How to stop horse holding head so high

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itsokboah

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Thanks for all of the advice on my last post about how much work my horse should be doing.
Quick background, I have had my new mare for 2 weeks now and we are still getting acquainted.
All buoyed up by the confidence of the H&H forum I went yesterday and lunged my mare for about 20 minutes before getting on (my third ever ride on her). She had a bit of a broncing time on the lunge so I decided to ask my other half to keep her on the lungline at first while I rode.
She seemed fine, so I took her off the line and started her around the arena but she started to get very forward. I keep her on a loose rein anyway as she is not used to much contact yet so I tried slowing her down with my seat and when that didn't work, I squeezed the outside rein. Well, she took off like a giraffe! Nose in the air, running away from me.. I had to turn her in a circle to slow her down and put her back on the lunge where she was perfectly behaved.
She did come with a running martingale which I will put on tonight before getting on, I have also been recommended a harbridge to encourage her to keep her head down. Her teeth are fine and so is her back, so I am really not sure why she does this.
What should I be doing to correct this behaviour? I try to keep my leg on since she needs to get used to it, but its knocking my confidence a little when I feel out of control.. added to the usual nerves of being a first time owner!
I ride her in a full cheek snaffle, cavesson bridle.
 
If her teeth and back are fine I would have the saddle checked and probably also the bit and bridle fit checked (bit consultant). She sounds like she's in pain to me (the running away).

If everything is deemed OK and it is felt to be a schooling issue - engage the services of a really good instructor for help. Avoid the gadgets for now if you can!

Good luck - its really hard being a first time owner I remember it well!
 
Having seen that she has no turnout, is green and unfit you have the worst scenario for any horse let alone your first one, she will be unsettled, full of pent up energy and your own nerves and inexperience will be contributing, if she is going to have a chance to settle, learn and for you to have an enjoyable time as an owner I would strongly suggest a move to a yard with turnout asap before her behaviour gets worse and you can do not much more than lunge her every day because she is getting too fresh and frustrated by being cooped up 24 hours a day.

As a YO I know how tricky it is to manage wet land but no horse here will be shut in at this time of year especially not a new one that the owner has not yet got to grips with, they require some extra help to ensure they will cope and hopefully remain on my yard.
If she really cannot go out she should have time loose every day wandering about the arena, not just a blast on the lunge as that will become a habit you will struggle to move on from and is not really helpful long term.
 
- How old is she?
- Why did the previous owners have her in a running martingale?
- Is she in the same tack that you bought her with?

Seems like a pain reaction, I wouldn’t suggest forcing her head down with a gadget, but perhaps lots of long/low work, stretching and a good instructor. A once over by the vet might be worth it if everything else has been checked.

hopefully she settles soon 😊
 
Truthfully, it sounds to me like she has never had a proper start in her training. If you can possibly afford it a month on schooling livery with a professional at this point and then some lessons on her with them will probably save you a lot of money and upset in the long run.
 
I agree with everyone else check bridle, saddle, bit etc and for any pain but if she's still doing after all that then I'd try long reining
 
What are you feeding her if anything? She needs to learn to relax and you need to learn how to make her do that...she only will if you will so my adivce to you is either a rider for her or a bloody good instructor who is willing to teach you to relax not just how to stick on her. Also a better yard set up may help too...horses don't do well being cooped up all day especially hot anxious horses. Also if you are lunging her a lot before riding, shes probably a lot more fit than you realise. Fitter horses tend to need more work so don't shoot yourself in the foot too much by getting her energy out and actually just fittening her up...do ground work with her just as much as riding and 30mins "brain" work can be just as tiring but create both a bond and a relaxing atmosphere.
 
With all due respect you seem to have taken on a very green mare who is being kept in less than ideal conditions (no turnout). You yourself does not seem to be very experienced either. For both of your sakes and safety I really feel you need to take both of you to an experienced yard that has appropriate facilities for her needs and someone that can educate both of you at the same time. This will not be cheap but realistically you need to do this for her wellbeing and both of you practical education/help. You need hands on help not internet help.
 
