What could this mean?

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shadowboy

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New beastie was hacked out for the first time today since I had her. She was as good as gold, but she would keep stretching right down or doing a full on donkey stretch and really really leaning on my hands. It was really annoying- why might she do this? even when on a long reign she would stretch right down, sometimes abruptly and sometimes slowly, but would do it every 2/3 minutes. She did not jog/nap or anything naughty just this snatching action. I recently changed her bit, perhaps I set it too low in her mouth? Its a very mild neue schule peanut one like her last bit but 5mm wider lol and on her last bit the centre peanut was a rolly type one where the peanut rolled forwards and back. Could it be her teath? Or maybe anxiety from the first hack out?
 
i would get her teeth checked. i trained as an edt and it sounds like she may have wolf teeth ( and yes, mares do get them, though not as often as geldings) or if your dentist previously cut bit seats into her first cheek teeth they may have grown back, possibly causing an edge which is bothering her.
it may only be a little wider ( new bit) but it may just be pinching her even with no contact.
or i could be completly wrong and she could just be fussy!
 
Hi shadowmonkey, I have not heard of a horse stretching with a dentistry problem but leaning heavily on the hands could be an indication of a problem with the teeth. The stretching could be a saddle problem. Hope you get ti sorted.
 
I did wonder if it was a teath thing, but owner says she was only done about 3 months ago- i'm not used to them being done more than every 6 months (teeth that is!) I will try her again in the school tomorrow and see if she continues to do it- if so will get it checked out. I did wonder if it was because we were out hacking- somewhere she had never been- but yes she may well have been trying to shift the bit in her mouth...
 
Are you using a saddle which has been fitted specifically for her or one which YOU think looks OK?? Your mare is showing typical signs of back problems and the first thing to have checked is her back, with and without you in the saddle.

Hope you find a simple solution.
 
My horse does it on hacks, only on the road on the way home. He just likes a good stretch, he has had his teeth done and they are perfect. Also his saddle fits fine.

It is annoying but at least it gives those back muscles a good stretch. To stop it shorten the reins, and use your legs to push him out of it. Each time he does it give him a tap if your legs dont have an effect. He should be allowed to strech down but only when YOU want him to, not just when he feels like it.
 
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