Teaching my horse to be round and collected

Question
I have a 7yr old and as my instructor says, he wont keep a head set. she tells me to seesaw and yank on the reins to get him to put his head down, yet he wont keep his head down. also, I cant feel his contact so I think he has a "fake head set"wich resulted from my instructors advice. I would like to know how to keep him round and collected naturally without yanking on the reins. Also, I'd like to know so he can be consistent with his head carriage. I thing it would help him at the canter too because he is all over the place while cantering

Answer
Dear Kelly:
I am alarmed by any "instructor" who would advise you to "seesaw" on your horse's mouth or to "yank on the reins." If this is the case, I would go looking for a different instructor. You are probably quite correct that your horse is now ducking past vertical in order to avoid having his mouth punished painfully. Ideally- if you can afford it, I'd find a qualified KNOWLEDGEABLE trainer and send your horse out for two or three month of damage control re-school training. If this is not possible- get a snaffle- a fish back is great if you can find one- but if not- a medium loose ring will do. Get a training martingale (NOT a running or a standing- it looks like a "V" with up to ten rings on it so you can run your reins through at different heights). If you are a VERY VERY experienced rider- you could also try a set of draw reins. Don't try and set him at all low- you need to teach him that he can feel the bit without being hurt,  a Jiggle on the rein, not a seesaw, and slow steady increasing contact until you feel a give followed by a gentle softening (but NOT a complete release) is where you need to start. Long before you go back to the canter- you need to get him balanced soft and supple at the walk and the trot. Lots of serpentines and circles- try not to stay on the rail.
I hope this helps. Sorry to hear of your dilemma.
S. Evans