Head tossing, a vigorous and repetitive vertical movement of the horses head may signal a physical problem in your horse. This behavior is a nuisance to the rider causing loss of control and stability.

There are several reasons a horse may toss his head. The majority of them are physical factors that should be ruled out first. Some of the possibilities may call for the expertise of a veterinarian. 1. Teeth: Horses teeth may become sharp, pointed or uneven. This can cause pain while holding the bit. Floating the teeth may solve this cause and fix the problem. 2. Bit: If the horse’s bit is the wrong size and fits poorly, the horse may toss his head in an effort to remove the bit. 3. Saddle: If the saddle fits poorly, this may also cause the horse to exhibit this behavior. 4. Mishandled Reins: Sometimes a horse is head tossing in response to the rider handling the reins incorrectly. This is easy to fix with a few training sessions. 5. Insects: If there are insects buzzing around or biting the horse’s ears, he may toss his head in an effort to free himself from this discomfort. 6. Allergies: Believe it or not, horses have allergies. When this is the issue the horse may be trying to avoid a tickle in his nose.

In most cases this behavior is caused by something physical that can be located and corrected. Before addressing any possible emotional causes make sure to check out your horse thoroughly. Have his ears and vision checked. Make sure there are no sores causing him discomfort. Check with a veterinarian. Next, check all your tack for proper function and fit. Once you have exhausted all of these possible causes you can move on to possible training issues. Take a good look at your training has gone. Look for possible reasons for the behavior. This could be an emotional nervous twitch. Try to pin point when the horse exhibits this behavior exactly. What is the situation? Where are you at the time? Horses are sensitive creatures; it is possible that something small occurred right before this behavior began. If you can figure out the cause, the cure should be apparent. Spend time with your horse. Be observant and aware at all times. Build a relationship and avoid unnecessary psychological stress. Be calm, patient and steady and you will be able to identify the causes and remedy this problem.