Why does my horse........

[A1fie]

keep stretchilng her neck out and down as if she was going to graze? It's in the sand school so I know it's not to actually eat!

I have just started sharing her and am a novice so have just been taking her out in the school to get to know her. She doesn't do it walk but constantly does it in trot. My balance is rubbish

so I keep lurching forward!! It's like she grabs the bit and then tries to get it to the ground. I'm sure I'm not heavy on her mouth or pulling it at and I think that when she does it I should just give her even more slack so she doesn't feel the need to do it but that doesn't stop her. She wears a grackle nose band and a snaffle. I will ask her owner when I see her although I don't think she does it with her but I would be grateful for any suggestions as it is puzzling me and I am hoping she's not uncomfortable. A couple of people have suggestd she might be just being cheeky but I can't understand why, unless she's bored silly!!

 

[mrgoop]

Firstly have you had, teeth, back and saddle checked??
Have you lunged her, and seen if she does it without you on board??

She may well be trying you out. My boy is great when i ride him, and we have no problems, but when i first got him, and my daughter took him on a picnic ride, she complained constantly that he was snatching at his bit and hurting her hands. He has never done it with me. And when she rides him now, he doesn't do it with her

Have a word with her owner, and see what she says. Let her owner watch you ride her, and see if she can see something that may be causing the problem.
Hope you find the solution, good luck

 

[kimky]

no a expert but what breed is she ? But i have found horses with heavy necks or a unfit horse tends to stretch there neck a lot because they are a bit sore in there neck. Like my mare she will work in a outline for 15 mins but after that she continuosly is stretching her neck. could be that ? x

 

[A1fie]

she is a little irish sport horse. She gets ridden a lot - nearly every day. I wonder too if it's because she can tell I'm a numpty!! I will ask the owner to watch me, but not sure whether I should try and stop her doing it in the meantime?