Youngster Head Tossing

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JoshuaR97

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My 4 year old rising 5 year old when ridden has slightly started tossing his head around. He is not always doing it or going crazy with it. I've had his teeth done and he has no wolf teeth and the sharp edges have been sorted. He is ridden in an full cheek french link bit. I've started riding him with a cavesson on as we lunge him firstly with me on to get him relaxing but when we take him off I'm not sure if he's just tossing his head because the middle ring is bobbing around on his head. My saddle fitter just said he's mouthing the bit and when you undo the cavesson he does start moving his jaw around.. Anyone know what I can try? I was going to pop a Micklem bridle on him just to see if he's happier as he is still quite head shy and sensitive on his poll.
 
Cavessons are heavy and cumbersome as well as restrictive if done up firmly, I would put it on over the normal bridle, which you should if using both, and take it off to ride, it may mean having no noseband but that would be better than using the cavesson, a multi bridle micklem would solve the problem of having so much on his head and would be the best option.
I would also want to be cutting out the lunging before riding as soon as possible as it can be hard to break the habit.
 
Lunge cavessons are so heavy! I never use one & just go for a normal headcollar when lunging.

I used to lunge my horse before riding with just a headcollar, then swapped to her bridle to ride. She's very fussy about too much gear on her head. I have slowly weaned her off the lunging and now she just has a calm and relaxed very long warm-up.

Is he actually head-tossing or just mouthing and moving his head at the same time? Our youngster mouthed for a long time when his training first started, he looked like a nodding dog sometimes. He doesn't wobble his head about now, but he was brought on very, very slowly and patiently.
 
I'd try changing the bit, youngsters have a tendency to learn often on a certain rein, it could be that when the metal of the full cheek is touching his face as you turn him or bend him that is bothering him. Stick with a snaffle but try another option without cheeks (loose ring, egg-butt, D ring etc).

I'd definitely not ride in the cavesson either. Too much tack on top of each other isnt going to help matters, and the rings of the cavesson could be bothering him. (this is presuming you mean a lunge cavesson and not a cavesson noseband?) I'd be tweaking little things with your current bridle before you go down a different bridle route - have you got the noseband too tight? Are you using a flash or drop noseband? Is the bridle ill-fitting and putting too much pressure on the poll?

Then there is always the other potential issue this time of year - headshaking. Quite common for horses in Spring/Summer when the pollen becomes a problem. Have a read of this and see if any of it rings a bell with you and your horse http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/horse-care/vet-advice/headshaking-causes-and-management-89386
If it does, and changing the bit and playing with the bridle fitting doesnt work, get your vet out to have a look about headshaking. It can be managed, could be something as simple as a nose-net that will keep it under control. But it does need a vet to diagnose the condition and advise on the best course of treatment.
 
My youngster did this when he got tired or worried. He is rising 6 now and only does it very rarely now.
 
My rising 6 yr old does this. I ride him in a Micklem bridle and have just changed his bit from a shaped snaffle to a Hippus jointed bit I had. Mine is definately mouthing but was also getting his tongue over the snaffle. He is happier in this Hippus hinged bit as I think the less movement suits him.
I am sure it's a baby thing mine was only backed later last year.
 
My mare did this when her teeth needed doing and when she was being ridden through rape fields. No other pollen ever bothered her, but rape made her toss her head something terrible.
 
I would take the cavesson off after lunging as a just in case although that could be a red herring but worth ruling it out :)

I would play around with the contact going from loose reins to long, to natural head carriage height and a little stronger contact and check along the way if there is any change in the way of going
 
My Welshie used to do this (sometimes still does) when he was younger. He does it when he gets stressy or tired, particulary on the way back from a hack - once hes relaxed and going forward hes fine and the head stops.
 
my 6year old mare does this too (only on the way back from a hack) I think its a baby thing as she was only backed last year... or when she really needs a wee :)
 
My 4 year old does this when she gets tired its getting better the fitter she gets and when something "clicks" in the school she doesnt do it until she learns something new
 
At 4 and a half he will be teething - a good dentist would have told you this. Even if there isn't any evidence of them coming out or cutting through yet they can still be tender in the mouth. When my youngsters are teething I always remove the noseband as it can press on the teeth and gums making it more sore. If this doesn't work I ride them bit less or give them time off until they have finished teething. Anyone who has cut wisdom teeth will know how painful it is.
 
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