Velcrobum said:
With all due respect you seem to have taken on a very green mare who is being kept in less than ideal conditions (no turnout). You yourself does not seem to be very experienced either. For both of your sakes and safety I really feel you need to take both of you to an experienced yard that has appropriate facilities for her needs and someone that can educate both of you at the same time. This will not be cheap but realistically you need to do this for her wellbeing and both of you practical education/help. You need hands on help not internet help.
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This. A thousand times this.
 
Suggest you investigate some lessons with Ecole de Légèreté (School of Lightness) .. if you are on Facebook there are some great blogs with photos and narrative. One of the foundation lessons is "Action Reaction" which is a specific aid for the horse to lower and extend its neck forward. There are a number of instructors in the UK and they are all worth seeking out.
 
itsokboah said:
What should I be doing to correct this behaviour? I try to keep my leg on since she needs to get used to it, but its knocking my confidence a little when I feel out of control.. added to the usual nerves of being a first time owner!
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I think you are telling her to go. Yes, she has to get used to your legs being softly in contact with her sides, but if she is interpreting that as a go signal, it won't help matters.

ETA: Any additions to the tack you put on her, or changes, are probably only going to be bandaids. It's correct help that is needed, not gadgets.:)
 
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Take it slow, don’t use any quick fixes. It’s taken me 18 months of just letting my horse find her own balance and build up the muscle necessary to work correctly.

Give a longer rein so they have their head and can naturally balance themselves. I’ve gone from working practically on the buckle to looking for a size smaller reins.

Do lots of suppling work, lateral, stretching over poles. Work on rhythm and straightness.

And as always, check teeth, feet, back, saddle, bit. For me teeth and bit were the most vital parts and made the world of difference. Get teeth checked by a BAEDT not a vet.

Oh and treat them like a horse! My horses schooling has come on miles since we moved to better turnout. I’m convinced just having her head down grazing more has loosened the muscles required to work properly.
 
ownedbyaconnie said:
Take it slow, don’t use any quick fixes. It’s taken me 18 months of just letting my horse find her own balance and build up the muscle necessary to work correctly.

Give a longer rein so they have their head and can naturally balance themselves. I’ve gone from working practically on the buckle to looking for a size smaller reins.

Do lots of suppling work, lateral, stretching over poles. Work on rhythm and straightness.

And as always, check teeth, feet, back, saddle, bit. For me teeth and bit were the most vital parts and made the world of difference. Get teeth checked by a BAEDT not a vet.

Oh and treat them like a horse! My horses schooling has come on miles since we moved to better turnout. I’m convinced just having her head down grazing more has loosened the muscles required to work properly.
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If only all horses had owners like this!
 
She is so new to you and it is very early days for her in terms of settling in to her new home. Totally agree with others that generally a great deal of ridden behaviour is a symptom of something not being right for the horse in your set-up and sometimes unless you can change that you won’t solve any ridden problems. That said, you’ve only had her for two weeks. What is her life like now compared to her previous home? Did she have plenty of turnout and company of other horses there? When my horse first arrived in the middle of winter and had to be quarantined for 2 weeks he was pretty difficult to ride and generally quite unsettled and stroppy, but I knew at the end of the quarantine period everything would change. Sure enough, once he was getting daily turnout in a herd he was like a different horse. So much happier and more relaxed. Personally I think it’s wrong to keep horses stabled all the time, they are just not meant to live like that and if that was my only choice I wouldn’t own a horse. Before anyone shoots me down, that’s just my opinion!
 
Green horse, little turnout, very little work, new owner - it's a recipe for a very buzzy horse! Turnout situation needs addressing pronto otherwise you are always going to be riding a very fresh horse who is young and has no other outlet for letting off steam. High head position screams tension - this can come from general excitement, it can come from pain. If you can rule out pain, your horse probably needs more work but sort the turnout first!
 
Be very careful with gadget usage - it is easy to strap them up to solve a problem rather than fixing it correctly.

I have a young warmblood, until 6 months ago his natural stance was to be upright and tense - it looked awful and also he was developing muscles in the wrong places. I had him in a 2 ring gag, martingale and flash.

I've got a super instructor who i have weekly lessons with (i have been riding for 20 years and owned all sorts of horses but nothing quite as "impressive" as him, so need to learn to ride him properly), we stripped him right back.. he is now in a drop cheek snaffle, no flash and no martingale. He used to get faster and faster and go tense (shove his head up), so if he starts to do that - we come back to a halt (even if we're cantering, he has to halt straight away).

