Thoughts on head bobbing - Happy Update!

[Ashemont]

A day or two. She certainly didn’t object to the bit or going back to work. And the bit is well wrapped.

Had to give the kids yesterday off as the cold wind was just too much for me so today they were a bit fresh. It was to be a dressage day however Maya was so up that I took a few laps around our woods first. Came back to the field and they settled right in and gave me two decent tests. I needed to get after Maggie more than Maya - although they did want to race a bit when asked for a lengthened trot. I quit while I was ahead. For the record there were only one or two head bobs from Maya and she did those in the beginning. Fingers crossed this is behind us

[system]

head bobbing

I had a mare that did that, after 45 minutes of work, her head would start tossing. Turned out to be ulcers. I turned her out and bred her, thus my two babies! Then I finally figured it out. Gastroguard or ulcer guard for 30 days if you cannot turn her out for at least 30 days. After about 40 minutes their upper gut becomes empty, and the digestive acid starts to burn the stomach, causing discomfort. Took her off of all sugars, sweet feeds, sweet treats also. Just another thought for you. Some other signs were her trying to chew the aisle wall when I put her in cross ties, tucked up look to her also some days. Just a general change in attitude about her work.

Debbie

[Ashemont]

Now that’s an interesting thought. I actually had a lovely Appaloosa stallion - a son of Hi Stakes - die from a ruptured ulcer many, many years ago when I was in CA. There wasn’t much known about ulcers then. Maya can get very nervous at times due to her background of abuse so that is definitely something to discuss with my vet. Thanks!

[Dazednconfused]

[QUOTE=Ainsley;3899545]
Not sure why anyone elso hasn’t suggested this yet (and maybe I am missing something here and that is why…?)

Why don’t you try her on a feed-through calmer - like Herbs For Horses’ product called Serenity. It is legal to show on, you feed it daily so the levels in her system remain consistent and it takes the edge off of a nervous horse without making them dopey or dull like Ace can do. There are no known side effects and the horses eat it readily with their grain in either the liquid or the powdered form.

I have had extremely good luck with this product in our thoroughbred hunters who are superstars when they can concentrate fully. It has made a world of difference in some horses…like they can just relax and take a deep, cleansing breath . Most of them are able to come off the Serenity within a couple of months and they are well balanced animals who are now comfortable in their heads and can work happily and be relaxed.

Good luck to you!

Jennifer[/QUOTE]

It is NOT legal to show on. Anything that is mood altering, psychotropic, anything - is not legal.

[Ashemont]

Drove over to a friend’s today to practice dressage and cones. He hasn’t seen the girls since our last competition and he was amazed at how much better they went. Maya wasn’t totally steady in the bridle, but she wasn’t constantly bobbing her head, either. We actually did a couple of decent tests and some very good cones work

I do think it was probably a combination of things: teeth, feed, work and rein placement. It will be interesting to see how this weekend’s mini-CDE goes :yes:

In general Maya is really beginning to settle down. She was fine when two fire trucks passed us on the road today - with sirens and lights going. She was fine with me roaching her mane with the large clippers this afternoon. She was fine with me using the shedding blade all over her (not even one flinch or squeal!). Maya is now coming up to be caught - I don’t even have to leave a catch halter on her anymore. I guess persistence pays off I’ve even been working on touching her with the whip and while she reacts to it she does NOT lunge like she had been. Hopefully Maya is learning to trust me Of course I think it also helps that I finally found a treat that she absolutely loves - and I always make sure to have one or two in my pocket :lol:

Thank you all for working through this with me. It really helps to have a good sounding board and to get different perspectives when any difficulty arises.

[Thomas_1]

Sounds like it’s coming right and I’m thinking it was her teeth and bitting. Next time you have dental work done, let her have a little longer off.

[Rayman421]

I have a pony who bobs his head too. I found that after a season of driving he did it less and less. I believe it has to do with fitness- as previously suggested. As he became more able to drive up into the bridle and use his back end, he quit diving down to the bit.

I especially contribute it to “fitness level” as when i started him again this year, he started it again - but it went away more quickly this year. I think it’s b/c he’s older and can balance more and KNOWS how now, to balance, not to mention being a year older and stronger.

[Ashemont]

I’m now attributing a lot of it to nerves. We did our second CDE this past weekend and Maya warmed up with nary a head bob. However as soon as we entered the dressage arena she gave the occasional bob. Nonetheless the girls ut in a good test and I was THRILLED to have the comment “nice bend” instead of the ever present “left pony counterbent” for every other comment as I did with Mollie.

My navigator had not seen the ponies since the last competition a month ago and she was amazed at the difference - particularly in Maya. It really was like driving a different pony - and a total blast! We went couble-clean in cones and posted some pretty fast times on hazards even taking a few aggressive routes.

To sum up: we’ve done teeth, wrapped bit, put on lots of miles, switched pair rein (Maya now on top; Maggie on the bottom) and changed feed. Maya has calmed down so much that I even was able to body clip her!!! No twitch to drugs, either. This is nothing short of miraculous as even just a few months ago I couldn’t brush her without her pulling away and squealing!

I’ve got a pair!!! YIPPEE!!! We just might be competitive at the Southern Pines CDE next month