Riding behavior guide

Horse Tossing Head While Riding

Head tossing can be communication. It may involve teeth, bit fit, bridle fit, saddle fit, pain, allergies, flies, rider hands, training frustration, or discomfort elsewhere in the body.

Quick answer: Do not assume head tossing is attitude. Check teeth, bit, bridle, saddle, neck, back, poll, flies, skin irritation, rider contact, and whether the behavior is new, worsening, or tied to one gait or direction.

Barn next step

Find the trigger before you fight the symptom.

If body comfort, neck/poll tightness, saddle fit, or flies are part of the trigger, use the product path that matches the cause after red flags are ruled out.

Escalate if

• Head tossing is sudden, violent, or unsafe.
• The horse shows lameness, back pain, swelling, heat, or neurologic signs.
• There are wounds, dental pain signs, eye problems, or breathing changes.
• The horse tosses the head with specific tack or one direction only.

What to check

• Dental schedule, bit fit, bridle pressure, and noseband tightness.
• Saddle fit, girth, back, shoulder, withers, and poll soreness.
• Flies, sweat, skin irritation, ears, eyes, and allergies.
• Rider hands, contact, transitions, and timing.
• Whether it happens at walk, trot, canter, one direction, or all the time.

Support path after red flags are ruled out

• Draw It Out® 16oz Liniment Gel — neck, shoulder, wither, back, and poll-area routine support when body comfort is part of the picture.
• Citraquin® Environmental Defense Spray — environmental defense routine when flies are part of the trigger.
• Horse Stiffness & Movement Support
• Use the Solution Finder