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jammy
New Member
23 Posts |
 Posted - 25 Apr 2013 : 1:13:45 PM
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Anyone any experience of this caused by stress? Mostly occurring in the field and in hand not really when ridden. Can it ever lead to physical problems in the neck/back? Have a 12 year old loan/trial horse who has a bad habit of it though don't know when (must have been before he was 6) or why it started and wondering if it can result in any other problems
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Libby Frost
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4711 Posts |
Posted - 25 Apr 2013 : 1:22:46 PM
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My old gelding used to whorl his head round in a circle if he was pleased  like coming home from a hack used to stretch his nose out to check my reins were like washing lines then do his whorlies, which i thought were funny he would do it sometimes when i was leading him and he was in a good place lol, it was ok , not being naughty , just being Campi. |
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lulu
Gold Member
763 Posts |
Posted - 25 Apr 2013 : 1:31:58 PM
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| My mare does it in the field, when she thinks she is getting a treat or waiting to come in. Not only Arabs do it friends welshies do it as well. |
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Arachnid
Platinum Member
England
1872 Posts |
Posted - 25 Apr 2013 : 1:40:50 PM
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| Nearly always a sign of slight annoyance in mine - only does it in the field at me (if I'm later than he thinks I should be) and the other horses (in the way) Its not a problem, just expressive. If hes stressed he weaves and thats a whole other conversation! |
   
West Sussex |
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NatH
Platinum Member
England
2695 Posts |
Posted - 25 Apr 2013 : 1:54:48 PM
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I think most Arabs do this in some form or another.
Never caused a problem with any of my 'tossers' |
Natalie
Chapel Lane Arabians
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BOULTONS
Silver Member
United Kingdom
380 Posts |
Posted - 25 Apr 2013 : 2:28:57 PM
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| A back lady (not sure of the proper title) liked to see horses doing this as it meant they were nice and free in the back. Al Jabal and his mate Vayu would do it all the time when turned out together and I was amazed they never crashed heads! |
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martha615
Gold Member
England
1053 Posts |
Posted - 25 Apr 2013 : 4:20:15 PM
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| Esme does this -- I have no idea why but I think it is a kind of assertiveness thing on her part. She's so not assertive, that it is hardly a worry. She only does it when she is free, not when being ridden or during ground work. I think she's mildly annoyed at me when she does it. |
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alijo
Silver Member
323 Posts |
Posted - 25 Apr 2013 : 4:33:45 PM
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| All my arabs have done this, and mine do it out of excitment :) |
 Jodie xx |
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MirandaToo
Silver Member
England
381 Posts |
Posted - 25 Apr 2013 : 4:41:51 PM
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My PBA swings her head quite violently from side to side. When's she's out in the field it's normally a 'you're late, hurry up, useless human' type of thing! We also get it big time when I go to put hay out for her - that seems to be a cross 'I want my hay HERE and NOW, not where you think is best for me' thing!
Very occasionally we get it while ridden and it's usually as we do an upwards transition. This tends to be a signal to me that her back/saddle need checking.
We also get a different type of head toss after we start jumping... slightly disconcerting as it involves slamming the brakes on first, then more of a twirly 'OMG, look at me everyone doing this whole jumping malarky' !
I think it's communication with mine.... probably just as well she can't actually talk to me as I'm sure she would be a completely opinionated diva |
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Goldenmane
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4964 Posts |
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RUTHIE
Gold Member
United Kingdom
1238 Posts |
Posted - 25 Apr 2013 : 6:14:20 PM
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| I was told its 'drinking the wind'. |
     
In Memory of Crystal Flash 2010-2012 |
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Callisto
Platinum Member
6905 Posts |
Posted - 25 Apr 2013 : 6:18:21 PM
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| All ours do it too - I think it's quite normal. |
  Zahkira (GR Amaretto x Taffetta)
Linda
East Sussex |
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sab2
Platinum Member
8467 Posts |
Posted - 25 Apr 2013 : 6:38:25 PM
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| Yep i have three head tossers , 2 welsh B,s and my arab mare , never caused any of them a problem |
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ABJ
Gold Member
734 Posts |
Posted - 25 Apr 2013 : 8:12:47 PM
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| I too have a head tosser/swirler!! He does it mostly when he's stressed or anxious. If another horse leaves the field or if he can't see any friends. But it's never caused him any problems. |
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MinHe
Platinum Member
England
2927 Posts |
Posted - 25 Apr 2013 : 8:23:37 PM
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Mine do it when they're excited. Roupert used to do it when we started out on a ride, but he's grown out of it now 
Keren |
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clippi
Bronze Member
54 Posts |
Posted - 25 Apr 2013 : 9:33:54 PM
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| Mine only ever tosses his head if really annoyed or his saddle needs checking |
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Pasch
Platinum Member
2277 Posts |
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morag
Bronze Member
England
94 Posts |
Posted - 25 Apr 2013 : 10:11:34 PM
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| Drinking the wind is a slightly different action - they run round with the head in the air and nostrils at full stretch ! - and then snort really loudly! usually in my ear. head twirls in mine are really due to excitement or impatience because I'm not dealing with his lordship quickly enough ! I stopped of at the girlies stables on the way with his dinner! He has done this when ridden - head twirl and a big yawn ! leg on and he gets on with it - however in the early years when he wasn't so balanced he did fall over with me on his back - luckily I jumped off as he went down - silly b soon decided that wasn't his best idea - he looked so shocked my teacher and I couldn't stop laughing - he went off to the arena gate and stood waiting to go out with a pitying expression on his face! Not that my arabs are opinionated mind!! |
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Esther
Gold Member
United Kingdom
866 Posts |
Posted - 26 Apr 2013 : 07:33:32 AM
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Definitely a sign of diva tendencies with Spud. He has different levels of flounce, and he head tossing generally kicks in depending on how off on one/peed off/impatient/demanding he is feeling. Because he's worth it. Diva tendencies are just creeping in at the edges with Felix, but mostly he's too polite to flounce.
H doesn't do it at all though - he's a walker. The things that will make Spud flounce will make H walk. |
paranoid horsemother
 
Photo on far right thanks to West End Photography
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RUTHIE
Gold Member
United Kingdom
1238 Posts |
Posted - 26 Apr 2013 : 07:41:14 AM
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| Yes might be different Morag. This particular Crabbet mare swings her head quite violently to one side. Dosen't do it ridden thou. I posted about it, and somebody said it was drinking the wind. |
In Memory of Crystal Flash 2010-2012 |
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jammy
New Member
23 Posts |
Posted - 26 Apr 2013 : 08:18:05 AM
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| Many thanks for all your replies, very reassuring! |
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kate maciver
Bronze Member
Scotland
66 Posts |
Posted - 26 Apr 2013 : 10:51:09 AM
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| Windmill heading we call yes they all do it. |
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Topic |
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Arab Head tossing
