your horse is both spoiled and aggressive from what you say and also may have a physical issue causing the head tossing.
Regardless of discomfort you should never allow a horse to strike at you, it is dangerous. Secondly, have a vet check him, especially the mouth and back for soreness. If he's okay there, I would saddle him and work him in a round pen loose instead of lungeing him. Stop and turn him quite often and let him understand you can control his movements.
On the second or third day, bridle him and tie his head back so there is some pressure on the bit (a little, not a lot) and drive him forward in the round pen into the bit untill he accepts the pressure and learns to carry his head by relaxing instead of tossing his head.
next day increase the tightness of the bit a little and repeat what you did yesterday.
You don't have to work him long in the round pen, just until he relaxes and accepts you driving him forward. After you do this get on him and ride him a while and get him to do the same thing with you on him.
Right now he has you intimidated and knows it so he does what he wants (not going forward, not trotting or leading a group, etc.), you have to reestablish a position of authority over him and get him to move where and when you want him. If you don't do this you will have a horse you can do very little with and not enjoy the experience like you should.
Another point that most don't want to hear is if you can't fix the problem, buy a horse without those issues so you can enjoy yourself. This is supposed to be fun
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lorna
I have a 4 yo Arab/quarter gelding. He came to me very green and we sent him to a trainer for 90 days. Previously, I was working with another trainer who was supervising me riding him , but he bucked me off so many times, that she recommended we send him to this guy and start over. The trainer did not do any follow up with us and I only got to see him work him one time in the 90 days. Now that he is home, he is better, not bucking again yet and we have had some lunging problems. When the trainer sent him home, he said to lunge him for 30 minutes and then ride him at a walk and trot. While lunging, he initially started stopping and turning towards me and I would just go to him and start him over but that eventually turned into striking at me so I used the whip on him once and that seems to have solved that problem.
We have gone on a couple of short trail rides at a walk only, and he is pretty good as long as he is following my husbands horse, he won't go if I ask him to lead the way. He seems very insecure and he spooks more now than he did previously.
So, i decided to try having him go on his own in our arena and that went pretty well and I was even able to get him to trot a little bit, but he is now tossing his head a lot and keeps trying to take the bit and put his head down. It's not a fast tossing, if that makes sense, more like he is trying to get his head away from me? He is so focused on this that he stumbles at times from not paying attention and I feel like I have to hold him up. the bit is a dutton colt bit, tear drop style tom thumb. I had a regular snaffle on him, but he played with that one even worse. He is also still refusing to go but not terribly so, I can get him to move with leg pressure most times. It takes a lot to get him into a trot and that is when he really starts the head stuff and acts up. I think he is going to explode soon.
Can anyone offer some advice or insight into this head movement? I have a call into the trainer, but frankly he has not been much help and I don't even know what he really did with him. I love this horse and put a lot of money into him. I just want to do things right by him. I have some experience, rode a lot as a young girl and even jumped and barrel raced, but it has been some years and I don't bounce as good anymore on the ground.
Any advice is appreciated.
~Lorna