afan
Junior Member
Posts: 123
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Post by afan on Aug 16, 2012 20:47:03 GMT
Can anyone please give me some advice regarding my 4 year native who i have bought on slowly through the summer.
She has taken everything in her stride but the only problem i am getting is she is Bobbin her head up & down in a trot, fine walking & cantering.
Teeth & Back been checked.
Would be grateful to hear if anyone else has experienced this with a baby & how they resolved it.
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Post by muggley on Aug 17, 2012 13:05:48 GMT
Generally heads bob when lame.
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Post by sageandonion on Aug 17, 2012 13:59:22 GMT
Firstly as above she may be lame. When did you have the back checked and was it done by a vet as he should have noticed if she were lame.
There are other reasons but we shouldn't go into those until a vet has cleared the pony.
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afan
Junior Member
Posts: 123
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Post by afan on Aug 17, 2012 19:19:18 GMT
Can confirm she's definitely not lame. Back was checked again 6 weeks ago & given the all clear. She bobbs her head more when you ask for more contact.
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dappledgreypony
Junior Member
Jumping is dressage with speed bumps
Posts: 141 
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Post by dappledgreypony on Aug 17, 2012 19:27:47 GMT
My baby does this & have been told by many it's just a baby thing & they will grow out of it. Good luck,
DGP
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Post by gillwales on Aug 17, 2012 19:35:14 GMT
ok so from what you say this happens most when you trot with a contact. Have you done any work with side-reins? Make certain that they have elastic for comfort. This could have easily developed into a bad habit, ie you took up more contact, mare bobs up head so you release contact, now she has the answer to something she does not like. This is a suggestion to what may have occurred. Do you ride her in a loose ring bit? If not try her with one, my favourite is a loose ring french link snaffle, it allows some play vertically but maintains contact more gently .. avoids the nutcracker action. Get a friend to watch you, you need to keep your hands soft and steady.. please do not be offended, you need to ensure your hands do not move up and down in trot.
give it a go, once you are certain it is habit then ride through it
good luck
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Post by GinaGeo on Aug 17, 2012 20:51:46 GMT
I interpret bobbing as that bobbing neck when a horse is lame. But do you mean a sort of slight up and down headshake?
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Post by sageandonion on Aug 18, 2012 7:03:08 GMT
Does she do same when on lunge with/without side reins?
Does this happen with all riders? in all circumstances (hacking/school)
What bit is she ridden in?
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Post by gillwales on Aug 18, 2012 8:02:57 GMT
ok so from what you say this happens most when you trot with a contact. Have you done any work with side-reins? Make certain that they have elastic for comfort. This could have easily developed into a bad habit, ie you took up more contact, mare bobs up head so you release contact, now she has the answer to something she does not like. This is a suggestion to what may have occurred. Do you ride her in a loose ring bit? If not try her with one, my favourite is a loose ring french link snaffle, it allows some play vertically but maintains contact more gently .. avoids the nutcracker action. Get a friend to watch you, you need to keep your hands soft and steady.. please do not be offended, you need to ensure your hands do not move up and down in trot. give it a go, once you are certain it is habit then ride through it good luck Very sorry I left off lunging when I said about using side-reins, please do not ride with them, not on my normal pc have smaller screen and my brain works faster than my fingers! |
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afan
Junior Member
Posts: 123
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Post by afan on Aug 18, 2012 19:53:01 GMT
Seems to be worse at shows. She does it with all my 7 yr old daughter & myself. I tried her today on the lunge in side-reins at the beginning she was boobing/nodding but kept her going & she did seem to settle inwork, was not doing it as much at the end of our 20 min session. She's a very nosey, up right pony, she looks at eveything so for months i've been working her long & low. Also ordered a neue schule starter bit today so hopfully can get this sorted.
Thank you for your comments so far.
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Post by shellywell on Aug 19, 2012 0:16:46 GMT
Do you grip more when you rise in the trot? Try to relax your thigh (natural process in walk and canter) and she what she does. My thinking is that you could be gripping in the trot (I've eliminated the thought that you are balancing on the rein and everytime you rise so do your hands and hence so does her head - however could be worth you having a video made to see?) back to your thighs though, if you are gripping, you will be causing pressure under the saddle, which she can feel and is nodding head her head in objection. Easy to test, when you next ride her, think loose thighs, try opening them out and sitting on the back of them - from your bum down, if that makes sense? Turn them out slightly.and rise using your pelvis muscles. The fact that she is nosey as you say, is making me think hollow, and this will mean that she will be tense under the saddle.....just a thought and easy enough to test....
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Post by bemused on Aug 19, 2012 8:52:42 GMT
I think its just a baby thing - that needs practice and patience. My sons Highland was a bit like this when he was first broken in. It took time - and good sympathetic hands. He improved gradually over a couple of months - we didn't rush him and kept his paces steady and rhythmical. Also it is very important that youngsters have plenty of good groundwork to find their balance - including longreining. It just takes some ponys longer to find their natural balance and carry themselves. We found our pony liked happy mouth bits - nothingg too severe.
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