So my horse will be going around the ring and randomly start shaking his head and flapping his lips like crazy. He will do it everytime i change directions or just randomly…anybody know what this could mean and how to correct it?
My trainer has had me just turn his head all the way around my leg everytime he does that and then leg yield him out and that has seemed to help him a little bit. I just didnt know if any of ya’ll had experience with this or other suggestions.
Thank you!
Is this your new horse that you recently posted video of?
Are you using the same type of bit, noseband etc that they had on him?
Otherwise could be allergies… are you in an indoor or outdoor ring when he does this? Did he just suddenly start doing this or was it a gradual thing? Some horses do start these behaviors as an avoidance but head shaking usually has a reason other then avoiding work. Also maybe have his teeth looked at.
I have a mare that smacks her lips too, no head tossing though. I think it’s boredom because she only does it in the ring, not on the trails. But would be interested in hearing if anyone has any suggestions for stopping this. It’s kinda funny to listen to popping noise, but not very attractive if she were in the show ring.
All during my junior years I competed a mare that did this constantly. Her lower lip would just flap flap smack smack smack the whole time she was ridden. At the time, most of the trainers and vets said it was just a habit thing. We fiddled with bits and nosebands and nothing made a difference. It never seemed to affect our scores and none of the judges ever remarked on it in dressage or hunter rings.
There may be more info on this now, but back then it was just a funny habit she had. 
2 Likes
[QUOTE=BigRuss1996;4682314]
Is this your new horse that you recently posted video of?
Are you using the same type of bit, noseband etc that they had on him?
Otherwise could be allergies… are you in an indoor or outdoor ring when he does this? Did he just suddenly start doing this or was it a gradual thing? Some horses do start these behaviors as an avoidance but head shaking usually has a reason other then avoiding work. Also maybe have his teeth looked at.[/QUOTE]
Yes, this is the new horse that i just posted video of. Whenever i rode him in Georgia he still did it a little bit but only whenever i was walking him around so thats why i feel like it could be boredom. The trainer said its just a habit that they havent really tried to break. I’m using the same type noseband, but the bit i rode him in Georgia was an elevator bc he uses that for jumping, im using a loose ring french link snaffle right now.
But the allergies is a good point, he isnt used to indoors i dont think so that could be it. Thank you for the input!
However, it is very funny to watch him do it in the mirror haha…he is also very interested at staring in the mirror i dont think he has ever seen one before haha.
My mare flaps her lower lip when she’s nervous.It does sound funny-pop,pop,pop, but I feel so badly for her. I can help her out of it pretty quickly now.
I tried a sale horse yesterday and my trainer noticed that he was flapping his lips when standing still in the arena.
He also did it after my ride several times while he was in the cross ties being groomed. It just rained here and it’s been windy so it was suggested by my trainer that it may be allergies (if not something else like stress or an underlying medical issue). The horse was recently brought in from his former home about 4 hours away. Thoughts?
We have a trail horse that does this. He shakes his head with his lips loose so they flap around and make noise. Sometimes he does this with his mouth open so his tongue flaps around. He does not exactly lead a stressful life (no arena work, only trails), and it usually happens when he is relaxed, on a loose rein. My impression is that he does it at the point in the ride when he is bored and wants to entertain himself. He also sometimes does it out in the field when I come out to feed. I chalk it up to his enormous personality and find it amusing, but I imagine a judge would not find it amusing in the middle of a dressage test…
