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Head carried high..
Hey,
i've got a gelding i've been training for a while and he wants to carry his nose in the sky i hate to have lots of contact with him in a western saddle but i'm constantly asking him with pressure of my legs and the reins to bring his head in and english he looks incredible BUT my arms are about dead at the end of a show any sugestions ??
i've got a gelding i've been training for a while and he wants to carry his nose in the sky i hate to have lots of contact with him in a western saddle but i'm constantly asking him with pressure of my legs and the reins to bring his head in and english he looks incredible BUT my arms are about dead at the end of a show any sugestions ??
Tags: head carriage, horse sports, western, western horse training
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Suzanne on -
My suggestion would be to go back to ground work and teach him to drop his head on cue with a halter. When he gets consistent, use the bridle you want to ride in - still on the ground - and get him consistent with that. You could also throw in some other stuff like "hips over" and responding to the very lightest cue you can manage to give. This might take some time, but it will be worth the effort. Don't get back on until you can get very consistent, light response from the ground.
This will carry over to under saddle work, but remember to ask him to drop his head as he's been taught. Don't get frustrated. This will work, but it's no quick fix. If you take the time it takes, he will not only keep his head down and listen, he will be calm as well.
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Permalink Reply by Kimberly Mikoula on -
Thanks,
That sounds awesome,
I'll try it with him and see how it works looks like hes going back to the round pen tomorrow morning...
When he does collect and round he looks incredible,
Yeah with him frustration is bad hes a pretty sensitive gelding and really light in the mouth and with leg yielding,
but he can carry his head but i'll try it thanks soo much..
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Permalink Reply by Kimberly Mikoula on
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haha that sounds fine to me i'm up for anything that will work no matter where it comes from :)
I love my gelding to death and anything that will helo improve him i'm up for :)
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Permalink Reply by Kimberly Mikoula on
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:) i'm excited to take him tomorrow to our summer sizzler,
our 4H is hosting and we get 3 days of trainning to work as a team you and your horse and then one day of competition against the girls you've been trainning with so it should be good for him..
He just turned 4 so it should help bring him a long way
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Permalink Reply by Cindy Jeffery on -
Some horses especially the sensitive ones have issues with tack. I have discovered with my own horses that with the saddle and the bit, one size does not fit all. So often the response you are getting with the high head carriage could be from a saddle that is rubbing and pinching somewhere when you are sitting in it. Also, the type of bit you are using could cause this reaction as well if it is too severe. Another thing to consider is his teeth when was the last time they were floated or checked. If he just turned 4 he may have some teeth coming in or falling out, like wolf teeth and molars. Try using a bosal or a bitless bridle for awhile to see if there is a difference.
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Permalink Reply by Kimberly Mikoula on
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:) thanks,
All awesome things to try,
I went through 12 saddles finding one that fit him perfectly and same with my mare she has rather odd withers so they both have saddles that fit and same with the English saddle as wel as pads under them,
on English i have him in a D ring and under Western hes in a simple snaffle that has been customly made to fit his mouth and the the sides are bent so its more comftorable for him,
This week i rode him Western at our Summer Sizzler he slowed his pace and kept his head lower then i'd seen him carry it,
Carollyn Dobbs i think her name is was our instructor and she helped him come quite the distance,
hes much better under a English saddle i don't know why but hes more willing to hold his head lower and round then under western i don't have full contact on him in English cause he can only do it so long then he needs to stretch.
1 step at a time with him,
Hes starting to ride forward on the bit and going forward in contact its great :).
Thats what the instructors think is all he needs is work and help to build that muscle and since i started him in 4H its getting better and better each time but this last week he really came a long distance hes compleatly stopped rushing his transitions and hes moving freely he also over tracks :) thanks for the tips guys :)
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Permalink Reply by Kimberly Mikoula on
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Yeah i'm pretty happy with him,
Right now hes finding a comftorable spot for his head so its a big step for him,
I'm taking him to Barrier fair soo that should be fun haven't been there before haha,
Thanks guys :)
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Permalink Reply by P.Ann Turner on -
Have you considered that maybe this horse has a really sore back under the saddle so when you sit on him his back hurts and he puts his head up to avoid the pain? This is the most common cause of a high head, is pain somewhere along the topline, you can look at my website if you are interested. cheers, Ann.
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Permalink Reply by Kimberly Mikoula on
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yeah that could be..
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Permalink Reply by Michele a.k.a. me-and-Cisco on -
I have had the same issue with my horse, Cisco. She is quite relaxed at the walk, and when she is on the lunge line at the trot her head is in correct position. However, when I am on her and trotting, her nose sticks out in the air. She is young, and I think it is caused by a lack of balance going at the trot and not enough muscle development through the top line. I am just recently trying her with a tie down, and this seems to be just the thing she needs to hold her nose down and get the feel for it. Maybe that would help you, too?
;)
M
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