Young Horse Tossing Head??

[madiz123]

Ok, I am unbelievably enthusiastic about getting this 3 year old... but I really have not trained one before. She arrives in two weeks but I want to be sure what I am going to do with her. She was backed in october.

At the moment, she is being ridden in a snaffle. She canters round calmly on a loose rein but when you put pressure on the reins to slow down, she tosses her head around and stretches her neck forwards, opening her mouth. This isn't too good because she can lose her balance if i try to slow her down on a corner. How can I help this? I feel unable to ask her to do sharper turns and stopping quicker because she does this.

 

[martlin]

The first thing I would do is check the teeth TBH.
If everything OK in that department, play with different types of bits, ie different snaffles, french link, different materials and thickness of the mouthpiece

 

[checkmate1]

After the normal checks etc teeth, well fitting bit.. I would say she hasn't been taught the accept the contact properly therefore reacts in the way you describe. Keep a quiet contact on her mouth at all times, riding her into the bit and dn't allow her to snatch the reins but when she softens you could offer her head and neck to stretch on your say so. (However, I know your training her for polo so the above may not apply!!)

 

[scotsmare]

I would think that your problem lies predominantly with her teeth from what you've described. I'd get them checked asap.