Does a head bob always indicate lameness?

early_bp · 03-20-2007, 11:37 AM

One of my horses has a head bob at the walk, but not at the trot or canter. The vet is coming out tomorrow. I'm not sure what to think.
She was my neighbor's horse and her feet were left untrimmed for months. My farrier trimmed as much off as he could but wasn't able to do a complete trim for fear of cutting into the quick. It's been two weeks since her last trim.

version1955 · 03-20-2007, 12:00 PM

No, but your vet can watch the feet and shoulder and see if the horse is lame, or off balance from another issue or ...

Jadesmygirl · 03-20-2007, 05:51 PM

I hope not!

Hope you can get some more ideas on what this might be!?

early_bp · 03-20-2007, 05:53 PM

I think the vet will be able to shed some light on her. She is a sweetheart of a horse, and I'd hate to see anything wrong with her. Thanks!

Jadesmygirl · 03-20-2007, 06:17 PM

I hope so! It is good you are going to get her checked out. I hope everything turns out fine! Keep us posted, will you?!

sugarsgal · 03-20-2007, 09:21 PM

My horse is not lame and she use to bob her head quite noticably at a walk but not trot or canter. The trainer has worked with rounding her out and she now no longer bobs her head at a walk. another gelding in our barn bobs at a walk and trot, it's just his way because he has never had a lame day in his life.

All horses are different and it is a good thing to have your horse inspected by a vet to make sure all is good.

early_bp · 03-21-2007, 03:39 PM

Vet came out and said, "Your horse is great, no problem!"
YAY! Thanks everybody!

Slim Pikkens · 03-26-2007, 08:25 PM

Too often riders apply more pressure to one stirrup than the other. This allows the rider's opposite hip to collapse up toward the rib cage. This drags the saddle off center, and maybe with a slight front to back twist. The bar on one side will dig a little more into the trapezius muscle which lifts the front leg. This can cause a horse to head bob. If one is right handed, usually the extra weight is borne on the left side. Check to see if you are doing this at a walk. By riding a 12-15' circle to the right, your saddle may feel like it's sliding off to the left. Now, circle to the left. Your saddle is probably fine. Have someone stand behind you and correct your posture as you and the horse walk away.

horses-n-greyhoundz · 03-26-2007, 08:29 PM

I had a QH mare a while back who had long pasterns. She also had a head bob, but she was a very smooth ride. LOVED her trot.

03-20-2007, 11:37 AM
early_bp Halter broke Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 89	Does a head bob always indicate lameness? One of my horses has a head bob at the walk, but not at the trot or canter. The vet is coming out tomorrow. I'm not sure what to think. She was my neighbor's horse and her feet were left untrimmed for months. My farrier trimmed as much off as he could but wasn't able to do a complete trim for fear of cutting into the quick. It's been two weeks since her last trim.

03-20-2007, 12:00 PM
version1955 Bombproof Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: northern MN Posts: 8,747	No, but your vet can watch the feet and shoulder and see if the horse is lame, or off balance from another issue or ... __________________ Ya know how a horse responds better when you're "speaking" horse and she's in the mood to listen? Its like that between God and you too.

03-20-2007, 05:51 PM
Jadesmygirl Started Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,544	I hope not! Hope you can get some more ideas on what this might be!?

03-20-2007, 05:53 PM
early_bp Halter broke Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 89	I think the vet will be able to shed some light on her. She is a sweetheart of a horse, and I'd hate to see anything wrong with her. Thanks!

03-20-2007, 06:17 PM
Jadesmygirl Started Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,544	I hope so! It is good you are going to get her checked out. I hope everything turns out fine! Keep us posted, will you?!

03-20-2007, 09:21 PM
sugarsgal Started Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,750	My horse is not lame and she use to bob her head quite noticably at a walk but not trot or canter. The trainer has worked with rounding her out and she now no longer bobs her head at a walk. another gelding in our barn bobs at a walk and trot, it's just his way because he has never had a lame day in his life. All horses are different and it is a good thing to have your horse inspected by a vet to make sure all is good. __________________ There is no such thing as an Ignorant horse, there are only Ignorant people!

03-21-2007, 03:39 PM
early_bp Halter broke Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 89	Vet came out and said, "Your horse is great, no problem!" YAY! Thanks everybody!

03-26-2007, 08:25 PM
Slim Pikkens Seasoned Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 4,047	Too often riders apply more pressure to one stirrup than the other. This allows the rider's opposite hip to collapse up toward the rib cage. This drags the saddle off center, and maybe with a slight front to back twist. The bar on one side will dig a little more into the trapezius muscle which lifts the front leg. This can cause a horse to head bob. If one is right handed, usually the extra weight is borne on the left side. Check to see if you are doing this at a walk. By riding a 12-15' circle to the right, your saddle may feel like it's sliding off to the left. Now, circle to the left. Your saddle is probably fine. Have someone stand behind you and correct your posture as you and the horse walk away.

03-26-2007, 08:29 PM
horses-n-greyhoundz Long Yearling Join Date: May 2005 Location: North Central Arkansas Posts: 1,209	I had a QH mare a while back who had long pasterns. She also had a head bob, but she was a very smooth ride. LOVED her trot. __________________ Well behaved women rarely make history! My house is where I live, but I'm at home in the saddle.