Question # 236: I have 2 horses I just signed up to be exercising, both with an issue all of their own. Both I do believe are ottb rescues as well. The first one likes to hop into a canter when we are quietly trotting along, he does this often...
..My instinct is to stop them and back a few steps, but don't know if that is the right way to correct this. The other at the canter not only over bends at the poll but wants me to hold him up it seems and twists his head sideways to the same side both directions; if you looked at him from the front it's not vertical but diagonal. So, when I'm on him his ears are to the left and nose to the right with a twisted neck. Loose rein or short, I can only straighten it out by holding left rein up and out and right rein tight and to the neck, but I know this can't be the answer. I was told he's done this since before they had him and was hoping I had a fix with this, too. I figure now at this point to hold his head any other way is probably tiring and soar due to uneven muscle build. Also, informed that he doesn't to this out in the field riderless with the other horses all the time, more like 30% doing and 70% of the time not. Hope you guys have an idea as to how to fix this, or point me to where you've answered it before. Thanks in advance! (Anna)
Hi Anna!
It sounds like both of your horses have a problem with tension! This tension is causing your first horse to be "on the muscle", making him want to run through your hands. And it sounds like the second horse is... (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer)
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