PLEASE HELP. just bought a thoroughbred, why does he do that

[Guest]

How long ago was he introduced to the western discipline? Does he only behave for the first few steps in a canter or does it continue the entire time he's cantering? I've been on a few horses that exhibited that same behavior - ridden in western with a hackamore - and two were very girthy. I remember one horse would cringe and glare at you at the sight of an approaching saddle. Does he act up when the saddle comes near and/or when it's put on?

I know some saddles will fit some horses just fine and others it's too tight in places or pinches. What kind of pad are you using? I remember you saying something about bits...will you refresh my memory on that part? All I remember is something about a kimberwicke Do you know of other bits used? I know you use a hackamore, but what kind?

I'm a bit rusty so please forgive me...

[CountryCuzzin]

He was introduced to the western discipline about a year ago. No, he does not act up at the site of a western saddle. He did this head thing with his previous owner too, she is the one who introduced western. She had a different saddle of course. Wonder should I try a arabian saddle since thouroghbreds are distant relatives to arabians?
He only throws his head after about two or three strides into the canter. He will do it for about five or six strides then stop. Very strange. We use a simple hackamore with long shanks. Not a mechanical. I think he was ridden in a kimberwick, and a snaffle. He pulls hard on the bit when he is ridden with a bit, he also bites it and chews on a bit. With a hackamore he lowers his head and relaxes, until we ask for the canter. He does a nice slow canter, but will throw that head.
Help...
CC

[BenB]

Did you ever try this one, just uses a very friendly bridle in his mouth, ride with long reins, and just keep them in a straight line from the bridle into your hands with no pulling weight on it.
Next every time his head is gooiing up, use your inside hand, and your outside leg, and bring him in a kind of circle but keeps his reins long.
Make sure you don,t force him by pulling him into the circle.
Everytime his his head is up your dooiing the same within a fortnight the problem will be solved.
You just need to to tight your insight fingers a little bit and open your fingers on the outside.
Stay relaxed and enjoy the riding he will learn although it might take a couple of ""minutes""

[Ireland]

Maybe I am completely off the track here but I find groundwork for *fine tuning* very helpful with my mare. Long reins and a bit of exercise for the human sometimes does the trick better than trying to correct the horse from its back. Once he understands what you want from him, you can try it out from his back.

Sarah

[jumper77]

Did you ever try this one, just uses a very friendly bridle in his mouth, ride with long reins, and just keep them in a straight line from the bridle into your hands with no pulling weight on it.
Next every time his head is gooiing up, use your inside hand, and your outside leg, and bring him in a kind of circle but keeps his reins long.
Make sure you don,t force him by pulling him into the circle.
Everytime his his head is up your dooiing the same within a fortnight the problem will be solved.
You just need to to tight your insight fingers a little bit and open your fingers on the outside.
Stay relaxed and enjoy the riding he will learn although it might take a couple of ""minutes""

I use this method on most all of the TB's I get off the track. I do pretty much nothing but circles until they learn I'm not going to hold them up and they need to carry themselves. I trot around on a "loose" (for a h/j rider riding an OTTB...) rein, and whenever they get fast and start pulling, I gently circle circle circle small enough to slow them down... after I get dizzy I go the other direction. After they learn to carry and balance themselves, I can move on to some dressage work to teach them that contact is different from pulling, and that proper circles are actually round. They seem to take to it quite well, even the clumsy ones who can't go in a straight line, much less a circle.

Anyway, I'm glad I've found another circle-r!

[KamiBrooks]

I came across this and it made me think of this thread because I've seen horses worked with their heads pretty far behind the vertical. This kind of goes along with what Intrinsic Worth and Summerhorse were saying.

Slowly, research is emerging, saying horses are harmed at the anchoring point of the nuchal ligament at the back of the skull (Insertionsdesmopathien beim Pferd - Prof. Horst Weiler). X-rays showing inflamation, dissected craniums with bony growth to reinforce the ligament are all becoming more common. However, these horses do not appear to be readily diagnosed as having inflamation at the poll, untill thoroughly examined for other types of problems, like shaking head syndrome, unwillingness to go forward, bridle lameness, resistance, etc. The modern theory of riding horses overly round and overbent is still young. Time, and research will tell, I guess.

Here is where she describes how this damage happens:
http://www.sustainabledressage.net/roll ... php#nuchal

I have a 23yo constant head tosser that has been evaluated (ears, eyes, spine, teeth, etc) and no cause found. He shows no other significant signs of arthritis, but I think I'm gonna try him on anti-inflamatory/supplements to see if it reduces his head tossing.

[BenB]

By tossing the head high, most horses get backtroubles, or are having severe backtroubles already, how are his legs joints,etc Whenever a horse is having troubles with his joints, bones liagements etc
There will be trouble elsewhere.
I,ve had sholarship from one off the bests vet,s in our country, he always made statements, mostly there are more causes that give trouble,
just because of time.
I just focus on ultimate relaxation for the horse while working.

[skeenan]

Anyway, I'm glad I've found another circle-r!

I'll let you know how it works—I think I'll be doing a LOT of that with my mare!

I've been trying to mull this over... aside from any physical problem, I think it could just be simple resistance to the change of asking him to hold himself in a position that he may not be either physically or mentally comfortable with yet... you know, kind of how a child will listen & do something, yet stomp their feet in protest...

I agree with some basic groundwork to see if he acts the same.

I get resistance when I ask my Morgan to do something he is either not in the mood for or isn't used to, so I think it could be something similar... I'll try something for a short bit, like going from a walk into a canter, then move on to something else.

When you say you canter him, are you trying to keep him fairly collected? (sorry if you've already said). As he's used to galloping, which also may be something he enjoys, maybe try letting him move off in a relaxed, faster canter—just let him determine the pace (aside from galloping, if you aren't comfortable with that or have the room). Then ask for a little more the next time. Then let him go again at his own pace. I think if you maybe try working him into it, it might help...?

Just throwing out some thoughts... I know in working my own horse, I ask for something real basic first, then work towards what I'm trying to achieve, as opposed to diving in and trying it all at once... it seems to help sometimes!

[mightyhijames]

www.thoroughbredtimes.com has an article in it on headshaking that might help.

[KamiBrooks]

For future readers, here's the direct link in case it floats off their web site's front page:

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/horseh ... 96&subsec=