Throwing head around

[lizijj]

Hi, my big youngster had a horrible habit of throwing his head around, only on the last leg of the ride home hacking. He also drifts to the right and bends his neck left. Obviously I am getting a physio out to check his back, but just wondering if anyone else has had similar experiences. He is very lazy and hates engaging his back end. Our hacking route means we usually have to do some pretty steep uphill work on the way home, and it is after this he starts with the head stuff. I used to get very nervous and got off, but am trying to ride him through it with leg yields. Thanks

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I wouldn't be surprised if he is tired after the strenuous uphill work. However I thought my 4 yr old must be tired towards the end of our hacks, when she started shaking her head. When I checked her tack the brow-band was too short - she had grown!
I've known other horses with short brow-bands start head-shaking too.

 

[Tickles]

If you're nervous you're possibly/probably holding him for the whole hack?

By the last part of hack horse (particularly if young) will be tired and really needing to/looking forward to stretching.

Try offering stretches where it is safe/you feel comfortable doing so and you shouldn't get so many demands for it.

On the left/right thing vet (or other qualified horse health prof) and possibly some thought from yourself on if horse is avoiding/napping towards anything... e.g. what happens if you do the hack in opposite direction?

Good luck!

 

[lizijj]

Thanks for your replies - he is due a new bridle so will try that one. I admit I am nervous with him (not my other horses so much!) as he is so big and immature... however, I have started trying to relax on my rides and that is paying off as he is respecting me more for feeling 'in control'. I ride with a light hand as I've found if I shorten and tense up, he feels that and gets tense. He may well need to stretch - my other horses stretch down and that's fine on the way home, but this one doesn't seem to know how to stretch and relax properly, just get stressy and stroppy. Any advice on how to teach him would be great

 

[lizijj]

Napping - he might be napping for home as that is the only route home. I took a different route today, a 'detour' for some of it, and he didn't play up - a bit spooky but no head shaking. There is still a stretch of it though that we can't avoid. It is downhill as well so a bit un-nerving when he starts to play up.