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Correct the "rooting" nose

2K views 2 replies 3 participants last post by  Cherie 
#1 ·
Just acquired a 12 yr. old Skipper W bred mare. She's been trail ridden in the mountains and used to pack elk. We're very pleased with her but the exception of her nose "rooting" problem. She rapidly roots her nose up and down at the beginning of each ride; this lessens after she's warmed up. We changed bits and felt like it helped somewhat. Yesterday she did this when she was getting her hooves trimmed in her halter, so we assume it's a habit when she's impatient. How do we correct this????
 
#3 ·
Don't give her anything to root or push against. It takes 2 to get into a tug-o-war. She cannot do it by herself.

When you 'hold' her for the farrier, stop trying to 'hold' her. You can't 'hold' her still anyway. Teach her to stand in one spot on a loose lead without moving. Keep slack in the rope and only give a slight 'bump' or 'jerk' when she tries to ,move. At first, she will 'hunt' all over for the contact. Just never make a contact with her that is long enough for her to brace or push against. She will very quickly learn to stand still when there is nothing to root or push against.

The same is true when you ride her; you just have to do it a little differently.

I would start out riding her on a loose rein in a curb bit. Every time she drops her head way down or stretches her nose way out, give a 'bump' with one rein. She throws her head up, give a bump with a rein. Alternate reins. If your timing is really quick, it is more like letting her run into a rein when she tosses or drops her head. Her reward for holding her head in an acceptable place is NO PRESSURE -- your loose rein. You can teach a horse to hold its head about anywhere you want it to (that is reasonably comfortable to the horse) just by letting it run into you everywhere else.

Like with holding a horse in hand, you just have to get over the idea that you can 'hold' the reins or the lead-rope and 'hold' the horse (or the horse's head) still. You 'teach' them to hold their heads still -- you don't hold it still.

Once you get a horse to keep its head where you want it and to stop slinging it or rooting out, you can start to gradually introduce accepting and working on a light contact.
 
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