help! Horse bearing down on the rein?

[bridgett]

Hi Pls help, i am currently loooking at a horse (to buy for myself), he is a lovely piebald gypsy cob, 16 hh, 9yr old, everything is going well but when coming down from canter to trot, he bears down on the rein almost putting his head between his knee's, it does'nt worry me to much and i know this can be due to tiredness as he is quite unfit, but is this something of a habit? does anyone have any tips to try and correct it? or will it never go away? i would like so advice before seriously thinking about buying him!!

thanks

 

[rrose]

you could try a daisy rein (used on horses that tend to buck), until the horse gets the idea that it cannot do this. other than that.... lots of transitions and fitness work. ive never had a horse with this problem so my ideas might not be helpful. sorry (good luck)

 

[bex1984]

The only short term thing that's worked for me is lifting my hands really high. By this I don't mean taking up more of a contact, just raising your hands until you probably look silly, and as soon as the horse stops leaning on your hands, lower them to normal position. You won't be pulling the head up at all, but sometimes the change reminds them not to lean. You also need to push them on at the sametime, to encourage the back end to do more work if that makes sense!

I had a cob who used to lean on your hands on the way home from hacks, used to drive me mad.

 

[Cobland]

Hi there, cant give any advise on this.

Just wanted to say that at 16hh he wouldnt be a gypsy cob. Ive got several myself, and when i was getting them a passport from the gypsy cob society, i read that they arent considered to be gypsy cobs if over 14.2hh.

Sorry dont mean to be technical

Bex your horse looks so much like my mare Mae!!! even the white socks and the blaze!

 

[Gentle_Warrior]

My lad does this and the only way I can occassionally stop him doing it is to give and take with the reins, half halt in the canter but then push the canter on again which will make it bouncy and then do a stronger half halt for trot, and then instantly push the trot forward, even a tap with the stick as soo as trotting works as well.

it is hard work though !! hard to explain

 

[bridgett]

Thanks for all your replies, i am finding it hard to make a decision over this due to his habit, i only want to be a happy hacker and do a bit in the school, do you think this will be an annoying habit that i want be able to get out of him, i have tried lifting my hands and pushing him on at the same time, it does take a while for him to lift his head, its hard decision to make!!

also i know his not a gypsy cob but just just the term "gypsy cob" to discribe him.
thanks guys x