The horse is doing a weird head thing!! What is it??

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WishfulThinker

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Yesterday I took Stinky for a quick hack - well for a canter as he exploded in the school last night and I didn't like it - and he was a bit full off it, but I didnt need to really have a strong contact to get a response (last night however he got socked in teh mouth as I was in no way prepared for him to go nuts
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Anyway, when he was cantering (I wasn't puching him at all) he was doing a weird thing with his head - tilting it and waving it anout and waving his tounge out the side. He did this each time he cantered and once when trotting along the road and I though he was going to have a fit! But other than being fresher than usual (its only me riding him the past 3 weeks as sharer away and he has been getting exactly the same amount of feed every day (I had suspected sharer was being mean with feed as a 'source' told me hers were half what I give him!)

So, could it just be freshness? I also had a thought it could be teeth, so planning on getting them checked, but does anyone elses do this?
 
I would get the teeth checked.

But yes it could just be that he is a bit fresh and trying to evade contact so he can go for a blast. Perhaps try lunging for 20mins next time and let him have a good canter. Then get on and see how he is.

Has he been getting turnout or is he stabled?
 
My horse always does that when he is fresh. Leaping around with this jaw crossed, tongue flapping out the side and head twisted up and out to the side. He did it particularly well this morning having had 2 days off! Most unsettling and uncomfortable!

He has had his teath and back checked along with a craniology guy checking his jaw - its just him fresh
 
Mine does that too when she's excited or fresh - plus when it's chilly.

Sometimes a buck and a twist follows but I usually hang onto her a little so it doesn't - as I'd fall off!!
 
Not an arab is he?

Just asking because neck wringing (that's what it sound like) is not uncommon, particularly in arabs. I have seen it many, many times, they seem to do it for all kinds of reasons, ridden and unridden: Freshness, impatience, pure hell of it.......there have been debates on another forum recently where it was felt it was stress or pain related.

I have seen lots of horses do it, my Haffy does it when he's waiting to be fed, so it's not a pain related issue in his case, purely frustration and impatience.
 
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