My 4yo OTTB filly is a doll; chill and a total pleaser. However when bridling she moves her head around. She keeps her head down and easily takes the bridle, but she moves her head a lot while I fasten throatlatch, noseband, and flash. Nothing dangerous like head tossing just annoying tilting head left and right and trying to look around. As soon as everything is fastened the wiggliness stops. My boyfriend (pro rider) and my trainer are overall unexcited by her wiggliness, but they both mostly deal with young stock any way. Is there a consistent way to get her to hold her head still for thirty whole seconds, will she grow out of this with time, or am I just stuck with this behavior? I would like her to have equivalent excellent manners as my older pony, who has never been fidgety on the ground.
She’s just messing around. Mine both look far to the right as soon as I take the halter off. I pull them back to center with the reins over their neck and get on with the bridling - which I can do from my knees they’re so receptive.
As long as they aren’t moving their feet, I personally don’t care. If you mind, I’d try backing her up a step every time she went full blown lookie loo. Or keep the rein in the palm of your hand while doing the buckles, and gently remind her every time she goes squirmy. Could maybe try a sugar cube when you’re all done bridling if she doesn’t get stupid about it.
I bet she will grow out of it quickly even with no intervention.
I agree, she will most likely grow out of this. One thing you could try, after her workout (when she is presumably a little tired out)… after you take off her bridle, put it back on. See if she fusses less, and if so, reward her for her quietness (may be by rubbing her face and ears where they get itchy under the bridle).
I purchased my Paint, a couple of years ago. He was very resistant to having his noseband (I use a Micklem bridle) tightened. I finally had his teeth checked and he had points. Has your horse had his teeth checked recently? After I got his teeth floated, the behavior improved. Just a thought?
I recently started reading more about R+ and clicker training. To say I had reservations was an understatement but I’ve used it with great success on dogs so I figured it was worth looking into. The R+ “community” is way too out there for me, but I’ve started integrating some light clicker training into ground work.
If you do explore that path, I’d recommend spending some time reading about how to properly introduce the clicker and bridge. Without good boundaries and clear expectations, horses can get muggy. This video is on self-bridling but the same concept can be used to increase the expected duration for a horse to keep their head straight while straps are being done. Most horses are happy to work for cookies and enjoy learning if the person is patient and does baby steps.
My OTTB will be 4 in April and he does the same thing - such a baby! 
It’s mostly a patience problem and baby game-playing that will fade away with maturity. Remember, though, that this is the window in which canine teeth start coming in so the wavy head thing could be trying to tell you the mouth is sore. I stuck my finger in there and, sure enough, Enzo’s canines are coming in so for a little while he will be ridden bitless. He seems happier that way for now.
Yup my 5yo ottb has mostly grown out of it but still moves if there is something very interesting happening. as long as she isn’t moving her feet and isn’t throwing her head around I don’t really care. I just try to be as quick as possible and firm. I feel like if this is your main issue then that’s good!
I have a 4 year old and also have a case of the bridling wiggles. I had a lesson with a new trainer a few weeks ago and because he had been tied for about 10 minutes before she arrived, he was ultra willingly for bridling. Head way down, too far down, moving left to right, ECT. The instructor looked a little less than impressed. But now that she’s gotten to know him and sees how workman like under saddle, she said the bridling issues are probably just a stage he’ll grow out of.
And yes they are still loosing teeth at this age so I think that’s a big part of it.
