what is the best way to break a horse from throwing their head?

Question

I don't think it's a real serious problem but, everytime we try to stop her she will throw her head before completely stopping. She will also throw her head up and down when she is just standing still, even when the reins are loose. We want to be able to correct this without using a tie down. Can this be corrected? If so, how?

Answer 1

Deffinitly check her teeth...one word of advise for everyone..."TYING A HORSES HEAD TO THEIR CHEST DOES NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM..YOU ARE SIMPLY "BAND-AIDING" IT OR MAKING THE APPERANCE THAT IT IS SOLVED"...Get to the root of the problem..don't just strap her head down...there is a reason that she is doing this..check her all over..even her back..make sure your saddle & bridle fits correctly. Try putting a nice soft rubber snaffle in her mouth..this will increase the wettness in her mouth & make her more willingly accept it. Just spend time at it..work slowly repeatingly asking her to "whoa"..when she gives you a nice "whoa" without the slightest bit of resistance make sure you reward her heavily. Take it slow & just work on it...this is a very common problem in horses that is fixed daily by trainers...with a little bit of time & TLC this problem can be resolved.

Answer 2

Do you ride with contact or do you neck rein with a curb?

Check the size of the bit. Is it pinching?
Check the fit of your other tack. Is there discomfort?
Check the noseband. Is it too tight for her stage of training?
Check the teeth. Is it time for a floating appointment?

Try some longing with the tack on and stirrups/reins properly secured. Does she still toss her head? Try some side reins, if applicable to your type of riding. Be well informed about using side reins, though because they can mess up a horse!

If you ride with contact, focus on establishing a steady LIGHT contact with a following hand. Try to "catch" the head tossing by giving a slight "nudge" with your rein, or play around to see what works. By all means, keep the interaction between hand and mouth "civil."

If all else fails, you might want to consider trying out different bits. Sometimes those thicker snaffles put too much pressure on a smaller palate, creating discomfort for the horse. Sometimes the joint in the middle hits the roof of the horse's mouth, causing discomfort. There are several bit choices out there. I would suggest trying out other people's bits before purchasing a bunch and wasting a lot of money. Some starting points might be the Mylers or the Happy Mouths.

Good luck with solving the problem!

Answer 3

The bit you're using might be too harsh, or it might not fit correctly. Try a lighter bit, and being lighter with your hands when stopping her. I rode a wonderful jumper once who would do this, and a switch to a lighter bit solved the problem immediately. If you ride Western, the port on the curb bit might be too high. Also: have her teeth checked. She might have some irregularities in her teeth that make using a bit painful, that an equine dentist could correct without too much hassle.
Another possibility: if she's throwing her head up and down even when she is standing still, the saddle might be pinching her back. Have a trainer or professional saddle fitter in your area verify that the saddle fits correctly (check local tack stores to find a saddle fitter; they usually advertise there).
I would start with a bit switch first, though, since this is the least expensive "experiment". Good luck with your girl. Hope this helps!

Answer 4

For everyone suggesting tie downs I've known too many horses who learned to throw their heads between their legs since they could no longer toss them. You then end up with an animal that pulls you completely out of your seat and off balance when you ask it to slow or stop.

I never did get my mare to quit throwing her head, I just got used to it. Good for you to want to correct the problem through change and training instead of using the quick fix. In dressage the cure for my second horse is to move her forward, if she's fussing with her head she's quit working. That won't work for you standing or really if you do western. Good luck though

Answer 5

I am laughing so hard - NIGHTINGALE??? I think the dude means martingale, and that's like a tiedown, and you said you did not want to use it.
Eliminate any painful reasons she might be tossing. If she is just being impatient, give a sharp tug on the reins when she does it and say NO very firmly.
One person suggested breaking a water balloon or eggs over the poll when a horse rears. I don't really think that's good, but some say it works. Maybe it would work with head tossing.
My mare does more than toss - she hops on her front end!!

Answer 6

She is doing the head tossing from habit now. I am retraining a gelding that has been allowed to toss his head (and do whatever else he wanted) right now. What I have done is to bit him up and let him stand in the round pen and and pull all he wants. No forced running or anything else, just standing and letting him walk as he pleases. He is finally figuring out that he can toss his head all he wants and it gets him nowhere, but a sore mouth that he is doing to himself. Now, when I get on him, he thinks before he goes to the head toss. And it is getting less and less all the time. It is a long slow process to train any horse out of a bad habit, but with time it usually can be done.

Answer 7

Horses each so often get right into a habit of this. as long as you're beneficial there's no ear or decrease back/neck concern, then that's a education situation. I artwork with my horses while status by utilising them and instruct them a cue for "head down". usually you need to start by utilising putting your left hand on their nostril, yet once you're persistent, and reward as quickly a the pinnacle is going down in ordinary terms a sprint, they do capture on. do no longer push stressful on the nostril, form of relax your hand gently so the pinnacle would not push against the rigidity. as quickly as this is going ok, then attempt putting the hand on the ballot, in the back of the ear and do the comparable component. you may artwork in the direction of a community on the neck which you will attain once you're fastened, then. Horses can learn "head down". bear in mind ask with a comfortable voice and reward in the present day for little strikes and as quickly as the horse catches on ask for greater. confirm you practice on the two facets. Your take a seat bones ought to break the horses decrease back. Do you have a bareback pad? It relies upon on how plenty organic padding you have and your horse has. it may or would no longer be a concern, in simple terms one thing to envision. in case you do ever use somewhat, attempt finding for dressage education the place they have the horse stretch its head forward and down. It a place this is calming for the horse and strengthens its decrease back.

Answer 8

my horse use to do the same exact thing. i had his teeth check, tried using a hack and several other things to eliminate the cause of this. i finally tried a myler d snaffle comfort bit. it works wonders! they are expensive but definetly worth the price. heres a picture of the bit for you.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Myler-5-SS-Comfort-D-Snaffle-w-Hooks-Horse-Bit_W0QQitemZ260100009756QQcmdZViewItem

Answer 9

next time u ride her carry an egg in your hand and when she throws her head crack the egg on her head it will make her think that she hit her head and she is bleeding and she will never throw her head again i know bizar but it worx i guarantee it

Answer 10

Hook a tie-down from her chin to her chest - problem solved.