Would you use a martingale or what else?

L&B

L&B

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After some suggestions on the issues I'm having with my OTTB & bringing him back into work... He's been off for a fair few months due to lameness.
We are now no longer lame & the hooves are growing a LITTLE more than they were.

Since having time off though, it seems work is an effort & I have a few things I'm concerned with that I'm not sure how to fix - firstly his typical ex-racer pokey nose & high (giraffe) head carriage & secondly, his head throwing. They go hand in hand with one another really... Before it's said, he has regular physio anyway & had his teeth, back, saddle, etc done only 3weeks ago.
It usually begins with me asking for an upward transition, he starts head throwing & this progresses to bouncing off all fours - given that he is also doing a pretty impressive giraffe impression, this does unnerve me a touch...

It has been suggested to me that I try a martingale, either a standing or running... But having always ridden horses who I haven't found to need gadgets, I'll be honest & say, I really don't know what I'm looking for???

Otherwise, I'm working on keeping his mind occupied and him moving forwards and from behind. Encouraging stretches etc.

Any suggestions?
 
Are you 100% sure that it is behavioural? I only ask as my TB mare sounds very similar and she's got worse - initially I thought it was a bad back, however I'm now getting her scoped for ulcers as she is head tossing and doing just what yours is doing....
 
Mine is similar but only out on hack, I tried a martingale and found it wasn't really helpful.

The things that I have found work for us - lunging briefly before a ride, giving him a blast uphill or working in an outline whilst we're out.

I found that, for him, it was linked to a mixture of excitement, anxiety and napping. The more he is ridden. the less he does it. Maybe it's the same for yours?
 
Holly Hocks said:
Are you 100% sure that it is behavioural? I only ask as my TB mare sounds very similar and she's got worse - initially I thought it was a bad back, however I'm now getting her scoped for ulcers as she is head tossing and doing just what yours is doing....
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Hiya HH, obviously I couldn't completely rule ulcers out as I haven't had him scoped and he has raced, but there are no other presenting problems to suggest ulcers: no weight loss, no loss of appetite, no drop in condition, not particularly girthy... Hmmm?? Can you tell me more about your mare & what you've found?
 
L&B said:
Hiya HH, obviously I couldn't completely rule ulcers out as I haven't had him scoped and he has raced, but there are no other presenting problems to suggest ulcers: no weight loss, no loss of appetite, no drop in condition, not particularly girthy... Hmmm?? Can you tell me more about your mare & what you've found?
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My mare also raced and has had so much medical treatment in the last three years, with antibiotics and bute that I am getting her scoped as I think it may have harmed her stomach. Mine has got worse over the last three years - she got a bit better through summer but is deteriorating again. Like yours mine has no loss of appetite and isn't girthy, but she is dropping muscle from her back. She is getting very irritable, hates rugs being put on and doesn't want to be groomed - hates being touched from her withers to her tail. If I use my hand on her side to move her over she can almost be aggressive. This is totally unlike her - she normally has a temperament to die for.
Riding at the moment is impossible - ears flat back, and broncing with plenty of head tossing and tail swishing.
I could be thinking totally wrong - but before I go on thinking it's a back issue and spending loads of money trying to sort that out, I want to rule ulcers out or get the right treatment for them if it is ulcers
 
I use a standing martingale on my ex racer, he finished racing as a 12 yr old. Fizzy old sod, but is happy in his standing.
 
Ours is like that; all checks done and she is fine- she lost a bit of topline from having to be on box rest (still ridden during box rest but lost condition generally) and instructor said that it is just her being unbalanced and trying to evade contact as we'll get a few nice strides and then she loses it for a few again and puts her head up. Think it's just babyish and lack of maturity physically in our case. I've also changed to a Neue Schule bit I have borrowed to try and she does giraffe head less in that than the previous Fulmer link. Maybe get an instructor to assess if your horse is similar if he has been out of proper work as could just be him saying 'i'm finding that difficult mum!' I am too soft and should ask a bit more with rein contact with mine apparently so she gets away with it... Working on it....
 
You could of been describing my horse, ears up my nostrils! I swooped him into a micklem bridle and now he will work nicely, obviously still a work in progress but it did really help!
 
Thankyou for all the replies :)

Holly Hocks said:
...Riding at the moment is impossible - ears flat back, and broncing with plenty of head tossing and tail swishing...
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Hmmm... I'm sorry to hear this about your girly, but none of the things you've mentioned match my boy (obviously it's different for each horse) but ulcers really don't ring true. I can touch him & push on him & rub him all over. No bother with rugs, saddle etc. Certainly not aggressive on the ground. Mounting is fine, as is everything in walk (even with leg-on) it's only upward transitions.

justabob said:
I use a standing martingale on my ex racer, he finished racing as a 12 yr old. Fizzy old sod, but is happy in his standing.
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Standing martingale is what I was considering, did it suit your boy then jostabob? I've read you can't jump in a standing though?

Billabongchick said:
...I've also changed to a Neue Schule bit I have borrowed to try and she does giraffe head less in that than the previous Fulmer link. Maybe get an instructor to assess if your horse is similar if he has been out of proper work as could just be him saying 'i'm finding that difficult mum!' I am too soft and should ask a bit more with rein contact with mine apparently so she gets away with it... Working on it....
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I too have been told I'm too soft lol! And my instructor seems to think it is just him being a rising 5yo horse who has been out of work, adamant it's just behavioural. I like the look of that Neue Schule bit, looks comfy. He is currently in a happy mouth peanut snaffle... Hmmm...

Em123 said:
You could of been describing my horse, ears up my nostrils! I swooped him into a micklem bridle and now he will work nicely, obviously still a work in progress but it did really help!
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How do you use your micklem? They intrigue me - bitless, or with bit?
 
An elasticated standing martingale is quite handy to prevent the worst of the head throwing. But I've often noticed that they're unhappy in the contact because what they're being offered isn't consistent enough to feel confident working into. People work them on quite a loose rein and it's not enough for them to feel confident in. Reg works best into a very steady, quite 'there' contact (he's very sensitive mouthed, happy mouth snaffle is all he can deal with!). If you drop your hands as well the head comes straight up, as it makes the bit uncomfortable in his mouth.

Do you have a good instructor to help you?
 
What Lolo said above makes sense actually; I've ridden polo style for ages now so any contact feels a lot to me and ours is just turned 5 and also OTTB (well, she did a year of polo before we got her) so not used to that way of going and I never know how to gauge how much is enough or too much. The NS bit is the 'Starter' version I think so just a loose ring snaffle with lozenge and she is quite 'chompy' and mouthier with it which seems to encourage her to soften. Did our first dressage test yesterday and judge commented 'some promising moments and quietly ridden; need to work more on contact and balance now' which was encouraging and addressed the head in air moments!
 
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