head tossing

[Hels]

Carrie has a habit of tossing her head up and down a few times (snatching the reins) when you first get on her. She is doing this a little less with me now, but I've noticed whenever anyone else gets on her she always does it for the first few seconds. She's normally only ridden by me and my sharer, but occasionally I offer other friends a ride.

I have been letting her get away with it (even completely letting go of the reins sometimes) because I think it may be a hangover from novice riders hanging onto the reins and jabbing her in the mouth in the past, so I let her reassure herself that I am not going to do that.

I want to know if I should now actively try to correct it, as 'bad manners'? How should I go about it? I'm concerned if I do resist the head tossing by not 'giving' then it will only confirm her fears and make her worse.

Or should I just let her work through this on her own - since she only does it just after she's mounted, and I think she's doing it less now than six months ago (when she first came off her unsuccessful working livery). She's improving all the time with her schooling and turning into a lovely responsive ride.

Any thoughts?

[galadriel]

I'd think, if she only does it right after you get on, that it's not a habit that needs correction. If she took the opportunity to then throw her head every so often as you were riding, or used it to try to get the reins away and then take off, maybe...but it sounds pretty harmless.

Is there anything else associated with this habit that makes you think it's detrimental to her training? If not...seems like a "quirk" rather than "bad manners," to me.

[Harry Hobbes]

If you decide that you wish her to stop the habit, then try this:

1. When you first mount, sit still and relaxed and do not ask her to move out. Just sit there relaxed for two or three minutes. If she moves off on her own before you ask her, then stop her and start the relaxed waiting again. (You're training her that she's to stand still and to not move off when you first mount, but to wait for your specific cues.)

2. Simultaneously, take up one rein in one fist with no contact and brace your fist against the saddle, and do not allow the rein to slip through your fist, so that if she pulls on the rein, it'll feel like she's pulling on a fixed post. Do not allow your fist to come away from the saddle. (She's pulling because she knows she can pull your hands; but she'll learn to not pull if it feels like she's pulling against a fixed post.)

After your two to three minutes of relaxed waiting are complete, and the pulling has ceased, then take up the reins and ride off.

Because more than one rider is using the horse, you may expect her to differentiate her behaviors between different riders. That is, if you successfully train her to behave for you, she may or may not behave for the other rider(s), unless they also train her to behave properly.

Try this and let us know how it worked.

[Hels]

Thank you both. Galadriel she does it only very occasionally when we're hacking and she decides she doesn't like being held back(actually the last time she did it with me was months back) , never does it in the school any more, but was doing it quite a bit when a friend was riding her the other day - I think she didn't like his rein contact or something. I guess she's the 'ask a mare' type.

Harry that sounds like excellent advice and similar to what my instructor used to get me to do when she was head tossing in our lessons - she used to get me to hold the reins in such a way that Carrie was pulling against her own neck (hard to explain but the effect was the same - pulling against a fixed point). It worked a treat.

I think we're ready to give it a go - she's responding so well to all her training. She is losing all her cheeky quirks so fast I am wondering if I am going to end up with the perfect horse and be bored!! I'm not complaining really - proud!!


I'll let you know how it goes.

[Harry Hobbes]

The key to your success with the "tied to a post" technique will be your ability to not allow any "give" when she tries to take the reins; she must feel solidity and fastness with her pulls. In other words, she must view the attempt as "futile".

[galadriel]

Originally posted by Hels
never does it in the school any more, but was doing it quite a bit when a friend was riding her the other day - I think she didn't like his rein contact or something.

I have a mare who tosses her head around when she doesn't like your rein contact. She doesn't care much for bits, either; I usually ride her in a jumping hackamore or even just a halter & lead rope. Without a bit in her mouth, she's not as picky about contact and less experienced people can ride her easily.

Duchess throws her head if your contact is inconsistent, too tight, or too loose. She's great for teaching a consistent contact.

[Torny]

Sounds like you've got it sorted, but I would like to say just one thing ;)

Just double check that all the Tack is fitted correctly and theres now areas of tenderness.
The first idea I get when you say she normally does it when mounting, is there anything that has happned or happens during then that causes discomfort?
E.G
Toes digging in to sides as getting on,
Pressure points on the her back from the saddle?

I am so glad you did not choose to beleive it is bad behaviour!, so many people are quick to accuse their horses of 'mis-behaving' when they are actually trying to tell the owners that their Scared, in pain, unhappy etc..

Happy Riding, :D

[dressagebod]

The usual reason for this is balance push the horse forward so that he is working really forward if the head tossing stops great if he does it standing still grab a piece of mane so that he pulls his own hair when he throws his head down, it usually stops them after a short while

[Hels]

Thanks all!

Torny, I'll think about that and try to work out if she's at all sore. She's due a teeth rasp. She actually does the head tossing after you've mounted, when you are trying to stop her walking off. So it is prompted by the first rein contact.

I tried Harry's method yesterday. It's hard to fix quickly on the front of my saddle as English saddles are low (would be easier with those (western?) saddles with a big knob at the front, so to speak). Anyway, the tosses were rather half hearted and stopped quickly. I used to find myself admiring her white face and looking at the inside of her nostrils when her tossing was at its worst!

I'll keep going and report back on the results in the next few weeks.

[Hels]

I have just remembered about this post, and the head tossing. Well, I can now report that I can't remember the last time Carrie tossed her head. The habit has just gone away of its own accord!