Head throwing?

mmbeach · 03-11-2009, 10:59 AM

I have a 6 1/2 year old quarter horse named Bennet. I have trained him mostly myself for the last 4 years or so and he is generally really responsive and cooperative. About three weeks ago I was out to ride him and he was fine with grooming and tacking up. When I brought him into the outdoor ring he would not listen to me and started throwing his head up and down and in circles as if he was saying "NO!"
I was only asking him to walk and trot as it was a little icy out and I was purposely avoiding the icy spots. He would walk or trot for a few moments and stop again and proceed with the strange head movements. I thought that maybe he was sore after having his hooves trimmed only 5 days before this.
I then went on holidays for two weeks and thought he would get over it. Well he didn't. I rode him again 3 days ago, and he was doing the same thing.

Please help! He has never done this before and I don't know why he is now. I have not changed any of his tack recently. Could it be the cold weather making him do weird things? There is also a new horse in the paddock with him too.

Any comments and suggestions are welcome!

MistyAcres · 03-11-2009, 12:41 PM

Have you had his teeth checked? My mare was doing this last fall, I had her teeth floated and the head tossing stopped.

GotaDunQH · 03-11-2009, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MistyAcres

Have you had his teeth checked? My mare was doing this last fall, I had her teeth floated and the head tossing stopped.

Yep....always check out the "physical" first. I would recommend the same.

Jennifer

Dusty1979 · 03-11-2009, 01:32 PM

For sure, have his teeth checked.

But, from your post it sounds like he hasn't had much work lately? This may be his way of "playing" with you. He's feeling fresh and may be challenging you to see if you can really make him work.

Horses can come up with new "tricks" througout their lives. You know this horse better than anyone else does. You would be the best person to work through the reason for this behavior, whether physical or mental.

Horses should really have their teeth checked/floated each year. If he hasn't been done in a while, he very well could have a sore mouth. But, I bet there was a little playing going on there too! LOL

dvineequine · 03-11-2009, 05:23 PM

Quote:

There is also a new horse in the paddock with him too.

This may be part of the reason as he has had a life change so to speak. Trying to to be the boss horse with the new one in his paddock and it has now carried over to you.
I agree with Dusty that it could also be a play thing and like she said he has been off work for a while.
I wouldn't take him seriously and would proceed as usual.
You can have some fun with it and mirror his goofiness back at him on the ground and on his back as this really puzzles them and starts them thinking with the other side of their brain.
Ask him to do something different after he has tossed his head around and put his spunkiness to good use.

mmbeach · 03-11-2009, 08:45 PM

Thank-you all for your suggestions. It has been just over a year since his teeth were floated.

loosie · 03-12-2009, 03:53 PM

Is he often sore after having his feet trimmed?? If so, I'd suggest you learn more about hoofcare, as this indicates the trimmer is more than likely doing the wrong thing. A horse should be the same, or more comfortable after a trim(generally - there are exceptions), not less so.

03-11-2009, 10:59 AM	#1
mmbeach Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Calgary, AB Posts: 20	Head throwing? I have a 6 1/2 year old quarter horse named Bennet. I have trained him mostly myself for the last 4 years or so and he is generally really responsive and cooperative. About three weeks ago I was out to ride him and he was fine with grooming and tacking up. When I brought him into the outdoor ring he would not listen to me and started throwing his head up and down and in circles as if he was saying "NO!" I was only asking him to walk and trot as it was a little icy out and I was purposely avoiding the icy spots. He would walk or trot for a few moments and stop again and proceed with the strange head movements. I thought that maybe he was sore after having his hooves trimmed only 5 days before this. I then went on holidays for two weeks and thought he would get over it. Well he didn't. I rode him again 3 days ago, and he was doing the same thing. Please help! He has never done this before and I don't know why he is now. I have not changed any of his tack recently. Could it be the cold weather making him do weird things? There is also a new horse in the paddock with him too. Any comments and suggestions are welcome!

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03-11-2009, 12:41 PM	#2
MistyAcres Full Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Colorado Posts: 90 Images: 41	Have you had his teeth checked? My mare was doing this last fall, I had her teeth floated and the head tossing stopped.

03-11-2009, 01:32 PM	#4
Dusty1979 Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Minnesota (rural area) Posts: 1,311 Images: 21	For sure, have his teeth checked. But, from your post it sounds like he hasn't had much work lately? This may be his way of "playing" with you. He's feeling fresh and may be challenging you to see if you can really make him work. Horses can come up with new "tricks" througout their lives. You know this horse better than anyone else does. You would be the best person to work through the reason for this behavior, whether physical or mental. Horses should really have their teeth checked/floated each year. If he hasn't been done in a while, he very well could have a sore mouth. But, I bet there was a little playing going on there too! LOL

03-11-2009, 08:45 PM	#6
mmbeach Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Calgary, AB Posts: 20	Thank-you all for your suggestions. It has been just over a year since his teeth were floated.

03-12-2009, 03:53 PM	#7
loosie Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 806 Images: 6	Is he often sore after having his feet trimmed?? If so, I'd suggest you learn more about hoofcare, as this indicates the trimmer is more than likely doing the wrong thing. A horse should be the same, or more comfortable after a trim(generally - there are exceptions), not less so.