Head shaking

caz

caz

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Sep 12, 2023
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My 10 .onth old filly has recently started shaking her head from side to side and up and down but only when she's got a head collar on is it just her trying to be the boss or something else I am having problems with her barging and bucking when trying to walk her down the field which I am doing some training with her fir
 
It could be many things - not understanding what you're asking, frustration, discomfort to name but three - but at that age I doubt she's trying to be boss. I'd suggest getting someone in to help who's used to training youngstock because what you're teaching now is the foundation for everything and so you want it absolutely right and solid.
 
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I agree I have arranged for someone to come and help I think some of it is frustration as her paddock is opposite a wooded area and she don't like the sound the wind makes in the trees so she hasn't been out as mich as she was before Christmas plus the hours I've been having in work I have been putting her up the school arena just so she can blow off some steam thank you for replying
 
I think help on the ground is a far better answer than anything anyone online can suggest.

I would just add, turn her out no matter what! She needs regular daily exercise and the mental stimulation of being turned out, grazing, preferably in a herd. She doesn’t like the noise of the wind isn’t a reason to keep her in and certainly isn’t teaching her good coping mechanisms for when she is ridden/driven or whatever. Getting her out before your help arrives will very likely mean you get a more productive session for your money too.
 
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Hogan did this a lot in the early days when leading- throwing his head about and mini rears - trying to intimidate me. Of course, he's not a baby, like yours, but I found persistence in being firm and basically ignoring it, and he doesn't really do it anymore - just the occasional head shake, if he's REALLY cheesed off
 
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I agree with the poster that said about getting the foundations right from the start. Some foals do start to check the boundaries to see where they sit within the herd.
Whatever your baby is doing, imagine them doing it when they are 15hh.

Leading is the most important basic that needs to be got right, you can't do anything with a horse that you cannot lead or be caught easily.

Sadly mine was allowed to use her strength when she was a baby. I still sometimes get the head moving without the legs following if she doesn't want to do something.
 
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Thank you all for you replys she's only been doing it the last month realy and when I first gor her she didn't know what a head collar lead rein or rugs were but within a month she knew wat they were she's always been fine when ever I lead her she refuses to go past the woods and I've tried patiently just standing there with her even some of the other girls on the yard have tried we are slowly getting closer to her paddock. She does go in the school arena which is near other paddocks so she can still see other horses I know it's not the same as being in her own paddock but it's better than her being in her stable all the time
 
I hate to say it but you really should have her somewhere where she can at least be out all day every day, preferably with others. Keeping a horse so young in most of the time is likely to lead to physical and mental problems, and she needs to learn to socialise with others - at this age if she makes a social gaffe she'll be forgiven but that often isn't the case for something more mature and that can lead to fights and injuries. Getting her out with others will also make her easier to handle since she won't see you as a potential playmate and will have less energy too.

Try to sort turnout with company asap even if it means moving yard. Don't let other people try to lead her, she's just going to get more confused if they don't know what they're doing either - and thy clearly don't since she isn't leading for them either. Instead get expert help in straight away, you say you've arranged for someone so get them there as soon as you can before the problem gets worse. I assume it is someone with lots of experience with youngsters?
 
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Strangely enough you are possibly teaching her to stop and not go past - because you are not going past.

She's ten months old, what she learns now will possibly stay with her for years if not life.
She was originally going out to be with the yearlings, she's still a foal, she really needs to be out 24/7, by all means handle and teach the basics, but one of those basics is walking where you go and stopping when you stop.
 
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The lady has 20 + years of training horses so I'm guessing she knows what she's doing she's coming tomorrow moving yards is not an option at the moment she's in her paddock at the moment and leaving her out 24/< isn't an option either the owner of the land don't allow any of the horses to be out 24/7 at the moment nd she's the baby on the yard the next youngest is 3 there is 1 due the end of next month
 
Realy well she said that it was the head collar was a little loose on taylor so I adjusted it so it was a little tighter. With the wind blowing and making the sounds in the woods could be worked on with just taking her down as far as she will go and just standing there and reassuring her that it wasn't anything to be scared off so that's what I am doing. I've spoken to one of the other girls and the owner of the land nd I can put taylor in that field but he doesn't want her there for ever if you know what I mean so I'm walking her down there later on this afternoon and this evening and just keep doing that
 
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