Has anyone had this issue ? He’s sound as far as I can tell but just started twisting head while being lunged …
Vision OK? Both eyes?
He recently went through a PPE so I’m assuming he sees well … jut started doing it recently…
Curious - where are you connecting the lunge line? To a lunging cavesson, and if so, is it fitted properly? Or are you connecting the line to the bit? Near side of the bit, or off side over the head? Or off side under the chin? And what kind of bit are you using?
Does the horse have mouth sores? Is the bit getting pulled through his mouth and irritating a cut or bruise in his gum or cheek, or banging against a sore tooth?
And which way is he twisting his head? Angling his mouth toward the inside or the outside? The latter is more common as horse tries to avoid the bit getting pulled by the lunge line onto a sore spot on his lower gum. They can also prop on the inside shoulder more when twisting the head to the outside, and therefore avoid coming through and bending correctly around the arc of the circle - which can be an indication of many other things, including sore SI and/or sore stifles. Or so I was taught by a very, very good sports medicine vet…
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Just using a halter with line attached inside … funny that you mentioned stifles as he was sore to touch by massage therapist in one stifle so that was my thought process also … will
Be having vet out soon … the thing is he looks sound other than the head twist … thank you
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My mare tilts her head (especially when going to the right) when on the lunge. I’ve had her for 1.5 years and noticed it from the first time I saw her previous owner lunge her. Her previous owner said it was something she “always” does (don’t know when it started). She does not do it under saddle. My vet has seen it in our appointments since I got her and was aware of it at time of PPE and it was not considered a deal breaker. Certainly good to get a vet’s opinion but for me it’s not been a “big deal”. For you, since it’s a new behaviour, I would certainly get an opinion from my vet.
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Thank you … good to know
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Is it both directions? It’s a common symptom of lack of proper bend. Lots of reasons for that including the pretty simple one of just being not connected with the person holding the rope and putting attention on things outside of the circle. Could be physical as well, with varying degrees of severity. A lot of the time, the twisting is more common when going on the stiff side but can also happen on the shallow side if the horse lacks connection and correct bend.
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Does he twist his head in each direction?
Does he do it under saddle, if he’s trained to ride? Is he particularly “one-sided?” Or is he resistant to the bit or to bending? Or is he resistant to transitions, either under saddle or being lunged?
He’s usually really good under saddle … going left is his stiffer way and that’s the way he was tweaking head but also started the other way
Thank you … I have a video but can’t post it yet … I’m a newbie
I lost a horse last year to being neurological so I’m a bit hyper sensitive
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Does horse do this free lunging? No lines on him? We had a horse who tipped nose right while going right. Actually more of a twitching right, with each stride.
Horse had come with issues, we knew she had them, wanted her anyway. We were having problems getting her to go with her face vertical as she got more skilled, she would start prancing. Clinician tried a number of things with her on the lines, then said “turn her loose in the arena. Let her carry herself.” We spaced out the length of arena to keep her moving and watching her closely, along with all the other Clinic attendees. She went around a couple times, got familiar with the exercise, then as she was headed my way on the wall, I noticed the nose twitch. Her nose went right each time the right front hit the ground. I pointed this out to the Clinician, other observers to look for it. She did the same when going counter clockwise. We brought her in, conferred, with advice to take horse to the College, get neck Xrays.
We did this, found horse had previously broken some of her neck vertebrae as a young animal. Bones had healed, but there were signs of arthritis developing between the vertebrae. So horse with face vertical was in pain, responded with the prancing gait. OK! Knowing about the broken neck resolved a lot of her previous issues we had worked thru! Husband said “Thanks for telling us this information, it is very helpful!” We continued to use her in competitions, enjoyed having her around. She got retired later when she said “enough” and gave us some nice foals.
So free lunging without lines and snaps to react too, might present a different picture than when horse is “dressed” to work lunging.
Another point is that metal to metal, snap on halter ring, might cause reaction, small weight influence on sensitive face during lunging. A Clinician years ago told us Western riders that snaps on reins were not good choices if we wanted horses light and responsive. Snap weight, metal-to-metal of snap and bit ring could cause “white noise” to horse so he didn’t feel the lighter signals. Horse would get desensitized with constant jangling. Like a person who talks to horse CONSTANTLY, horse quits listening, quits being able to tell commands in the voice noise. I see this talking a lot, in Driving horse activities.
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Free lunge is great idea … I can do it in large round pen … I have recent neck X-rays from 6 mths ago … not that I put much weight in them … will probably do more if vet thinks so
That is the side of his sore stifle … tilts nose out
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I’m so sorry you lost your horse last year.
If this horse is sound and going well under saddle without significant resistances, it’s highly unlikely that this is neurological or any other major problem. It’s possible that there’s something going on, but most horses, like people, eventually end up with minor age-related or wear-and-tear stuff that just require some management. Or it’s possible that the horse is just fine and that it’s a weird habit.
In any case, I wouldn’t worry about it until the vet has seen him. But besides having the vet look at him, I’d also have a good dentist take a look, if your vet isn’t also a skilled equine dentist.
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Thank you . I do feel like he’s covering up something even though he goes nicely under saddle … so hopefully can get to the bottom of it without draining the pocket book .
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My vet also provides chiro treatments and my mare has had probably 5 or 6 over the time I have had her. I do find that generally she just moves better after a treatment - including less head tilt while lunging. We live in the Canadian prairies with very cold winters, hard, icy ground, etc so I feel like this is a good addition for her overall wellness.
My vet is also a chiropractor so yes we do that also … then I have a massage therapist also work on him
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