Why do some horses tilt their heads when ridden?

[PapaFrita]

As title. I've noticed a few horses at the yard doing this (not mine, BTW!) Is it how they're ridden (too much inside rein perhaps)? One horse only tilts his head to the right, but it doesn't matter which rein he's on.

 

[DunRoamin]

Buzz does it to avoid being made to move forward in trot, no other pace at all. i highly doubt its because of uneven contact more because they dont want to do what they are being asked.

 

[PapaFrita]

Hmmm, I think these horses do it in trot and canter (I must have a proper look) but not walk... the contact thing does make sense. How do you correct it?

 

[DunRoamin]

No contact and pony club kicks, then when he is moving forward properly lots of transitions.

 

[PapaFrita]

Does he tilt both ways or just one way? (sorry for all the questions!)

 

[DunRoamin]

Definately both. but he doesn't do it everyday for some odd reason

 

[PapaFrita]

Hmmmm... I'm very curious now. I can think of 2 horses that tilt only to the right and another I only saw tilting today, so not sure if he does it both ways (that's not meant to sound rude, BTW

)
Perhaps it's their weaker side?

 

[ISHmad]

Weaker side. Maybe something out in their back, neck or poll. Teeth need doing. Inconsistent rider contact. Could be anything really.

 

[Chico Mio]

FB tilted his head to the left when my pelvis was on the squint as he had to do it to compensate for my bad weight distribution. If the people who ride these horses ever do the Hispanic both reins in the left hand style riding it can make you sink into your left hip and alter the balance of horse and rider, so they compensate, using their head and neck as a counterweight. When you ride 'normally' your body instinctively does the same thing and sinks to the left.

He also used to do it when he was bitted as an evasion, but that was much more acute and was pretty obvious what the problem was.

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

It's a form of evasion.

 

[hannah87]

mine did this, i had the chiropractor out and he said she her atlas..or axis (cant remember) was slightly out on one side. He got me to feel and it was quite obvious. He said its very common and can happen from a fall, horse pulling back when tied up etc. He manipulated it and shes never done it since!

 

[H's mum]

It can be for a whole host of reasons - in dressage it's seen as a form of resistance and is marked down - it could be due to the horse protecting itself if it's feeling uncomfy - you may notice that the horse isn't stepping through equally from behind, the shorter stride being on the side the horse is tipping away from - It also happens when the horse isn't taking the reins forward equally (you may also notice a short stride for this too) Basically the horse needs to be straighter and ridden into a contact but obviously if the horse is in pain this needs to be sorted out

Kate x

 

[Sprout]

I had a horse that did this, only to the right side, and only in trot, but not just when ridden.
I had the vet check him, back done, teeth etc, but no one could give me an answer.

 

[MochaDun]

Mine's been tilting/holding his head to left in trot for last few weeks but never done it before and I've got physio coming today as I'm assuming something up with back as he stiffens through his back when I try to flex him back the other way. I'll update after she's been. If it doesn't turn out to be back we're then onto the dentist.

 

[littleme]

mine does it as a form of evasion (i think) as it did it a lot less last night, but having teeth done next week and seeing chiropracter so will eliminate those anywya

 

[Taffster]

Mine did it when he couldnt be bothered and would hang on to one side of the reign, a quick boot in the ribs usually helped him get off and straighten up! But then it could have been avoided if contact would not have been one sided during his schooling sessions this gave him an opportunity to lean when the inside hand was always fixed.

 

[Kat]

If it is always one way rather than changing depending upon which rein you are on I'd check back and teeth. It can be a sign of a problem. Gelding I was riding the other year started doing this when I was riding him (didn't do it when doing novice lessons and plodding round on a long rein only when being properly schooled), when checked his back needed doing and so did his teeth. He had a week off and came back into work fine, started doing it again a few months later and lo and behold his back needed doing again!

 

[DunRoamin]

Can i just add that Buzz has nothing wrong with his back/teeth or any other part of his anatomy and does this be it with a bit in or in a hackamore so for him its all about being an arse.

 

[PapaFrita]

[ QUOTE ]
Weaker side. Maybe something out in their back, neck or poll. Teeth need doing. Inconsistent rider contact. Could be anything really.

[/ QUOTE ]
Ahh, hadn't thought of teeth. Perhaps I'll mention it to rider...

 

[MochaDun]

My physio just been and as mine was a recent tilt to the left that I'd spotted when trotting recently rather than something that he's always done it was indeed that his poll was out. She showed me how even standing straight his head was kinked. So he's been sorted with manipulation, massage, ultrasound and magnetic pads (he had a sore shoulder and odd tweak in back too though nothing major) and has 2 weeks now of carrot stretches to keep him flexing nicely and she's suggested I get instructor to work on neck/poll flexing exercises when we have our next lesson next week.