Sounds like he's trying to evade pressure. Bringing his muzzle to his chest is not a good thing, even though it might look 'pretty' it's signs of your horse evading your bit / pressure, and not listening to you.

 

When trotting in hand, I don't put any pressure on his halter...that's why I'm so confused...when trotting under saddle, I don't put much pressure on the bit, I just keep the reins steady. He looks totally concentrated too, but in a positive way, alert and bright. Agh...I'm just so confused....:?

 

Pictures would help, and has horse been adjusted by chiro?

 

You may not be putting too much pressure on in a 'painful' way, but he still may be trying to evade the bit / evade potential pressure in the sense of wanting to get out of proper work / do what he wants to do.

But yes, pictures would help (video too) and I definitely recommend a chiro.

 

I'll try getting some pictures, but I have no idea how to download videos with my iPad :/ but yeah....I will get some pics. If he's trying to avoid potential pressure, why doesn't he do it while cantering and walking? He also doesn't do it when I trot under saddle clockwise. Trotting clockwise in hand makes him do his weird head thing. Not anti clockwise. :? It's just really weird. When I trot in a straight line, he doesn't dip his head. Yesterday he did it, it seems to stop happening when I DO put some pressure on the halter to keep his head steady. Its easy to control his head dipping but why does he do it???? The pressure theory sounds fair enough, but it just confuses me that he only does it while going one way. Ahhh...!

 

If he only does it when bendIng a certain direction then get him checked by a chiro before trying to correct it via training.
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Ugh...the nearest chiro is, like 4 hours away but if it's really worth checking out I'd be willing to get him to see Luca. How much does one cost, normally? In NZ dollars? What do you guys think it could be, apart from resisting pressure? It's easy to correct him, but it's just constantly on my mind....

 

I cant really think why he would do it other than he's being too responsive and sensitive to pressure on is nose and on his mouth
Actually not a good thing either way because when a horse learns to avoid pressure like that it gives it a good way of bolting if it feels like it
If theres no physical cause then try to avoid the action by encouraging his neck and head forwards and away from his chest to try to break the habit cycle

 

It's really easy to correct his head dipping, so I'll do that. If he doesn't improve, I will get a chiro to see him. Hes just getting used to having a "boss" as he wasnt disciplined properly as a colt, so maybe he's still testing me, trying to get things his way.