Head carriage too low...

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lyndsayberesford

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My five year old is really well balanced, works in an outline, accepts a contact, works really well from his quarters etc but his head carriage is really low, as in like this photo

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I have worked on this tonight with my instructor. the photo makes him look heavy on the forehand. 99% of the time he isnt, i can drop my contact and his head stays there, and its not like an evasion tactic as he works super from the quarters.

Currently ridden in a happy mouth fulmer bit, did try a myler with no port a couple of weeks ago but he didnt seem to like the metal bits, threw his head about with it every so many strides.

Tonight we had more success but cant quite put my finger on what actually worked. We did 5-10 mins of walking doing walk to halt transitions using mainly my seat and not really using the contact, and everytime he went to lower his head back into his "low natural carriage" i either changed direction of travel of asked him to halt.

Anyone ever had this?
 
lyndsayberesford said:
My five year old is really well balanced, works in an outline, accepts a contact, works really well from his quarters etc but his head carriage is really low, as in like this photo

home.php


I have worked on this tonight with my instructor. the photo makes him look heavy on the forehand. 99% of the time he isnt, i can drop my contact and his head stays there, and its not like an evasion tactic as he works super from the quarters.

Currently ridden in a happy mouth fulmer bit, did try a myler with no port a couple of weeks ago but he didnt seem to like the metal bits, threw his head about with it every so many strides.

Tonight we had more success but cant quite put my finger on what actually worked. We did 5-10 mins of walking doing walk to halt transitions using mainly my seat and not really using the contact, and everytime he went to lower his head back into his "low natural carriage" i either changed direction of travel of asked him to halt.

Anyone ever had this?
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Can you put another photo on?
 
forgot to add, had his back and teeth done about a month ago, so everything is ok in that area for him

just extremely confused as never had one ride on such a low carriage before, and when we jump he carries his head alot higher
 
get off his back and more leg, and more leg. nice type perhaps a change of bit is he in a cheeked snaffle? try one with a link or a straightbar and work on getting him more forward. none of the pics showing look like he is tracking up
 
teddyt said:
Could it be to do with your hands? Are you able to be elastic with your arms?
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Have tried with no contact at all on his reins (loopy reins) and he still doesnt raise his head

Yes the bit is a happy mouth fulmer snaffle, the only other bit i have tried him in of recent was a myler very similar to this

myler_curved3.jpg


How can i be off his back more? when we canter i canter with a lightened seat to start with and as he relaxes i steadily lower back into seated position
 
I would say more leg as well, especially the moment he first pops his head down. Also if you can try to look up and straighten your back (easier said than done I know!!!). Loads of transitions might help as well.
 
This seems to be where i struggle as my initial thought was "more leg" but that didnt affect his carriage at all, which was odd as my thinking was more leg would push him up more into the bridle but it didnt. The transitions seem to be working quite well though. The other day in my lesson we did a transition or a change of direction every time he dropped his head below the vertical (or where i would say was an acceptable position)

My leg position isnt great on the photos, and my worst worst habit is tipping forward on him. Must consciously think of my position at all times as im sure im hindering him.

Are some horse happier with a low head carriage??
 
It does take a while before horses develop the right muscles for collection and the higher head carriage that comes with it, but, having said that, he does seem to hold himself a bit too low and the fact that he is not tracking up (at least in those two photos) does suggest that he is not in front of the leg.
 
He's using your hands to lean on rather than carrying himself and you are allowing him to. It looks as though there is a lot of weight in your hands. There should be very little. He needs to be more forward off the leg. Lift the rein and lighten as soon as he does. Then lift it again the second he even thinks about leaning into the contact and immediately release when he softens. Its like a dance. Until he realises what you want and starts to carry himself. Lovely horse!
 
As above. My horse used to do this. My instructor advised me to lift a rein as soon as he tucked his head in too low and then to follow this up immediately with some leg as his reaction will be to slow down.
 
Oliver12 said:
As above. My horse used to do this. My instructor advised me to lift a rein as soon as he tucked his head in too low and then to follow this up immediately with some leg as his reaction will be to slow down.
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I agree with this, happened with my boy too.
he is a beaut and will do well, good luck :)
 
thank you all for the comments and suggestions

will try this in our next schooling session

i find him very hard work, not sure whether its just him being a baby as well as being a big horse etc

when u say lift a rein, i presume you just mean lift it in an upwards direction with him, and put my leg on as an aid at the same time
 
You seem to look down a lot - I know its pony club stuff but if you look at the floor thats where you will end up !! I would forget about his head and ride him more upright and forward. You could just be asking a bit too much. my instructure has a go at me for this as I nagging a bit on the flat but when we jump I am much quieter and she goes better. I think this is down to more impulsion from her and me feeling I hae to ride her less so I would second what others have said re more leg.
 
lyndsayberesford said:
thank you all for the comments and suggestions

will try this in our next schooling session

i find him very hard work, not sure whether its just him being a baby as well as being a big horse etc

when u say lift a rein, i presume you just mean lift it in an upwards direction with him, and put my leg on as an aid at the same time
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Yes, lift the rein in an upwards direction. If he is straight then lift both reins, if he is heavier in one rein than the other then lift just the rein he is leaning most on. And yes, the leg should aways be used when doing this to maintain impulsion. Regarding him being hard work, try not to nag with your legs. Ask nicely with a squeeze and if he does not react immediately then give him a big kick or tickle with the whip. No second chances with lazy horses! He should maintain his gait until asked to slow down, but that is an ideal and most horses need an occasional reminder squeeze.
 
Lift your rein, twist your wrists (slightly) out to unblock the shoulder, sit outside slightly on your seat and ask from the leg.

To encourage you to look ahead, and for him to have interest, polework.

you should do this at walk for about 20mins, 3 times a week, he is a baby so short and sweet, dont over burden him with too much, keep it simple but correct :)
 
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