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 Expert
Posts: 1410
 
Location: Peach State | Any suggestions to break this habit, I've changed bits several times and I ride in a treeless so I don't think he's sore or anything is pinching, plus he trots around fine when going towards the direction of the gate out of the arena or towards the barn, he only starts slowing and dropping his head when we begin to make another pass around.
Also wanted to ask if any of y'all noticed a difference when you changed from riding a colt in a treed to treeless, did the horse work different until they got used to the feeling? |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| He may just be relaxed and that may be where his head set will be. Just like some have a higher head set.
I have one who runs with a low head set, it scared the crap out of me the first time, as I thought she was going to buck, but I have not realized this is her normal |
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 Expert
Posts: 2604
 
Location: Texas | My one horse used to do this when I was out long trotting or loping. It was like he was trying to stretch his neck/shoulders down as if the saddle was bothering him. I switched to a treeless saddle and he quit. He also gets regular chiro work now as well. |
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 The One
Posts: 7998
Location: South Georgia | Just because you have a treeless saddle, doesnt mean it is not hurting him somehow. |
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  Keeper of the King Snake
Posts: 7622
Location: Dubach, LA | Only one I had that started doing this was hurting in front feet and shoulders. |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| Do you have video?
Stretching down and seeking contact while lifting through the back and shoulders and coming up behind is desirable.
Rooting is not.
Get him a clean bill of health first. If it's only at that one spot after you pass he gate, he's likely being a turd and protesting work. Bit won't change that, ride his behind hard into and out of that spot. Carry a dressage whip and give him a firm smack to keep him moving forward if he disregards your leg. My boy likes to do the same thing at the entrance to the field we ride in if I let him. So I don't let him. |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | RunninOnARooster - 2014-05-16 6:43 AM Any suggestions to break this habit, I've changed bits several times and I ride in a treeless so I don't think he's sore or anything is pinching, plus he trots around fine when going towards the direction of the gate out of the arena or towards the barn, he only starts slowing and dropping his head when we begin to make another pass around. Also wanted to ask if any of y'all noticed a difference when you changed from riding a colt in a treed to treeless, did the horse work different until they got used to the feeling?
Does he do this with a treed saddle too? |
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I'll Be Your Huckleberry
Posts: 1488
Location: Arizona | All of my horses do this. If he is rounding his back up and traveling "long and low" then this is a good thing. If he is falling on the forehand and rooting his nose into your hands then it's not.My gelding he likes to carry his head below the withers, for the show ring I need him to keep his head at least level with his top line so I drive him up into the bridle more firmly with my leg and raise my hands up a little higher instead of just pulling back for contact. When he raises his head to an appropriate height I release him and we play this game until he carries his head level consistently for a good length of time.
It may be that your boy is just trying to be good, lowering the head is a sign of submission and when my horses are warmed up and tuned into me they all become peanut rollers.
It could also be pain if he is doing what I stated in the above paragraph. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 507
Location: Lost in the corn of Iowa. | So if it's pain, where would they be telling you they are hurting?? Just curious. |
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I'll Be Your Huckleberry
Posts: 1488
Location: Arizona | Girls_Gotta_Jet - 2014-05-16 12:47 PM
So if it's pain, where would they be telling you they are hurting?? Just curious.
There are a million and one things it could be. My suggestion would be to take a pen and run it down his back on either side of the spine see if you get a reaction anywhere, a simple flexion test, and if you have hoof testers put those on him too. At least that will give a start without taking him to the vet right away. |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| Girls_Gotta_Jet - 2014-05-16 12:47 PM
So if it's pain, where would they be telling you they are hurting?? Just curious.
If it were pain I would say saddle fit or teeth would be my first stop.
But since the OP says it only happens when they go past the gate to make around round in the arena (as I understand it) my vote is still that he's being a stinker and just needs to be ridden more firmly. |
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Expert
Posts: 1410
Location: Peach State | Here are video updates. I just got this colt last week and he passed a vet check. The vet said that he would like to see him with more muscle on his hind end, but his previous owner sold him because she didn't have time to ride him consistently this past year. He's been off for two months up till last week. I'm hoping he's just spoiled and with constant riding he'll come out of it (since he just turned 5) but I don't want to push him if he's hurting.
http://youtu.be/yHozcnaYzbQ
http://youtu.be/3_q0OIOtvnQ |
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 Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | Id try another saddle on him and see if it helps at all. appears hes hurting .. if you notice he gets aggrevated and goes down.. tail swishing and a lil bump up and clearly something is bothering him..
Edited by Bibliafarm 2014-05-18 11:45 AM
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Expert
Posts: 1410
Location: Peach State | He's done this is several different saddles :( |
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Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | His tail swishing makes me think hes sore.. he doesnt appear to be grabbing bit and going down. and he isnt working long and low over his back.he looks like hes sore and going to buck up some..naughty? i dont know but id have a vet look him over anyway.. |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| How comprehensive a vet check was it?
