Horse who thinks she's a giraffe!

[Claiired]

Hi,

Not sure if this is posted in the correct place but here goes!

Recently got a new horse after not riding any other horse but my oldie for roughly 8 years. She's a TB and 2 years off the track with not a lot done with her previous owners within those 2 years. I've been bringing her back into work for the past 2 weeks now purely on a lunge. Teeth/back/saddle all fine. She hasn't put a foot wrong on the lunge, going absolutely great and no giraffe like tendencies... Got on her properly today for the first time and in trot she's like a giraffe.

Been advised from a few people what to change/do and I'm looking for more tips .

If anyone has been in a similar situation, how did you stop this?

Thanks

 

[be positive]

I would treat her as if she was just backed, go right back to basics to help get her established correctly, I would just be walking for a while until she starts to accept a light contact and stretches down into it and lifts her back up properly, if she can do it on the lunge she should start to offer it under saddle but if she finds it difficult in walk she will find it even more difficult in trot, she has probably done even less than you were led to believe so keep it simple, make life easy for her and let her build up the muscles required slowly until she can carry you and hold herself properly, that said you don't want to allow the giraffe tendency, take it very slowly so she is not under too much pressure and she should learn it is easy to carry herself.

 

[EQUIDAE]

I found with plenty of hillwork and raised trotting poles my mare lowered her head of her own accord.

We went from this

to this in just over 4 months

Please excuse my position in the second pic - I', not quite sure what I am doing with my hands lol. The person in the first pic isn't me.