Tossing head?

[WesternChick]

well.....I fixxed most of my problems. lol. but now i have a new one. My horse keeps tossing her head and jumping about whenever i try to push her into a trot from a walk to a trot or from a trot to a canter!! I have no idea why!! I mean she used to do this sometimes but now she does almost all the time. any suggestions on how to stop this behavior?? anything is welcome..!

 

[ducks4you]

Back discomfort?!? IS this new behavior? Something must hurt somewhere. I hate to suggest this but:
--new saddle? doesn't fit right, perhaps...
--saddle pad has a burr?
--back leg/stifle problem??
Does she move correctly during ground work? Have you walked/trotted her on gravel--good way to spot foot/leg lameness.
Don't know if I've helped.

 

[WesternChick]

maybe the saddle dosn't fit right....(I am using my sisters horses saddle cuz mine is too small for me)
Another thing is maybe there IS something wrong with her legs cuz I've noticed she dosn't like to trot counter clockwise ( when I am doing ground work or lunging) she never tosses her head when i am doing ground work with the saddle on (lunging/sending excersises) IDK what is wrong!
My saddle pad isn't that thick, maybe should i try a thicker saddle pad?

How do i tell if the saddle dosn't fit right?

 

[WesternChick]

also, she needs her hoof work done. They are getting pretty gnarly looking....I don't really think that is the problem though. yes this is a pretty new problem

ps. she dosn't do this when walking just when trotting or cantering

 

[lupinfarm]

Could be any number of things

Teeth floating, this is a very likely culprit as one of the biggest signs of teeth discomfort is head tossing

Hoof discomfort, possible abscess or stone bruise or worse, moving from the walk to the trot with the increased pressure on the hoof at the trot this is a good thing to look into.

And as ducks4you said, check her saddle fit!

Lastly look at your bit and decide whether it might be giving pressure where it is not needed, is it too tight, too small, are you over-bitting?

Good luck!

 

[WesternChick]

a twisted wire snaffel bit (nothing els has had enough pressure for my stubborn mule of a horse) the bridel fits ok...the teath floating thing is probably a good idea she hasn't had it done in a while..and she is due for her check-up. her feet seem fine other than being a little too long.

 

[michickenwrangler]

You may want to try switch bits, maybe try a three-piece bit like a Dr. Bristol or French-link mouthpiece.

Also, try riding her in a hackmore.

If she doesn't like trotting counter-clockwise (after you rule out physical factors) you should probably work on bending and circles more in that direction than the other. Horses, like people, can be left or right handed. My horse doesn't bend as well going left as she does right.

 

[miss_thenorth]

had a similar problem with my horse Jigs (9yo QH) while lunging him this winter, he would pull his head up, and would fight to go into a trot. I had had ongoing concerns about his hooves for months (cracks in his front, and really stiff legged in the back.throwing shoes quicker than you could put them on) Farrier said he was fine. :/

I finally switched to a barefoot trimmer, and it turns out he was walking on his bars on his back hooves. His front hooves the heels were too tall. Once we got his hooves corrected, he is not fighting at all anymore, and willingly goes from walk,to trot to canter. He's a totally different horse after having his feet trimmed properly.

 

[lupinfarm]

had a similar problem with my horse Jigs (9yo QH) while lunging him this winter, he would pull his head up, and would fight to go into a trot. I had had ongoing concerns about his hooves for months (cracks in his front, and really stiff legged in the back.throwing shoes quicker than you could put them on) Farrier said he was fine. :/

I finally switched to a barefoot trimmer, and it turns out he was walking on his bars on his back hooves. His front hooves the heels were too tall. Once we got his hooves corrected, he is not fighting at all anymore, and willingly goes from walk,to trot to canter. He's a totally different horse after having his feet trimmed properly.

My neighbours QH mare is named Jigs as well.

 

[WesternChick]

well the farrier is coming up on wendsday so I might talk to him about it.