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Unable to Live Without Chocolate or Coffee
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| I just started back up riding my 4 year old gelding, after him being only rode 4 times in 1 year... due to me having a baby. He had 90 days (that was pretty spread out) as a 2/3 yr old. He was awesome when I quit riding him. But now he seems to have an attitude. I don't know if its just him being lazy, good grass hay (lol) or he just decided he likes to be "retired" lol. Anyways, he has started to "twist" his head a little, sort of "cock" it sometimes when I'm riding him. I do know he is "worried" about leaving his pasture mate. So I'm not sure if its just that - an attitude thing. Anyone have any idea? I'll try to get a picture of him doing it in the next few weeks. |
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 Extreme Veteran
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| Have you checked his teeth? Could have some sharp edges cutting him. |
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Unable to Live Without Chocolate or Coffee
Posts: 1841
| his teeth were just done in december |
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 I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
 
Location: In the Hills of Texas | camocowgirl - 2015-06-14 2:54 PM his teeth were just done in december
Young horses under 5, need to be checked every 6 months especially when they are doing weird things like you just explained. He might be shedding some caps. |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Is he playing with the bit? Or like NTO says it could be caps that are lose thats brothering him. |
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Too busy outside!
Posts: 5417
| Most likely his atlas (first cervical vertabre) is rotated to one side so instead of being able to turn his head laterally, he has to twist it because the atlas is locked and he so he has to bend through the axis (second cervical vertbrae) instead. It's pretty common- just get a chiro out who can do a poll adjustment and you'll probably be golden! :) |
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 Night Chat Leader
Posts: 13150
Location: Home....Smiling M Farms | I had a mare that did that once. We bought her off the track, had 90 days put on her, then turned her out for a bit. When it came time to ride her again, she cocked her head to the side. We had her teeth done and had her checked out, couldn't find anything. Turned out to be an inner ear infection type thing. We treated her and she got better. Was the weirdest thing though. |
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 A Gopher's Worst Nightmare
Posts: 5094
Location: Southern Oregon | TEETH. Even if you have had his teeth done, maybe consider getting a second opinion. Our dentist does a whole mouth evaluation. He works on each tooth. Fixes alot of other "dentists" mess ups. |
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Expert
Posts: 1543
Location: MI | My gelding is 4 too - I agree with getting teeth checked, but I also know my 4yo is quite the teenager these days! I also found that part of our problem was saddle fit. Good luck :) (and congrats on the baby!) |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | Nevertooold - 2015-06-14 3:05 PM camocowgirl - 2015-06-14 2:54 PM his teeth were just done in december Young horses under 5, need to be checked every 6 months especially when they are doing weird things like you just explained. He might be shedding some caps.
I agree. My mare did this at 3 and again at 4 when her teeth were bothering her. As a 5 year old, all her caps have been shed and I've had no further problems. |
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Unable to Live Without Chocolate or Coffee
Posts: 1841
| ok i'll get a second opinion on the teeth. he plays with the bit a little. And when I find a chiro I'll try to go see them. |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | camocowgirl - 2015-06-15 10:48 AM ok i'll get a second opinion on the teeth. he plays with the bit a little. And when I find a chiro I'll try to go see them.
When you do make sure they check for lose caps. And check your bit to make sure its not pinching.  |
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Too busy outside!
Posts: 5417
| camocowgirl - 2015-06-15 8:48 AM ok i'll get a second opinion on the teeth. he plays with the bit a little. And when I find a chiro I'll try to go see them.
Good plan! A person should always get the poll adjusted after a dental procedure- (especially if the horse is sedated with head propped up with a speculum in their mouth)- that's the easiest way to twist the atlas to one side. PM me if you want more info- I see this happen alot but don't feel like going into detail about it unless someone actually wants to know and understand! Good luck! :) |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 999
Location: Sunny So Cal | Is he being sulky when you try to fix it? Does he fight you a lot? When my horse gets a little body sore he will start twisting his head and neck. I would just check to see if anything is sore, maybe get him adjusted. Maybe he needs his poll adjusted. Or a second opinion on his teeth. |
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Unable to Live Without Chocolate or Coffee
Posts: 1841
| Cowgirl Kat - 2015-06-14 10:53 PM Is he being sulky when you try to fix it? Does he fight you a lot? When my horse gets a little body sore he will start twisting his head and neck. I would just check to see if anything is sore, maybe get him adjusted. Maybe he needs his poll adjusted. Or a second opinion on his teeth.
I was mostly ignoring it and just riding him anyways. I figured it was just him being a snot lol from having all that time off. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 999
Location: Sunny So Cal | camocowgirl - 2015-06-15 12:54 PM
Cowgirl Kat - 2015-06-14 10:53 PM Is he being sulky when you try to fix it? Does he fight you a lot? When my horse gets a little body sore he will start twisting his head and neck. I would just check to see if anything is sore, maybe get him adjusted. Maybe he needs his poll adjusted. Or a second opinion on his teeth.
I was mostly ignoring it and just riding him anyways. I figured it was just him being a snot lol from having all that time off.
how is he when you try to fix it? Is he reluctant or good about it? My gelding gets quite sassy when he has time off lol I would try to fix it for a bit and see if he stops doing it. |
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 Special Somebody
Posts: 3951
Location: Finally horseback again.... | Nevertooold - 2015-06-14 3:05 PM camocowgirl - 2015-06-14 2:54 PM his teeth were just done in december Young horses under 5, need to be checked every 6 months especially when they are doing weird things like you just explained. He might be shedding some caps.
Exactly what she said!!! |
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