I would get a god chiropractor out to see him and get your saddle fit checked |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 669
Location: Central Texas | My mare did this when her hocks were sore. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| I don't like the tailswishing, as this is telling me something is uncomfortable, I would get X-rays of the hocks.
I also don't like how stiff he is to the right
The getting his head down, and breaking down to a trot, this could be a respiratory problem, perhaps a bleeder, inflammatory airway, I would get the horse scoped to rule out any respiratory issues.
If the horse had an indepth vet check, then I may go to chiro and massage to see if that resolves the problem |
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Fire Ant Peddler
Posts: 2881
| I think having his teeth done and using a German Martingale would help tremendously.
Teeth and feet are the two most important parts of regular horse maintenance. |
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 ...Dot Dot Dot...
Posts: 2064
Location: SW New Mexico | MsDuchessGoTe - 2014-05-17 10:09 AM
All of my horses do this. If he is rounding his back up and traveling "long and low" then this is a good thing. If he is falling on the forehand and rooting his nose into your hands then it's not.My gelding he likes to carry his head below the withers, for the show ring I need him to keep his head at least level with his top line so I drive him up into the bridle more firmly with my leg and raise my hands up a little higher instead of just pulling back for contact. When he raises his head to an appropriate height I release him and we play this game until he carries his head level consistently for a good length of time.
It may be that your boy is just trying to be good, lowering the head is a sign of submission and when my horses are warmed up and tuned into me they all become peanut rollers.
It could also be pain if he is doing what I stated in the above paragraph.
Agrred..
For me, It's a sign of a relaxed happy horse to be able to stretch out their necks and travel at any gait with their head down.
It stretches their top line, and when my big 16H horse , Brother Dave (who has a 84 SI,) does it at a rocking chair lope, I just sit up and enjoy the ride.
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Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | something isnt right with him.. he isnt working long and low and stretching .. if so hed be able to come up and work correctly to. he goes down and is aggrevated.. tail swishy and something clearly is bothering him..
Edited by Bibliafarm 2014-05-18 11:45 AM
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Expert
Posts: 1410
Location: Peach State | The vet will be out to check one of our mares this week so I may get him to have a 2nd look (different vet than did his vet check)
The ONLY reason I have doubts about it being soreness instead of attitude is because he only does this when I have worked him in that pen at home. He doesnt do it when Im loping in the pasture (even in circles) he didnt have any issues when I was working cattle on him at a local team roping either.
We had his teeth looked at and he will be needing them done within this year but the vet said that obviously just maintenance nothing looked like he needed urgent care, we didnt have xrays done because he wasnt showing any signs of lamness then, like I have said before he's green broke and only ever trail rode or herded cattle in a pasture, never really had anybody ask much of him so Im not sure if hes just sore from being rode hard these last couple of weeks when that is not his norm or if hes got stifle/hock issues.
IF ONLY THEY COULD JUST TALK GEESH!!!! |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | RunninOnARooster - 2014-05-18 2:28 PM The vet will be out to check one of our mares this week so I may get him to have a 2nd look (different vet than did his vet check) The ONLY reason I have doubts about it being soreness instead of attitude is because he only does this when I have worked him in that pen at home. He doesnt do it when Im loping in the pasture (even in circles) he didnt have any issues when I was working cattle on him at a local team roping either. We had his teeth looked at and he will be needing them done within this year but the vet said that obviously just maintenance nothing looked like he needed urgent care, we didnt have xrays done because he wasnt showing any signs of lamness then, like I have said before he's green broke and only ever trail rode or herded cattle in a pasture, never really had anybody ask much of him so Im not sure if hes just sore from being rode hard these last couple of weeks when that is not his norm or if hes got stifle/hock issues. IF ONLY THEY COULD JUST TALK GEESH!!!!
I would think if hes sore from being riden more in the last two weeks then what he's use to, then I would be looking at saddle fit for sure. I know that you said that your riding in a treeless and that could be a problem if hes getting riden harder. |
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 Special Somebody
Posts: 3951
Location: Finally horseback again.... | Honeymoney - 2014-05-18 11:18 AM I think having his teeth done and using a German Martingale would help tremendously. Teeth and feet are the two most important parts of regular horse maintenance. Check for lower 6 ramps
When horses are ramped up on the lower 6's ( first molars)
They will tend to root their head down or pull on your hands. The reason is simple, when you ask a horse to collect or stop, their lower jaw must slide back and when they put their head down to graze it slides forward. If they are ramped up on the first lower molar, they put pressure on those teeth when they are asked to collect or stop. Hence, keeping the head down and low, rooting on the bit or pulling on your hands.
It could be any of the things anyone else stated, but I would check his mouth first.
How old is the horse? I noticed you are saying colt.
If he is 2 1/2 to three he may also have some caps stuck.
Edited by Canchasr1 2014-05-19 8:40 AM
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Horse keeps putting head down while riding