He's figured out now that if he runs, he halts - which is not much fun! We'e done a tonne of things to encourage him to go long. low and relaxed and now we're at the point of when he gets tense, all i do is lengthen my reins and play with the knitting and he goes long/low and relaxed.

I think you for you, get a good instructor - and one that isn't scared to jump on and have a sit themselves!

ETA - having picked up on a few of the other comments, sounds like your horse needs some turnout as well.
 
be positive said:
Having seen that she has no turnout, is green and unfit you have the worst scenario for any horse let alone your first one, she will be unsettled, full of pent up energy and your own nerves and inexperience will be contributing, if she is going to have a chance to settle, learn and for you to have an enjoyable time as an owner I would strongly suggest a move to a yard with turnout asap before her behaviour gets worse and you can do not much more than lunge her every day because she is getting too fresh and frustrated by being cooped up 24 hours a day.

As a YO I know how tricky it is to manage wet land but no horse here will be shut in at this time of year especially not a new one that the owner has not yet got to grips with, they require some extra help to ensure they will cope and hopefully remain on my yard.
If she really cannot go out she should have time loose every day wandering about the arena, not just a blast on the lunge as that will become a habit you will struggle to move on from and is not really helpful long term.
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She has been out as much as I can get her out at the moment. For example this morning she will be out all day. We are based in Manchester and it has been really heavy rain here unfortunately that has turned the field into a no man's land!
I am hoping that increased turnout will help her as I know how horses get being cooped up . All things considered she has been very tolerant.
 
Upthecreek said:
She is so new to you and it is very early days for her in terms of settling in to her new home. Totally agree with others that generally a great deal of ridden behaviour is a symptom of something not being right for the horse in your set-up and sometimes unless you can change that you won’t solve any ridden problems. That said, you’ve only had her for two weeks. What is her life like now compared to her previous home? Did she have plenty of turnout and company of other horses there? When my horse first arrived in the middle of winter and had to be quarantined for 2 weeks he was pretty difficult to ride and generally quite unsettled and stroppy, but I knew at the end of the quarantine period everything would change. Sure enough, once he was getting daily turnout in a herd he was like a different horse. So much happier and more relaxed. Personally I think it’s wrong to keep horses stabled all the time, they are just not meant to live like that and if that was my only choice I wouldn’t own a horse. Before anyone shoots me down, that’s just my opinion!
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I agree, before I got her she had been a field ornament really spending nearly all her time out. So I imagine it has been quite unsettling for her! The turnout is getting better 🙂
 
ownedbyaconnie said:
Take it slow, don’t use any quick fixes. It’s taken me 18 months of just letting my horse find her own balance and build up the muscle necessary to work correctly.

Give a longer rein so they have their head and can naturally balance themselves. I’ve gone from working practically on the buckle to looking for a size smaller reins.

Do lots of suppling work, lateral, stretching over poles. Work on rhythm and straightness.

And as always, check teeth, feet, back, saddle, bit. For me teeth and bit were the most vital parts and made the world of difference. Get teeth checked by a BAEDT not a vet.

Oh and treat them like a horse! My horses schooling has come on miles since we moved to better turnout. I’m convinced just having her head down grazing more has loosened the muscles required to work properly.
Click to expand...
She's had her teeth checked and I'm getting physio out next week. I ride her on a very loose rein at the moment but she does need to learn to take some contact 🙂
I have tried her over poles but she has no respect for them and just trips over them haha. Raised cavaletti may teach her to pick her feet up over them?
 
Velcrobum said:
With all due respect you seem to have taken on a very green mare who is being kept in less than ideal conditions (no turnout). You yourself does not seem to be very experienced either. For both of your sakes and safety I really feel you need to take both of you to an experienced yard that has appropriate facilities for her needs and someone that can educate both of you at the same time. This will not be cheap but realistically you need to do this for her wellbeing and both of you practical education/help. You need hands on help not internet help.
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I do agree to an extent.
Unfortunately all of the yards in my area that offer those services are full.
My YO is s qualified instructor and I am going to take some lessons.
I have ridden more challenging horses before but only in a riding school environment, so although I am a first time owner I am a confident rider.
She is getting turnout now, and we had a good ridden session today where at points she was very relaxed. I probably need to relax myself a bit more and not expect the world in a few weeks!
All things considered she has settled in extremely well 🙂
 
jcloud said:
- How old is she?
- Why did the previous owners have her in a running martingale?
- Is she in the same tack that you bought her with?

