training the western pleasure horse

Question
QUESTION: i am training a 5 year old paint and i would like to know how i should finish my horse for jr. pleasure horse classes. she is kind of hard mouthed but does great in a firm feel bosal. her walk and jog are amazing but i don't know how to collect her lope enough and get her head set corectly with out it looking unnatural. could you give me a few tips
ANSWER: Dear Sandy:
I'm not sure what level of competition you are planning to enter but if you are on the "A" circuit - you're going to have your work cut out for you. At five, your mare is in her final junior year and she's going to be up against other junior horses who have been "finished" since they were two.
I would put away your bosal for schooling as no judge wants to see a horse in a "firm feel" in a bosal. You need to soften her up until she's on a loose rein/mecate. I would suggest a fish back snaffle (prefer a copper mouth) for schooling. These bits can be hard to find and you may need to get one made for you but they are worth their weight in gold. I like a loose ring - the mouth piece is medium thickness and if you were to cross section it, the profile would be somewhat triangular. You need to make sure the ridges are NOT sharp.
Run it through a ten ring training martingale - not too low. Do lots of lope circles, spiral down and spiral out leg yield on and off the rail. Try to work through your leg and not off your hands. If she gets really strong, halt and rein back- ask her to stand quietly then start again. Once she starts to maintain self carriage in frame and hold her speed - go back to your bosal.
Show season is already upon us- I don't know how much this will help for your last junior year but it will certainly help to rate her lope in the long run.
Best of luck and have fun this year.
Sincerely,
S. Evans

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

QUESTION: would this technique also help establish a headset? do you have any tips on establishing a headset? thanks again

Answer
Dear Sandy:
Yes this will help. Just remember to take your time - don't work her too long on ring work. Avoid tie downs- they lead to resistance and are at best a short lived short cut with long term negative side effects. What you want to teach her is that when she finds the right frame and engagement from behind- you will leave her be- thus:"self-carriage." Timing, developing a feel and soft hands are everything- the best riders work their horses mostly off their seat and leg.
Best wishes,
S. Evans