How do I get my horse to quit tossing its head and what kind of tack do I need?

Head tossing is one of those problems that frustrates riders enormously because it disrupts every ride, makes the horse uncomfortable to handle, and looks bad in the pen — but it is almost never a training problem in isolation. Before you change a single piece of tack or try a single training technique, get your horse's mouth examined by an equine dentist and have your veterinarian rule out physical causes. Sharp points, wolf teeth, hooks, ulcers, poll soreness, and ill-fitting tack are responsible for the majority of head tossing cases that get labeled as behavioral or training issues. A horse that is tossing his head is communicating discomfort, and the first job of the rider is to find out what hurts before deciding how to fix it. Bit fit and type are the most common tack-related culprits. A bit that is too narrow pinches the corners of the mouth. One that is too wide slides back and forth and creates inconsistent contact. A bit that sits too low hangs on the bars and causes pressure in the wrong place, while one adjusted too high causes constant mouth irritation. The port height and shank length need to match the horse's mouth conformation and his level of training — a horse that is not ready for a curb bit will tell you so loudly, and head tossing is one of the clearest messages he can send. When in doubt, go back to a correctly fitted snaffle and see if the behavior changes. Saddle fit affects head carriage more than most riders realize. A saddle that pinches, bridges, or rocks causes the horse to hollow his back to protect himself, and a hollow back almost always produces a high, tense head. If your horse tosses his head under saddle but not in a halter or bridle on the ground, saddle fit deserves a serious look. Have a qualified saddle fitter evaluate the fit, and pay attention to whether the behavior changes when you ride bareback or in a different saddle. Rider hands are the third major contributor. A horse ridden with heavy, unsteady, or constantly moving hands has nowhere to find relief and will toss his head in an attempt to escape the pressure. Softening your hands, following the motion, and building an independent seat so your balance does not depend on the reins will often reduce or eliminate head tossing that has been rider-created. Once physical causes have been ruled out and tack fit has been addressed, if the behavior persists it is a training conversation — usually rooted in a horse that has not learned to accept contact quietly and needs to be reintroduced to the bit from the ground up with patience and very soft hands.