Throwing his head down

[debsey1]

Why does he do this? Whenever we go out on a hack and only ever on the way back home he keeps throwing his head down every 20 0r 30 paces only in walk though and never does it in trot or canter. Is it a dominance thing, his bit, or teeth (they are due to be done this month). What do you peeps think?

 

[Faro]

It could be that without even realising it, you've tightened up your grip on the reins on the way home. It's a common thing - so many horses go up a gear within the gear when pointing homewards - and you may, without knowing it, just be putting that little bit of extra pressure on your horse to "slow down" and walk home at the same speed as you started. The horse, in his frustration about not being allowed to go home fast, is taking evasive action and throwing his head. He doesn't do it in trot simply because he's going home at what seems to him like a decent (fast enough) pace.

It's only a maybe, but worth thinking about.

 

[Wagtail]

It's because he's tired and trying to stretch his neck muscles and release some pressure in his mouth. The bit can become quite uncomfortable for horses on a long ride of the rider does not ride with a loose rein every now and then.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Or he is just being a rude snatchy so and so Nah, alot of horses do it on the way home as they want a free rein to walk home how they please.