Horse throwing head what can i do

SPEEDY94C · 09-26-2008, 08:59 AM

We just bought our qh mare, she is 8-9 yrs old. She hasnt been messed with in about 4 yrs, they were just using her for a brood mare. We have used a snaffle bit,tom thumb(i dont like these but tried it) and a hackamore. With all of these she throws her head up tarabley.yesterday when my 14 yo son was getting off of her she threw her head and almost hit him in the face. AFTER THAT I JUST TOOK OFF THE HACK AND CLIPPED THE REINS ONTO HER HALTER. SHE DIDNT THROW HER HEAD THEN BUT DIDNT HAVE ANY BRAKES. WE ARE RIDING HER IN A ROUND PEN FOR SAFETY SO UNTIL WE GET USED TO EACH OTHER MORE.
Do you have any suggestions as what i should do to break her of this?

Thanks in advance. Steve

Gutter_Doll · 09-26-2008, 09:11 AM

My gelding used to - and he's high-headed by build.
Trainer basically stuck me in a round pen and said if I picked up the reins he'd take the bridle off =P
So lope her around a round pen, with NO contact on the bit/face. She can't go far, and with that forward impulsion and the job at hand she should start to relax a bit.

calypsoscarnivl · 09-26-2008, 09:35 AM

Has she had her teeth checked? If she in comfortable with no bit, this could be the issue.

billybonds · 09-26-2008, 09:46 AM

She is either in discomfort or rebelling. Have you ruled out discomfort? When exactly is she throwing her head around? Is it with contact on her mouth? Is it when being asked to do things she is reluctant/lazy to do?

Bruce Wiley · 09-26-2008, 10:21 AM

Alleivate all ill fitting tack, or health issues.

My first guess would be the time off, being a broodmare and alway from the riding routine. The rider's hands may be too restrictive and this could cause the horse to become & react with resistence.
What may help, is to restart some ground training, getting the correct compliances from the horse in every way.
I hope this helps.

SPEEDY94C · 09-26-2008, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calypsoscarnivl

has she had her teeth checked? If she in comfortable with no bit, this could be the issue.

she also does it with a hackamore so i dont think it is a teeth issue, but not sure.
I was wondering if a tiedown would help?

Thanks again. Steve

cowgirl21 · 09-26-2008, 12:47 PM

sounds like pain to me, with you saying with a bit she throws her head up and without she is fine, I would get her teeth checked...rule out any pain issues FIRST..something is bothering her..I would be very careful with her especially if she was a broodmare for a while and if you dont have much control in a halter, I did this once and it turned about as ugly as it could.

cowgirl21 · 09-26-2008, 12:49 PM

I would say not to use anything to tie her head down, until you know of why she is doing that, is she just throwing her head or is it with other things like ear pinning and swishing tail as well, and is she grabbing the reins out of your hand or just fighting you??

Heavenly Jumper · 09-26-2008, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPEEDY94C

she also does it with a hackamore so i dont think it is a teeth issue, but not sure.
I was wondering if a tiedown would help?

Thanks again. Steve

That is NOT what a tiedown is for. You need to teach her to keep her head down or figure out WHY she does it rather than physically strap her head to her chest.

Head tossing can be from a LOT of different things. Teeth, Poor Fitting Tack, Insects, Back Pain, rough handed rider, Uveitis...many many things.

SPEEDY94C · 09-26-2008, 01:04 PM

We are only riding her in a round pen until we find out more about what she likes.
Thanks

09-26-2008, 08:59 AM	#1
SPEEDY94C Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 11	Horse throwing head what can i do We just bought our qh mare, she is 8-9 yrs old. She hasnt been messed with in about 4 yrs, they were just using her for a brood mare. We have used a snaffle bit,tom thumb(i dont like these but tried it) and a hackamore. With all of these she throws her head up tarabley.yesterday when my 14 yo son was getting off of her she threw her head and almost hit him in the face. AFTER THAT I JUST TOOK OFF THE HACK AND CLIPPED THE REINS ONTO HER HALTER. SHE DIDNT THROW HER HEAD THEN BUT DIDNT HAVE ANY BRAKES. WE ARE RIDING HER IN A ROUND PEN FOR SAFETY SO UNTIL WE GET USED TO EACH OTHER MORE. Do you have any suggestions as what i should do to break her of this? Thanks in advance. Steve

09-26-2008, 09:11 AM	#2
Gutter_Doll Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Central West, Australia. Posts: 1,120 Images: 30	My gelding used to - and he's high-headed by build. Trainer basically stuck me in a round pen and said if I picked up the reins he'd take the bridle off =P So lope her around a round pen, with NO contact on the bit/face. She can't go far, and with that forward impulsion and the job at hand she should start to relax a bit. __________________ photography " *You don't* take a photograph. You ask, quietly, to borrow it.** "

09-26-2008, 10:21 AM	#5
Bruce Wiley Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 1,705	Alleivate all ill fitting tack, or health issues. My first guess would be the time off, being a broodmare and alway from the riding routine. The rider's hands may be too restrictive and this could cause the horse to become & react with resistence. What may help, is to restart some ground training, getting the correct compliances from the horse in every way. I hope this helps. __________________ http://bwnaturalhorsemanship.spaces.live.com/ Bruce.

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09-26-2008, 09:35 AM	#3
calypsoscarnivl Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New England Posts: 435 Images: 5	Has she had her teeth checked? If she in comfortable with no bit, this could be the issue.

09-26-2008, 09:46 AM	#4
billybonds Full Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 50	She is either in discomfort or rebelling. Have you ruled out discomfort? When exactly is she throwing her head around? Is it with contact on her mouth? Is it when being asked to do things she is reluctant/lazy to do?

09-26-2008, 12:47 PM	#7
cowgirl21 Banned Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 452	sounds like pain to me, with you saying with a bit she throws her head up and without she is fine, I would get her teeth checked...rule out any pain issues FIRST..something is bothering her..I would be very careful with her especially if she was a broodmare for a while and if you dont have much control in a halter, I did this once and it turned about as ugly as it could.

09-26-2008, 12:49 PM	#8
cowgirl21 Banned Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 452	I would say not to use anything to tie her head down, until you know of why she is doing that, is she just throwing her head or is it with other things like ear pinning and swishing tail as well, and is she grabbing the reins out of your hand or just fighting you??

09-26-2008, 01:04 PM	#10
SPEEDY94C Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 11	We are only riding her in a round pen until we find out more about what she likes. Thanks