Question: I have owned an Irish Draught x Thoroughbred for about 4 months.  He is 6 years old and apart from being broken had done nothing except hack out.  I am bringing him on slowly and he is doing well on the flat and over fences.  He sees to have developed an unusual habit in that when I lead in him from the field he walks alongside you with his neck twisted with his left eye facing skywards and his right eye facing the ground.  At first I thought he was frisking my pockets for treats but this is not the case!  He seems very happy in his work and that he is doing something - but what is this behaviour?

Answer: I wonder if you’ve had your gelding examined by a veterinarian? Does he perform this behavior only while you are leading, or are there other times when he holds his head in this peculiar manner? It is possible that he has a visual impairment of some sort, or even a balance (ears or nervous system) issue if he does this all the time.

If your gelding only displays this behavior when leading, I suggest re-teaching him how to lead. All horses should learn to lead from the left and right sides so that if you are in a trail situation or really any situation (say you’ve strained one arm) and need to lead the horse from the off side, you can. Laying down a solid foundation in ground manners is extremely important

to continued improvement in work under saddle. Proper positioning of the horse is of utmost importance to your safety. You should stand to the side of your horse, even with his shoulder. Remember, never twist the lead about your hand, as you don’t want it to be caught should he spook! Also, if you stand in front of your horse while leading, he could potentially bolt forward, step on your heels, bite your back, or otherwise injure you. If your horse pulls ahead and is dragging you, you are also put in a very dangerous situation. You should have a firm grip on the lead line, but should not hold it extremely tightly. There should be a modest amount of slack in the lead. You also need about a foot (or slightly more) of personal space between you and your horse. If your horse is holding his head in a twisted manner to invade your personal space, I suggest stopping, making him back up or side step (whichever works best to adjust the issue for you), and then re-start your forward movement. If your horse is "frisky" while leading and is actually trying to play with you while you lead, give him a sharp downward snap (once!) with the lead as soon as he begins the behavior. Your horse needs to remain focused on the task you’ve asked of him, in this instance walking ahead. Also, don’t forget to use your voice! Praise him when he’s walking properly, and don’t be afraid to scold him when he’s acting out inappropriately! Often a simple voice scolding is all that’s needed to make a horse that already knows how to lead properly remember his place. If his training has not been consistent, then start with the basics! Treat him as though he’s never been led before. Re-teaching a horse ground manners is a time consuming process, but the rewards are greatly justified in a safer and more well mannered horse that you can enjoy for years to come.