Ridecamp: Re: [RC] head tossing

At 02:37 PM 11/18/2002 -0800, you wrote:
> , anyways anyone have any ideas or equipment that will keep the reins down

Angela -- since everybody else recommended equipment, I'll give you ideas. 
(and, if you do try adding a martingale -- please do it with the idea that 
it is only a training aid and not something that you have to have 
forever!)  First, you need to realize that this head tossing is a dangerous 
habit.  Your horse could knock you in the head and cause serious injury -- 
or, she could knock herself silly -- depending upon the type of country you 
ride in if she chooses to toss her head at the wrong moment she could end 
up putting a stick in her eye, or causing some other sort of problem for 
you, lose her balance on a narrow trail, etc.  <speaking from experience here!>

If she does it only occasionally, then you can probably break her of the 
habit without any additional 'aids'.  It just takes a little finesse, and 
learning to read her.  She needs to understand that the head tossing while 
you are on her is completely unacceptable behavior -- and you need to make 
that clear to her the *instant* she starts to toss her head.  You probably 
know by how she feels that she is going to do it.  Once you discipline her 
for it (if you need more info, I can email you details of what worked for 
my horse), and if you stay consistent you can probably break her of the 
habit forever.  My horse Rocky loves to toss his head, you'll see him 
trotting out for the vets with his head in orbit lots of times -- but he 
knows that when I am on him, he cannot do that. Now, when he thinks of 
doing things like tossing his head, I simply talk him out of it before he 
does it.  (we talk a lot)

Good luck,

Karen
in NV
& Rocky, 5,880 miles
& Weaver, 5,630 miles
http://members.tripod.com/ridephotos/


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