Head Tossing....

Alrighty - a little back ground on the situation:

Zeph (mom's 9 y/o QH/Paint, we really don't know what he is.. 15.2hh, green hunter, trail broke) has had a head tossing issue for quite sometime.. But for most of winter he had off, with the occasional trail ride. I was training him in the fall for the hunter ring.. But that stopped when the cold came. So just yesterday, I decided I was DONE with his bad manners, and hopped on him bareback. I took him on a long trail ride in just a halter.. He was really good! Well, minus the stopping at trees to eat, or grass.. so I would tap his sides with my heels to continue walking.. but if he didn't walk & continued to eat I would pressure him into a trot...
Everytime I nudge him to pick up the pace or to trot out, he throws his head! I pull his head back to stop the temper tantrum, but I fear that it will turn into a tugging match.. & he's a lot stronger than I am.

Any ways to break this horrible habit? I make him circle or halt.. Is there other ways? Thanks.

There used to be a head shaker at the yard I rode at for years and I was taught that when they start head shaking to give them a leg on not pull back on the reins and it worked everytime for me and has worked on other horses I rode.

Are you sure his head shaking is a habit and not because of a medical issues?

The ist thing I would do is have teeth checked by a dentist and I have seen alot of bits that can pinch the corner of there mouth

He wasn't in a bit, he was in a halter.. But he does need his teeth done.

Sounds like he just needs work on giving to pressure

When he tosses his head, I wouldn't pull back, that'll probably just annoy him. When Lottie does that I just hold my hands as quietly as I can with an even contact and that normally works..

Do you have any photos of this horse?

It could be a back pain issue as well.

I have a horse that does the same had his teeth checked and for any nerves being trapped,all clear, I don,t even try to correct it now he,s been doing it since a foal and he is 4 now