how to raise a horses head?

J

JessPickle

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Now I exercise a horse at my yard a lot, he is a RS horse and is not terrible unfit but not in top form. He always rides with his head down! I can get him to keep his head up but if you do that he relies on your hands to balance. He is a 14.3hh cob that is amazing, I just wish there was a way I could get him to hold himself better, is there anyway I could or do you think he will always be this way at age 10

this is him with one of the younger kids with his head slightly higher than usual!

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he is leaning on the bit by the sounds of things so he doesnt have to carry himself properly, I would say half halts, transitions, circles, and something like a cherry roller or a waterford so he has nothing solid to lean on.
 
Looks like persistance then as am not allowed to change bits as obviously not my horse, allthough tempted to ask nicely as YO knows I know teddy well!
 
is that a dutch gag he is in? you can get waterford gags, the only difference is the mouth piece is links so he cant lean
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You dont 'need' to change his bit, that is just an extra help, you can persist with schooing like I mentioned above. Lance can get very lazy and will lean and trip over his own feet if he can, so nice active walk so they dont go to sleep, I have on occasion totally dropped the contact, that soon wakes him up!
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nope its a cheltenam gag allthough in above picture he is on the snaffle ring. Thing is persuading YO, am definetly going to keep trying with him I just wish total numpties from the RS didnt ride him!
 
Lift your hands slightly and use little tweaks upwards with the inside hand up on the corner of the mouth to lift. As soon as he lifts soften the hand back to normal position. The tweaks should be just that, nothing drastic, not too much pressure but just enough to shake him off the contact.
 
Tis a cheltenham gag you can see the ring on the bottom of the leather sticking out the bottom, he is being ridden with the reins on the snaffle part.
Cheltenham gags raise the head, so it shouldn't do any harm.
He looks like his is leaning so doing lots of transitions and keep turning don't go large and make him march every where. If he still leans give him his head occasionally, he will either fall over it or learn to keep it up and not lean on you.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Tis a cheltenham gag you can see the ring on the bottom of the leather sticking out the bottom, he is being ridden with the reins on the snaffle part.

[/ QUOTE ]

Must be my Pc screen then, it aint too bright LOL.
 
maybe this pic you can see it is a cheltenam gag better, ok will definetly try all your suggestions just wish some of the kids wouldnt ride him
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Me on teddy!

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