Reason for head tilt?

[Cat_Tap]

After my horse stretches into contact and gives at the poll he tilts his head to the outside when on a left rein. No problem on the right rein. This does not occur during the warm up while I work him on a light rein.

I should mention that my left rein seems to be able to hold the contact and it is easy for me to give with the right (inside rein). The horse is also less responsive to my left leg which makes it harder to get him into the outside rein.(right) when moving to the left. He will respond properly if I also use my thigh while on the left rein but tilts his head to the outside. I noticed that there was more foam on the right side of his mouth than the left.

Do you think this is a training problem or teeth. I have booked the vet to have his teeth checked but she can’t come for a couple of weeks.

[outerbanks77]

I doubt it is teeth - more likely the right side of the body is not as supple and able to stretch to create the left bend. Somewhere there is a restriction in the spine and/or right side of the body. A good chiro/bodyworker might be able to find and address the restriction .

I’m riding a horse that is prone to this a little bit when I start to bring her into a more collected frame. Still working through it, but in general when I see it starting, I just have to push her back out into a longer frame with bend, then bring her back in to the point where she can keep the bend through the whole body. It can be a little frustrating to have to stop whatever exercise/movement I’m doing and go back to address this, but it is getting better over time, and will insure the work stays correct.

It can help to do some flexions in hand and then do some “milling” (walking small circles like walking around a barrel or a tree stump) or lateral work in walk with frequent changes of bend/flexion in warmup to loosen the body up.

[Cat_Tap]

Thanks outerbanks77 your explanation makes sense. Could this also be related to his left stifle weakness? That was diagnosed by a Chiro some time ago. We are working on that, has improved and wasn’t noticeable today

[J-Lu]

All horses are “sided” and go better to one side than the other. Is going to the left his stiffer side? This sounds pretty normal.

I’d say (without knowing more) that your horse isn’t really bent to the left and isn’t listening to your left leg asking for bend. Yes, you can use your thigh and inside left leg to reinforce the aid, but really be aware if he’s bulging that ribcage against your leg. Sometimes, you have to really take the inside rein and bend the horse to the left (immediately releasing when he “gives” to your aids) to remind him that can can actually bend. Also, you’re reminding him of where he needs to put his body.

I like to release the inside rein and expect my horse to keep the bend. If the horse doesn’t, it’s not bending/on the outside rein. Most horses start by not being able to hold the bend when the inside rein is released when they are learning the aids/aren’t very strong. But it’s a great tale-tell sign that your horse isn’t “there” yet. To help, I’ll turn in on the longside and legyield out at walk, trot and canter (horse has to listen to that inside leg and take the outside rein to be straight - no trailing haunches!). Or, I’ll ride a large square, using my aids to be sure he bends around the corners, not moves like a bus! That’s inside leg at the girth, outside leg back to control the hind quarters. No falling in on that inside shoulder!

Tipping the head out tells me he’s not bending, and much of the time that’s normal if the horse isn’t well developed and is stronger to one side. Show him the way to bend - it’s not rocket science and isn’t difficult for him. Don’t let him fall in on the inside shoulder to avoid working. If you are concerned, a chiropractor can tell you if he has an issue related to flexing to the left.

Stifle weakness can be helped tremendously by poles on the ground and GRADUAL grades (not hills to start).

[merrygoround]

Yes you do need a better response to Your left leg. You can aid that by closing your outside knee and thigh and pushing his shoulder around into the bend. That bends your horse around the inside leg. simultaneously vibrating the fingers of your inside rein ,vibrating, not pulling, can help that head come around.

Most times just getting the shoulder around will do the trick.

[Dressagelvr]

Could be anything from teeth to lameness to neuro.

Get a good sport horse vet to do a complete exam.

[Cat_Tap]

I rode with a little more tact, precise aids, and soft contact. Concentrated on correct circles, change of bend etc. and no head tilt. Perhaps I was too demanding with my contact yesterday instead of getting him to come through from behind.

Due to life (mine) his training has been sporadic. Instead of demanding giving at the poll we worked in what I call a 'hunter frame". We ended in a nice stretchy, forward trot…

Coth responses are always food for thought which is appreciated.

I am still going to get his teeth done, it has been more than a year.

[J-Lu]

That’s great, Cat Tap!

I’ll add that sometimes you have to pull your horse to the inside to put his head where you want. They fight being in the uncomfortable place when it is easier to be comfy. Mine is a case in point. He gets really stiff with his neck (my vet who is certified in chiro also said recently he holds his tension in his neck when she worked on him) and sometimes the only way to unlock it is to pull that head in for a moment when they refuse to bend. When he’s stiff and you apply a soft inside rein, he’ll let the bit slip though his mouth without flexing. I have had to put leg on and bring his face to the inside, stretching that neck (being generous with the outside rein). This often relaxes and “unlocks” him because it’s telling him “I mean flex and you can do it” and he can do it. Don’t be afraid to pull on horses who are fighting your aids if you can immediately release when they give. Sometimes, you have to MAKE them listen and immediately soften as a reward to giving in. Many horses fight work and are happier doing what they think they should do until you show them another way. My trainer today reinforced this idea with me, and she got on to prove to my horse and me that you can be in and out with sometimes very obvious aids (my horse spooks and he was spooky today) to release their tension and loosen their body to go forward. She made my horse look beautiful even though he was having a spooky day. She got him to relax very well by telling him what to do and what not to do - he needs and appreciates a leader.

I don’t know if this will work for your horse, but in my experience many horses will take advantage if you can’t step in and say “no, that’s not right, do this” in a very kind but meaningful way. And that is often not soft contact for a brief moment. Release quickly when they comply, but most horses would rather be grazing than working hard and that’s too bad. Patience is key, and having an attidude of “that’s really nice, but I wanted this” without caring much of what their throwing your way is key. Actual work for 45 min/day, maybe 4-5 days a week isn’t a bad life. I tell my horse that some horses have to go forage for their food every day, and no one comes to groom them and scratch their itches…he doesn’t believe me.

[Cat_Tap]

Thank you J-Lu, I teeter constantly between being demanding and forgiving. I have owned several horses over the years. All were green, two of them I backed myself. Most were sensitive, forward horses who required quiet, steadying aids. This one is different he is basically laid back, best behaved horse to work around but has one hell of a buck when pissed off. He cannot move until he has peed and pooped which has become part of our warm up routine on the lungeline. I have given in to this routine as mounting right away was extremely frustrating for me. The whip has the opposite effect of what it is supposed to do. He sucks back when I use it. If I continue to use the whip I will end up in the rafters - broken collar bone.

I did not look forward to riding him anymore until I saw a friend on him. She did not push him but allowed the long slow warm up and he ended up looking very nice. Her trainer really liked him and saw potential.

I did not work with him all winter. I was very depressed and chemicals did not work. :“Happy light therapy” did wonders for me and I decided to give the horse and I one more chance. I saw a physio to get help for my painful hips and am now determined to get our act together. I do plan to start working with a trainer again after he gets more fit and I have eliminated my hip pain.

Thought background information might be helpful for giving advice.

[Cat_Tap]

J-Lu in response to your first post I did work on the square, bending him through the turns. In the past I have always used the square to strengthen the hind end by doing a `1/4 turn on the haunches. I guess each one has a different purpose. One thing is sure when working with horses you never stop learning.