Head Tossing

[Sarah Gould]

Please help.

I have owned my Arab mare who is 5 years old since October of last year. She has now started the annoying habit of shaking her head and snatching at the reins whilst been ridden. She is OK if you have her on a very loose reing but you obviously then have no control over her as soon as you take up the contact she is OK for a bit then throws her head up and pulls at the reins. I drop my contact and she stops.

I rode her out last night on the roads and she kept doing this so I fixed my hands very low down by her withers and kept my legs on her and she accepted the bit and was going very well for a good while the put in this allmighty buck (SHE HAS NEVER EVER DONE THIS BEFORE) which came as a shock to me then her ears went all funny like floppy to the side like EE AWE from Winne the Pooh.

I have had her teeth checked by the vet when I bought her and they where OK. Do I get an Equine Dentist to check her over. He saddle fits. She is ridden in a Loose ring happy mouth snaffle as she is very soft mouthed which maybe why she is doing this.

Does anyone have any ideas?

Is she in pain or being a typical young Arab mare.

Any info would be most helpfull on thid annoying habbit.

I do not think it is an allergy has she has never done this before or whilst she is out in the field grazing or in the stable or being led out on the roads

[Rachel R]

Sarah,
Sounds like it's time for another teeth check to me. I have my horses done every six months, as they get sharp very quickly. You can check for sharp edges yourself, by carefully feeling the outside edge of the molars. Has your mare lost all her milk teeth now? Has she had her woolf teeth removed? Either of these could cause the problem.
It does not really sound like an allergy, although as it has been warmer for the last few days I suppose the pollen count could have been higher. there were definitely a lot of flies and midges around over the weekend anyway, especially in the woods where I am.
I would go for teeth first though, failing that gether back checked. Personally I always use my vet for dental work. They are qualified to do the job and can be a lot cheaper then these so called "dentists". They are also able to sedate the horse if needed - a must in my case!
Let us know how you get on,

Rachel

[Sarah Gould]

Thanks Rachel.

My Vets practice has just started to concentrate more on the dental side but me have some good equine dentists around.

I shall let you know how I get on.

Thanks again

[Sarah]

hello!

When looking for a dentist or vet to float your horse's teeth, check that they have a proper gag to be able to get to the back teeth. If going for an equine dentist, make sure they are qualified - in Britain anyone can set themselves up as an equine dentist with no training. There is a proper training course run in the States and the dentist is then qualified as a CEqD.

Personally i would recommend a trained dentist over a vet any day - the dentist spends all his life doing teeth and the vet only does them once in a while.

bye!

[Kiwismum]

Hi Sarah, My girl does exactly the same thing if people are too heavy handed with the reins. She is used as a teaching horse quite often and beginners tend to stiffen their arms up and of course up goes the head.
She will also waggle her head sometimes while I am riding her, usually while I am still getting the hind quarters engaged and if I continue then she will drop her head and except contact.
She too has a very soft mouth and her teeth are checked regularly so maybe a bit more training will help to solve the problem

[Winki]

Hi.

If you can say for certain that the teeth are fine; the tack fits and she's not suffering from cold back or some other complaint, then I'd agree with Kiwi's mum. I also had a school horse who behaved as yours does. She knew if she'd act up the rider would drop contact.

My instructor told me to ignore the naughtyness and press on; giving a little with the reins as a reward for being compliant, not the other way 'round. When you have a lovely young horse such as you have, it might be advantagous for the two of you to have a few lessons together, as Kiwi recommended.

The trainer can see from the ground what you cannot from the saddle.

[Mossy]

Just a thought. Does the browband fit? it is often forgotten and a change of browband wil be cheaper than the dentist. It is the only piece of the bridle that is not adjustable,and if it is too small it can cause all sorts of problems.

[Sarah Gould]

Thanks for all who replied.

She is having the dentis out when U can get in touch with him and I am also starting to have Classical Dressage lessons on her and my first one is on the 18th May which I am lokkinf forward to.

I rode her in a S/S bit over the week and she was perfect, no head shaking at all no bucking, contact all the time she was wonderfull. Very strange ehh, maybe she just does not like the Happy Mouth bits who knows.

I had a thought that she may not be confortable with the saddle. As soon as she sees the saddle she backs up and when I put it on her she is OK. I shall get my instructer to have a good look over her.

Thanks again to all who replied

Elly and I are very pleased!!!

:EEK:

[Allie]

I'm just curious, but what is an S/S bit? Is it a brand or a type of bit? I've seen it a couple places and always wondered what it was...

Allie