Young horse throwing/tossing head/opening mouth

[tristar]

perhaps he is doing this when he is needing to stretch down and take the contact forwards, so he can relax the muscles the other way, like us when we need to stretch the other way after bending.

also keep your contact flexible, he needs to put his head where it is most comfortable for the next while, baby muscles need to move around to avoid too m uch too long in one position.

i too would not have ``lessons`` on this horse you are right there, the main thing with a young horse for me is ride it on lots of straight lines, so it can adapt gradually to being ridden and carrying the weight.

it takes many months for them to truly start to come into fitness from zero to young ridden horse, if you do it in a kind way, which is what they all deserve.

your instincts are good, a past director of the spanish school of riding once said all young horses should be ridden mainly on straight lines for 12 months.

what you do now, thoroughly and thoughtfully will be setting up the horse for later success.

 

[happyhorse978]

perhaps he is doing this when he is needing to stretch down and take the contact forwards, so he can relax the muscles the other way, like us when we need to stretch the other way after bending.

also keep your contact flexible, he needs to put his head where it is most comfortable for the next while, baby muscles need to move around to avoid too m uch too long in one position.

i too would not have ``lessons`` on this horse you are right there, the main thing with a young horse for me is ride it on lots of straight lines, so it can adapt gradually to being ridden and carrying the weight.

it takes many months for them to truly start to come into fitness from zero to young ridden horse, if you do it in a kind way, which is what they all deserve.

your instincts are good, a past director of the spanish school of riding once said all young horses should be ridden mainly on straight lines for 12 months.

what you do now, thoroughly and thoughtfully will be setting up the horse for later success.

Amazing Thankyou so much this is really helpful ! And you’ve been so kind Thankyou ! I’m definitely going to try and encourage him to stretch forward when he does it next time I’m on him, I imagine that it what he wants to do but as he does not yet work in a frame/contact he is probably uncertain himself , but hopefully he will figure it out ! Thankyou so much for your help it is much appreciated x

 

[tristar]

for someone with a green irish horse you doing so well.

 

[happyhorse978]

for someone with a green irish horse you doing so well.

Thankyou so much, that has made me feel so much better! He really is the most lovely boy, i adore him! We will get there! Once the lighter nights happen I can start taking him out for some more short hacks and get his fitness up
thankyou again xxx

 

[happyhorse978]

Hi everyone, just a quick update for you helpful people I had my young horses teeth checked, as i mentioned he came over from Ireland and I had him in December so been wanting to get them checked but my dentist has a waiting list although managed to fit us in for an urgent appointment, luckily! Anyway, turns out the poor lad had really sharp teeth and ulcerated cheeks along with hooks and ramps poor little darling, dentist said it looked like he hadnt had his teeth done at all, or atleast for a couple of years (no wolf teeth) !! So his teeth are all sorted now.

I gave him a few days off and took him for a very short gentle walk hack last night , he seemed fine until i picked up a very gentle contact (to ask him to stand) and thats when he threw his head up. To be honest, hes probably still expecting his mouth to hurt so may take a while for him to get used to the fact he wont be in pain in there anymore! He may also be a little bit tender in his mouth after having quite a bit of work done so going to give him an easy few days. Ive got a nice sweet iron full cheek snaffle to try if it continues as he may 'soften' to this more aswell.

thank you all for your advice! Hopefully the head tossing will get less and less the more we do and the more he realises it wont hurt anymore now teeth are sorted! xx

 

[littleshetland]

I had a youngster (4 yrs) that did this. Always towards the end of the hack and when he was tired .Our hacks were never very long or tiring, but he was just a baby and got tired quickly. Teeth, tack etc all checked out fine. I ended up using a 'Market Harborough' on him which fairly quickly nipped this behaviour in the bud without stressing him out. I made sure all sessions with him were short and sweet and he settled down fine. Good luck with your youngster, and hopefully having his teeth done will have solved your problem.

 

[happyhorse978]

I had a youngster (4 yrs) that did this. Always towards the end of the hack and when he was tired .Our hacks were never very long or tiring, but he was just a baby and got tired quickly. Teeth, tack etc all checked out fine. I ended up using a 'Market Harborough' on him which fairly quickly nipped this behaviour in the bud without stressing him out. I made sure all sessions with him were short and sweet and he settled down fine. Good luck with your youngster, and hopefully having his teeth done will have solved your problem.

Oh thats a good idea to try if it continues , thankyou! x

 

[Old school]

Delighted that the dentist was such a big help. I have a mare that does the same. Between massage of her front chest area and a course of peptizole, it has really helped. At the end of a day’s hunting she will do it. I think it is stomach related at that point for her. It is great that you have a lovely kind Irish horse and have given him the best of starts.

 

[happyhorse978]

Delighted that the dentist was such a big help. I have a mare that does the same. Between massage of her front chest area and a course of peptizole, it has really helped. At the end of a day’s hunting she will do it. I think it is stomach related at that point for her. It is great that you have a lovely kind Irish horse and have given him the best of starts.

Thank you, hopefully he will improve now! I really appreicate that thank you so much x