Lowering Head

Question
QUESTION: Hi,
My 13 yr old gelding tends to keep his head up when I'm trying to put his halter on.  For his bridle he'll lower it a bit but not much. How do I work with him to lower his head consistently, not just once in a while?  I've had him for a little over a year. Even in the pasture, he tends to have his head higher than the rest. Thank you, Mary

ANSWER: Mary,

It's going to take a lot of patient work to get him to lower his head.  Place your fingers up about 2" behind his ears, one on either side of his mane and press lightly.  You can also put a slight amount of pressure on the halter.  Keep telling him "down" over and over.  When he drops his head, even just a fraction of an inch, reward him then do it again.  Food treats work very well to get the idea across.  It will take a lot of repetitions and time but you can get the idea across eventually.  Some horses take longer than others to learn to respond to the slight pressure on the neck behind the ears but they will figure it out.  This is a trust issue and it takes a while to get a horse's trust enough to do this.  Once he gets the idea keep practicing daily until he does it as soon as you ask.  You just have to have a lot of patience and persistance.  

As far as keeping it higher than the other horses in the pasture this can be either a breed thing, Arabs tend to do this, or just something he does.  At freedom I wouldn't worry about it, it's just his "thing".  

Lyn

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks.  My gelding is a QH mix, either morgan or arab.  Would this have anything to do with his keeping his head up while riding.  When we walk, if I play with the bit he'll bring his head down but on a faster movement, it isn't that easy to bring down.  Thoughts?  Thanks, Mary

Answer
Mary,

As far as keeping his head up while under saddle, and probably sticking his nose out too, he needs some re-schooling.  I would suggest you find someone who can work on basic dressage movements with you, teach him to get his hind end under himself and flex at the poll properly.  This is something a lot of horses are not taught to do and hence hollow their backs when being ridden rather than rounding and carrying themselves correctly.  You can also work him over some cavaletti poles, start with them on the ground and work him over them at a trot.  He'll have to put his head down to see the poles.  I usually lunge the horse over the poles at first so they figure out how to handle them without a rider then start riding them over them.  But some dressage work for both of you would be the biggest help along with the pole work.  This is not something that is going to happen overnight, so a couple of lessons won't be enough, but I think you'll find that the lessons will help both of you.  Hardest thing will probably be finding a teacher who will work with both of you.  He needs to learn to work in a balanced frame, regardless of your riding style, so you don't want someone who is going to push you to ride dressage.  You just want the basics that you can continue on your own.  

Good luck and let me know how he progresses.  My guess is that in 6 mos. you'll see a real difference.

Lyn