I agree with the forward issue!
Thatnismthe hurdle we are attempting now.
I just started back riding and am not as strong as I was, so it has been a little difficult for me but he is getting better.
He is extremly lazy and I think that is where some of this head shaking is stemmed from.
But it would be nice to figure out if he minds the bit too.
This sounds a bit crazy but try to switch the bit so the little arrow on the bit mouthpiece points back towards the horse rather than pointing away from the horse. Don’t ask me WHY but this worked for me before using a KK bit. Switched the bit so the tiny arrow on the mouthpiece was pointing backwards rather than forward and the horse was happy as a clam.
I owned a horse that we thought was lazy…for YEARS… until we put her in a bit that she liked. She wasn’t lazy. Even with no contact if they are uncomfortable in the mouth you may loose forward.
You might also look at where the noseband lies and if the rings on the bit rub his face on top molars
I am testing out 3 new bits over the next couple of days.
He is very sensitive in the pole and I am wondering if that is an issue? Maybe the bridle is tight up there?
I always put the lung through the bit and over his head to the other side and today he was shaking his head just like he does when I ride him.
He is lazy and still growing so I certainly don’t excpect him to be perfect and canter for hours, but I would like the head shaking and me having to kick him like crazy do at least die down a little!
Tomorrow I will try his show bridle with a d snaffle…
I had this exact problem with a big baby warmblood we had in here for training. He was 5, pretty, great mover and jumper, and potentially a horse for my boss’ teenage daughter.
Unfortunately, kid really didn’t have the guts or the timing/ability to get after him when necessary, which is absolutely critical with a horse like this. The headshaking (provided there’s no physical cause, obviously) is a symptom of the lack of forward. IMO, the absolute most critical thing with any young horse, is to go forward. I spent a lot of time longlining him (and even gave him a couple of good smacks with the longe whip to let him know that forward was non-negotiable). We also brought out an older, gutsier rider to insist that forward was not optional (and yes, this means a couple of pretty impressive wallops and the potential for some bucking in protest :lol:). We couldn’t have the original kid keep on with him though, because he was starting to wise up that he could get away with it and REALLY not go forward (i.e. get a little light on the front end).
You have to know when to get aggressive with a horse like this - it’s all about timing - making the right thing easy and the wrong thing hard. If you’re feeling like you lack this timing or the ability to be aggressive, you might consider sending him out to someone who can be. It can easily escalate with these types of horses to something difficult or dangerous to fix.
Have you spent much time trail riding this horse, or just being out of the ring in general? Sometimes this can really help reintroduce forward being fun…
ETA: we tried a couple of different bits. Had the best luck with a single jointed rubber snaffle. And his teeth were checked, btw, that was the first thing we did when the headshaking started.
Dazed and confused, yes this is about what I am going through!
He is extremely talented and he gets bored very easily so it is really hard.
I hurt my back last year and haven’t ridden since, so when I went to bring him back after he had his 3 year old year back, he was a butthead.
I had someone help me with him for 2 weeks about going forward and we are finally making progress.
Today I used his show bridle with a d snaffle and he was very good. He popped over poles and went forward. I still have to growl at him ever so often to remind him he needs to go but he has been much better.
I plan on starting to take him to friends barns to ride because my ring is small and I have no jumps. So boredom is easy here!
I don’t trail ride around my house because I am alone and don’t feel comfortable about leaving myself not to mention his mother and 2 month old brother would go ballistic if I walked off the property. (downfall of having my horses at my house)
Thanks for all the tips and I feel much better about his head shaking. I will keep him in this snaffle for now and see how he goes.
This. :yes::yes::yes:
I can’t emphasize enough that it is critical to teach a young horse forward. No naturally lazy horse has to remain that way. They can and do learn to go forward with proper training. Unless there is a physical reason for the head shaking, getting this horse in front of the leg should fix the problem. The initial training is so important. Look an it as an investment well made to get help with this.
I would definitely try a fixed ring bit. My own mare (not young) hates loose rings and is quite fussy in them. Give her an eggbutt, and she is happy as a clam.
I was going to suggest getting that 3 ring off, don’t care it’s a KK, it still exhibits too much pole pressure with the lightest hands for most babies/youngsters. In no way am I saying they’re severe, just not the best bit for youngsters. Was also going to suggest a comfort headpiece too.
I echo what others have said about forward. I think too many people spend a lot of time thinking far too much about outline before forward is established. Happy, relaxed, and forward first. From there you can do anything.
And have you ever investigated your horse’s pallet? Probably same in the mare. We often times think a big thick bit, rubber or not, is so much nicer for them. If however, horse has a low flat pallet, it’s quite uncomfortable. Thin bits or even straight thinish covered bits work surprisingly well. I have a family of flat pallets and normal snaffles are not so nice. French link types as well as a Waterford also works. My mare loves a hackamore but she’s a jumper so ok. But I’ve worked really hard recently to get her going nicely in a bit. What sends her through the roof is a 3 ring. She refuses contact and gets in a tizzy. And the only thing you’ll ever hear me compliment myself on is my hands!
Best of luck
Terri
Having made sure teeth/saddle fit issues aren’t the cause, I would say he is simply informing you of your own inadequacies. If you aren’t comfortable enough to ride him off property (which is what he really needs),hire someone who is, otherwise he’ll just end up ring sour. And please don’t take that too harshly - I’m speaking from my own past experience and have royally botched the early training of some of my youngsters!! Best of luck to you!
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