[Bruce Wiley]

In some cases, horses displaying this kind of behavior, when they're cranky, pranky and not focusing on their own movement.
The rider must offer clear directions, support for the head & the horse's body, giving the horse something to focus on & not allow the horse to do idle work.
The horse's body parts must be requested to do this and to do that during the working sessions.

The other thing that come to mind, is the horse's pole.
The pole maybe out of alignment and this can be corrected by a Chiro.
It wouldn't hurt to have the Chiro to also check the horse's, neck & ribcage etc.
The Chiro maybe able to help the horse by using adjustments of the pressure points to relieve tension.

I hope this helps.

[Blistering Winds]

do you have a video of her trotting by chance?

She seems off. Very off in the video. Looks more than an "annoyance" and more OF a pain related issue. I would get a 2nd opinion. She seems to pop her head up more when her front left leg goes forward to strike, or her rear right comes and strikes. Could be an upper joint issue.

If you can get video of her trotting, I bet we might be able to help you focus on the right area.

Has your vet seen you under saddle? (sounds like a combo into the back if the horse is sound without rider, but unsound with)

[horseguy]

I looked at the video again. My eyesight is not good enough to see if the horse is off in that lighting. Plus, as Blistering Winds points out, a trot video would be the best. Just make sure you take the video outdoors so it can be seen.

Still, that little nose flip is more like a feisty young horse complaint motion than a lameness head movement, to me. But like I said, I cannot see.

[JumpingBean]

I don't see "very off," but I did see some steps that didn't seem quite right. Mostly left front like someone said -- but again nothing very terribly obvious. I'd be interested to see a trot video as well.

You did say that he has already passed a lameness check, though. Some horses just walk like that, particularly if they are a bit antsy. Right at the end of the video he looked more relaxed and his steps evened out. There's a great little TB at my barn that frequently comes out wound up and walking like that (minus the headflipping). I have seen him from the ground and ridden him; he's sound and looks/feels normal as soon as he relaxes.

Several posters mentioned eyes and I agree that it's worth looking into if it hasn't been done yet. I noticed that in the video he went from dark to light areas of the arena frequently, and the changing light may have been bothering him.

[Horsez]

IDK, but to me, he looks like he flips his head seriously when he sees the sunlight. Does he have an eye problem? But to me he looks like he has a strong walk. I wouldn't have noticed it if you wouldn't have told me.

[AMD]

This only happens when he's being ridden, right? Does he ever do it with a halter on, or in his stall, out in the field in the winter when he's just walking around or standing around?

This is another misconception of PH - Lots of horses NEVER do it unless they are being exercised. When they breath harder and breath in more particles is when it really shows up. But - this is a great point as if he has a severe case of it he will do it outside standing around. But - I know two that only do it when ridden or really moving.

[IIIBarsV]

Photosensitive or not, it'd still be worth seeing how tight the bridle is on his head. If they can barely get a finger under the poll, throatlatch or browband, then it's probably cranked right on there and bugging him. lol

I thought he seemed off on the left front, actually. Bit of a short step there.

[iwovjerry]

This will only help is it is a behavioral issue.


My horse used to have that problem so start with some ground work. Try a rope halter and every time you are walking your horse and he throws his head tug his head down immediatly with a quick fast tug . Then back him up. I did this every time more horse did this and he stopped after working with him for 1 hr. That was a year ago and he hasn't thrown his head since, walking or under saddle.

[TraceyT]

thanks for all the great advice.His eyes were checked by the vet during the vet exam and nothing abnormal came up.His new owner has talked with her vet (actually her ver took the video) and the vet seems to think that it is a case of the "head shaking syndrome" he told her that stress may bring it on worse. So with the long trailer ride he had and then leaving his home might have been enough to jump start it.No one really knows for sure if this is the problem or if he has decided to test his new owner and see if he can get the "upper hand" over her.He may be in for some more training to find out for sure. I guess if he does have the shakes then he will only get worse but if it is a training issue then he can get better.

[Blistering Winds]

is the horse fed alfalfa by chance?