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  Discussion on Head bobbing in stall, ties and riding
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Posted on Monday, Oct 15, 2001 - 8:56 am:

My friend's 15 year old gelding Paint (yes, it truly is my friend's horse) was purchased a year ago from a 12 yr. girl who thought it was cute that the horse would bob his head in cross ties. The behavior has become worse and to the point that at times he will aim for the chest and bob his head. I suggested to my friend that she put him in a single tie in his stall to groom and tack as it is harder for him to bob on the single tie.

Recently during her riding lessons, he has begun to bob his head on a consistent basis. Her instructor doesn't believe it is a soreness problem and he is not gimpy or lame. The instructor does not believe necessarily in martingale use.

I noticed the other night when talking to him through his stall bars that he would begin bobbing his head.

I read the article on head shaking and I think this problem is a little different. I think he is just bad mannered. There was also an incident within the month where the horse had not been turned out for the day and he was full of energy (this same instructor does not believe in lunging) and he was just asking the horse (while tacked up) to move around off of his hip. The horse reared and struck out at him. (Fortunately, the instructor was not hurt. Nothing was done to the horse to let him know this behavior was not acceptable.)

My friend is not a disciplinarian (I am not suggesting having a hard hand...she has trouble telling him "no" to some behaviors) but I am concerned for her safety.

He has had his teeth checked by a DVM dentist, thorough health exam and is in the John Lyons snaffle bit (she was using an Argentine snaffle).

Does anyone have any suggestions on how we can humanely work on correcting this behavior? Thanks, Debbie

Posted on Tuesday, Oct 16, 2001 - 5:50 am:

Debbie,
Read the article Training Horses: Behavioral Problems: Behavior Modification, Conditioning, Desensitization, and Counterconditioning and see if you can find something in their that may give you the tools you need. Since the horse appears to have been doing this his whole life it may be difficult to shape his behavior now.
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Oct 18, 2001 - 8:51 pm:

Thanks Dr. O. I have the article and hopefully it will help my friend and her gelding. Debbie
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