into outside rein, steady outside contact and give and retake inside ring when she gets heavy? Lots of circles doing this, leg yields etc. and seeing how she drops then?
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Im going to try this tonight. Im finding the my ring finger on my right hand is really aching as I think I have damaged a tendon with all the jiggling Im doing. Not good I know. My mare seems to be really heavy on the right rein. So I think im trying to hard to trying to get her to relax on the right rein.

Im also going to try an eggbutt snaffle.
 
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