Seems like a pain reaction, I wouldn’t suggest forcing her head down with a gadget, but perhaps lots of long/low work, stretching and a good instructor. A once over by the vet might be worth it if everything else has been checked.

hopefully she settles soon 😊
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She is 7 years, I don't know why they had her in her running martingale but having ridden her with it removed she definitely goes better with it on.
Same tack she came in.
I have had a five stage vetting which she passed with flying colours but I have booked a physio for next week anyway to give her back a check
 
itsokboah said:
She's had her teeth checked and I'm getting physio out next week. I ride her on a very loose rein at the moment but she does need to learn to take some contact 🙂
I have tried her over poles but she has no respect for them and just trips over them haha. Raised cavaletti may teach her to pick her feet up over them?
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It is not lack of respect for poles but lack of understanding of what is required, she will learn to pick her feet up in time, raising them may help but equally may cause her to rush or snatch her feet up rather than use them properly.

Every horse has to learn what we want from them, we as riders and trainers need to look at the whole picture, try to work out why they are doing whatever they do, or don't do and keep lessons as simple as possible to build their confidence with just little steps out of their comfort zone and back into it until they are really able to understand what is required, it is why gadgets as quick fixes are to be avoided if possible, the term KISS, keep it simple stupid, should be remembered when working with a green or badly started horse, forcing an issue will rarely end up with a horse working confidently.

I am pleased to see she is getting turned out more as I suspect that is going to make her much happier.
 
Get someone professional to help. Make sure you trust their abilities and judgement. Providing you have ruled out anything pain related, and made sure her food is not causing any extra energy you could do without atm...invest in a really good trainer to guide you along for a while. As everyones said turnout as often as you can, and make sure her food is sugar and alfalfa free....alfalfa sends my boy nuts!
 
be positive said:
It is not lack of respect for poles but lack of understanding of what is required, she will learn to pick her feet up in time, raising them may help but equally may cause her to rush or snatch her feet up rather than use them properly.

Every horse has to learn what we want from them, we as riders and trainers need to look at the whole picture, try to work out why they are doing whatever they do, or don't do and keep lessons as simple as possible to build their confidence with just little steps out of their comfort zone and back into it until they are really able to understand what is required, it is why gadgets as quick fixes are to be avoided if possible, the term KISS, keep it simple stupid, should be remembered when working with a green or badly started horse, forcing an issue will rarely end up with a horse working confidently.

I am pleased to see she is getting turned out more as I suspect that is going to make her much happier.
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Thanks! Much appreciated. I will take on all the advice where I can and hopefully have an update in a few months. 🙂
 
I would definitely consider getting a good instructor on your side as sounds like you’ve taken up a bit of a project, and having someone else share in that journey especially if your first time with one I would suggest is advisable, if she’s been schooled (or not schooled) in this manor then I wouldn’t hesitate to say that she has a poor topline - that is speculation and I could be wrong, but I’d look to build that up with as much long and low work to help strengthen her up before worrying about intrudcing anything intense, eg walk work over the next week after lunging for 20 mins, the introducing some trot work in week two and building from there! Try to be strict on yourself and have her in a routine, which I recognise can be difficult during the winter! X good luck x
 
jcloud said:
- How old is she?
- Why did the previous owners have her in a running martingale?
- Is she in the same tack that you bought her with?

Seems like a pain reaction, I wouldn’t suggest forcing her head down with a gadget, but perhaps lots of long/low work, stretching and a good instructor. A once over by the vet might be worth it if everything else has been checked.

hopefully she settles soon 😊
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I was going to ask the sane questions plus what was she like when you tried her, indoor or outdoor arena, time of day? Find a good quiet & calm knowledgeable trainer to help you & try some long reining.
 
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