How to get his head down in trot?

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picolenicole

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Hiya Guys,

All well, I hope.

My 5 year old has this problem of (as I call it sky watching) he'll trot on, does sometimes feel like it's half a trot. But he will stick his head so far up in the air with his ears forwards like he's seen something when there's nothing there!!:eek::rolleyes:

I can get his head down in walk, by just "beeing there" and then softening when he does, but can I get that to work in trot? No. :(

So what else can I try he does listen to me (I think) in the fact he'll trot and walk when asked, and move his ears round to me if a talk to him or use my legs.:confused:

Thanks so much x
 
Hi,

Not sure what you mean by head down? Do you mean he is resisting the bit? Which bit has he got? Are you heavy with your hands?

Do you mean you would like him in an outline?

x
 
Have you got an RI?

Don't mean that in the sense that you need one, its just that your question could have a million and one answers if you don't exactly know what the problem is, where as a good RI may be able to see if or what can be done, could be anything from schooling, being tense, saddle/back problems, they way your riding, the bit....or just a young green horse. :)
 
To try and get him in an outline, a cottage craft hollow snaffle (always been in a snaffle), I don't think he's resisting the bit as when he walks he go's into an outline. He's good in walk, but day dreams in trot. No not heavy with my hands, I've always been told that my hands are nice and quite.
 
Is he trotting forward enough? If not, just keep a steady contact and push him through with your leg:)
It is very difficult to advise anything without seeing you in action so to speak.
 
He sounds unbalanced. That would mean the reason you can "get his head down" in walk is because he can still walk forward while being ridden onto the forehand but in trot he'll find it much more difficult.

If you want to ride this horse properly you need to focus on the back end. Using a lot of sharp transitions, lateral work and asking him to flex and bend, he'll gradually gain the strength across his back to carry you without hollowing, and to balance himself by bringing his back end underneath him. Once you have achieved all of this, you can concentrate on where his head is. You should find that comes naturally anyway. Keep a nice, soft contact. DO NOT NIGGLE at his mouth - that'll only result in him coming behind the bit to avoid you.

Your horse's head position is the result of it being correctly balanced, working between leg and hand and carrying its weight on its back end. There is far, far too much emphasis on putting the head in the "right" place which just forces a horse onto the forehand, makes it reluctant off the leg and causes a million and one problems for the future.

However, if you'd simply like to "get his head down", buy a set of draw reins ;)
 
Well yes, definitely agree with Kenzo, as soon the instructor see's you, she will be able to help out straight away I am sure.

As a first port of call though, don't ever worry about where their head is. The first thing you want to do is make them go forwards actively. So forwards, forwards forwards.. lol establishing a nice even rhythm. Until he has a good tempo and is forwards, no outline of any sort can be achieved - once forward you can think about some basic bends like figure of eight etc.

Let us know how the lessons go.x
 
I don't really want darw reins as I think they pull the horse's chin down and round into their chest. May not be the case but from the riders and horses I've seen using them thats what it looks like.

Yeah I'll see what RI say's, it's my lesson that got me thinking about it, I sort of "loose it" in a lesson. My nerve's take over and I forget the most simplest things, and then both me and pony go like a bag of poo!! I shake from head to toe and find it hard not to. :(
 
The lessons will help, it doesn't sound like he's working through his back properly at the minute. Does he bend properly? We have just started with a new instructor, had lesson number 4 yesterday and the progress the horse has made is amazing. We are finding that keeping the outside hand still (use a balance strap if needed!) and close to the withers but keeping a contact at all times, and opening the inside rein up and out is helping him to bend and bring his back underneath himself... his head comes down as a side effect once he is working properly. It's not a quick fix and does take a lot of time and perseverance but it does work.
 
picolenicole said:
I sort of "loose it" in a lesson. My nerve's take over and I forget the most simplest things, and then both me and pony go like a bag of poo!! I shake from head to toe and find it hard not to. :(
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Give your self time to warm up, as you you, before you start to ride, you'll find this will help to relax you when you take up the reins and begin to warm your horse up, if you suffer from tension, as you horse will feel this despite having nice quiet and still hands, you need to be loose through the shoulders, elbows and wrists.

Also remember to breath, sometimes people forget to do this during a lesson because your concentrating so much on what your being told, which again will cause tension in you which won't help neither.

Swinging your arms around in circular movements forwards and backwards is a good way to loosen up as well as rolling your head around to loosen up your neck etc
 
Also remember to breath, sometimes people forget to do this during a lesson because your concentrating so much on what your being told, which again will cause tension in you which won't help neither.
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I always stop breathing, I got told once by a well known RI to chew, chewing gum!! Sounded a little to dangerous me as knowing me I'd chock on it!!:o

He's bending better than he used to, hopefuly we'll get better at this. I don't do well schooling without someone telling me what to do I just wonder around the school doing well nothing..... I know very, very none helpful adn does not teach us anything!:rolleyes:
 
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