How would you handle this?

[talia]

Sometimes when I canter, my horse will get excited and start throwing his head around, moving it from side to side. What can I do to make him stop? It can be a little scary at times. Just wondering how everyone else handles this. :confused:

Thanks! :D

[Afellpony]

Have you checked to see if there's any discomfort from tack etc that could be causing this problem. It might be wise to have his teeth looked at as he could be suffering some discomfort there. If not, perhaps he's doing through excitement or apprehension. Do you ride out alone or with others? If everything is ok healthwise, try some schooling which may help if he's getting excited. Good luck I hope you get this sorted soon.

[Vicki&Milo]

Are you riding inside or out. We had a pony that used to do this at my old RS, but only outside. Eventually RI decided it was pollen making him do it.
I'd definitely say get is back and teeth checked though.
Vicki xx

[talia]

Thanks for the reply. He's due to have his teeth done in June. He never shakes his head around when we have lessons, and he wears the same tack. Maybe he feels my apprehension when we don't have an RI around. We both concentrate more during lessons then when we're out trail riding. Hmm...maybe he's all business?

Thanks again!:)

[jumpinintherai]

It may be he is just taking note of how your feeling, try lunging him both ways and see if he does it on the lunge, he may not though if he doesn't do it in your lessons. Also is it a certain direction he does this?

[Wally]

Has she any Arab blood in her?

[1 morejump]

We both concentrate more during lessons then when we're out trail riding. Hmm...maybe he's all business?
I don't think it has to do with being all business. Some horses just get over excited on the trails. How old is he? I won't let my 4 year old canter on trails, he doesn't start throwing his head, he starts bucking he gets so excited! If he isn't ready for it don't do it. When you think he can handle it stay in a very collect slow canter. In the meantime do a bunch of trot to canter and canter to walk transitions in your arena to prep him for it.

A lot of horses just have problems cantering on the trails, its like how when a dog gets outside they run, its what they were made to do. It can take a while to get him focused to the point where he can listen to you and canter at the same time.

[ChristinaB]

I think I would work on calming him down at the canter. When you're riding, ask for the canter, go about 4 or 5 strides and come back down to the trot or walk. After a few strides ask for the canter again, go for 4 or 5 strides, and come back down. Do this a just a few times during your ride. This really seems to help defuse those "oh boy canter I get to tear off wildly" horses.

As he gets better you can increase the time you spend at the canter. Also use the trail as a schooling venue, use lots of transitions, do some bending and lateral work, etc. This keeps your concentration going and leaves less time for your horse to think of ways to be naughty!

[talia]

Thanks for your replies. I have notice that he doesn't shake his head around when he's going in any particular direction and has done it when riding alone and out on the trail with other horses. But when on the trail, he mainly does it because he likes to be first. Once he is first in line, he's fine. He is a quarter horse/paint and is 10 yrs. I'll work on my transitions, but in the meantime, is there anything that I should do when it starts to happen? Anything with my reins or my seat? I noticed that when he moves his head about, and I have a deep seat and not move, he will do the same and not move.

Thanks again for all the great advice! :D

[Ehley]

When my mare does that in a canter I usually yell at her to stop acting around, and it helps she usually stops fooling around right away

[smaggi]

Could you be hanging on the reins? Maybe you are using more rein pressure, even if you don't realize it, to try to slow him down.

[SA rider]

I think Smaggi could be right. You horse is probably loving the freedom on the trail, and might just be arguing with you for more - as far as I'm concerned that's natural even if its a bit annoying. You could try taking and giving one rein rather than a straight out argument on both reins??

[smaggi]

When Cisco wants to be in front on the trail and starts walking fast or trotting without me asking, I have my other trail buddies stop their horses. Then I make Cisco TROT away from them in the direction we came from, then I turn and make him WALK back toward them. If he starts trotting back to them instead of walking, I turn him and trot away again. I do this until he gives me a nice relaxed walk.

I sed to use rein contact to try to slow him down and even when I alternated the 2 reins I always got the bully head toss from him.

[talia]

I'll try riding with a little less rein pressure and see how that works. I'm sure that is causing my horse to do the bully head toss too.:cool:

Thanks for the great advice Smaggi and SA rider!:D