Head down!

HairyCoblet

HairyCoblet

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My horse constantly has his head right down when ridden. Everything has been checked.
Literally his nose is nearly on the floor. I’m starting to worry that he’s going to trip when riding!

Any hints/tips on how to get his head up?!
 
If the behaviour is as persistent as you say it's quite unusual and I would want to get a good horse vet out to have a look too. Going long and low like that is one of the symptoms of PSSM, but it could be that something is sore for another reason too.
 
ihatework said:
What does your instructor say?
Has the vet seen him?
Do you have any video?
Click to expand...
My instructor doesn’t think there’s any particular reason why he’s doing it. It’s not a brand new thing... this has been going on quite a while.

Vet has seen him as he had a issue with his shoulder but that’s now 100% fine and vet is happy.
 
How does he go for your instructor?

Tbh it could just be a rider issue. Remember, the aim is always that a horse will take the contact forward. But it’s up to the rider to guide on how much forward that contact should be.
 
How old are they? Are they tired?

Polework can help them to look where they are going and concentrate.
What have you done to school them when they reach down? To be that low you must be letting them lean on you?
 
HairyCoblet said:
My instructor doesn’t think there’s any particular reason why he’s doing it. It’s not a brand new thing... this has been going on quite a while.

Vet has seen him as he had a issue with his shoulder but that’s now 100% fine and vet is happy.
Click to expand...

Well I think you possibly need a new instructor. Have just had a flick through some of your posts and you have a 2-3 year history of sluggish behaviour and bucking into canter and now this low head carriage.

So I would politely suggest there will be a very good reason, you just haven’t found it yet. It could be anything from subtle lameness or other various physical issues, poor saddle, poor management/riding/training.

So you need experienced eyes on the ground (and on top) to work through this systematically.
 
Did he do this when you first got him?
What's his head carriage like when he's in the field?
 
TBH, without seeing the horse it would be hard to say, but if it is interfering with your enjoyment I would do two things.

1. Performance workup at an equine hospital. This should be with a subtle lameness expert and will likely involve some tests such as nerve blocks, X ray, scans as well as the usual lungeing on both hard and soft, trotting up, hoof testers, flexion, working up and down a slope (low head can be a wobbler thing) . It may also include a bute trial.

2. Let an expert rider have the horse for a time. Could be one session, could be 6 weeks. This would be someone who produces a number of horses, not a hobby trainer. I can't accept that there is no particular reason he is doing it. It is either more comfortable for him to do it or his training is lacking. Horses don't run round with their noses on the floor, risking tripping without some reason.
 
cobgoblin said:
Did he do this when you first got him?
What's his head carriage like when he's in the field?
Click to expand...
I’ve him since he was 10 months old.
He’s now 8. Out hacking he’s fine. Heads usually up looking around, it’s in the school his head carriage is really low. He’s the same on the lunge and if I take him in the round pen.
 
HairyCoblet said:
I’ve him since he was 10 months old.
He’s now 8. Out hacking he’s fine. Heads usually up looking around, it’s in the school his head carriage is really low. He’s the same on the lunge and if I take him in the round pen.
Click to expand...

If it’s just on a surface, it may be that he struggles with a surface.

How does he go for your instructor?
 
Do lots of horses use the school? On the lunge mine is fascinated with sniffing the ground as he goes along, checking out the smell from other horses. Riding he would love to do the same but I tell him he can't until we've finished.
 
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