Horse holding head up high!

[Cornish on the Cob]

My 5 year old Cob has started riding with her head right up high. Back,saddle,teeth etc ok but it's scaring the hell out of me as I don't feel in control! She does it mainly in trot and is ridden in a running martingale. Any ideas?

 

[Queenbee]

My 5 year old Cob has started riding with her head right up high. Back,saddle,teeth etc ok but it's scaring the hell out of me as I don't feel in control! She does it mainly in trot and is ridden in a running martingale. Any ideas?

If all the checks have been done then it sounds like typical evasion, which means just taking it slowly and do lots of schooling, lots of transitions, sitting trot is easier to maintain and obtain a good head carriage if you feel comfortable doing it.

What bit is your cob in, it may be that she is just uncomfortable, or it could be the martingale, my girl resists this and it has the opposite effect because she lifts her neck against it.

 

[Cortez]

Take some lessons with a decent instructor.

 

[Ladylina83]

Ditto the martingal and bit situation - I have had this problem too. Which bit are you in ?

I have an elasicated standing martingale which is fantastic. If your horse is sensitive in the mouth so it flicks its head up resulting in a jab on the mouth from the martingale it is not really a productive solution - think about

Try slowing things down - your raising in trot keep a good contact on the bit and with the leg and keep your shoulders back elbows bent

 

[Cornish on the Cob]

She is in a copper roller ATM, when I bought her, she was in a continental gag! I thought it was a bit harsh so I changed it.

 

[be positive]

This young horse seems to have gone from pulling its head down a few weeks ago {previous post] to now putting its head up. It is trying to tell you something is uncomfortable, go back to a simple bit, french link snaffle or similar so that she can learn to trust your hands.
Get her listening to your aids some leg yielding and bending so that she is softer and more confident in her mouth, ideally get an instructor to help get you back on track. She is still only a baby and needs plenty of education at this stage of her life, it can so easily go wrong.