Is this normal?

[HaffiesRock]

This may sound like a stupid question so please dont rip my head off!

My newly backed mare stretches her neck down when we hack. Not in an exagerated way, she doesnt pull on me just stretches down while walking.

I am used to riding my old cob who carries her head so high I cannot see over her ears sometimes! I obviously know that you want a nice outline so I know shes using herself properly to carry me, but I cannot see how she looks as I'm on her

I just want reassurance I am not hurting her and she is stretching to relieve pain or stiffness? I appreciate shes not used to being ridden so doesnt have the correct muscles yet. Any advice appreciated.

Thanks

 

[horsemadelsie]

My recently backed gelding likes to lean down on my hands when he's had enough- its his way of telling me he's tired or just doesn't fancy it today! He is welsh cob so naturally carries his head high, but he does stretch down when lunging- if she is stretching down into a soft contact then I guess its a very good thing!

 

[Littlelegs]

Depends. If she's going forward with a lovely free moving walk, swinging through the hips, stretching through her back its a good thing & exactly what you want.
Or it could be that where you are asking her to hold her head she's not ready for yet & she is stretching to reduce it, bit like you kicking your feet from the stirrups & stretching your ankles after a long ride. Or it can just be simply that she is tired.
One way you can find out yourself is to ride her uphill while she's fresh still. If the way she moves up it is the same as the way she moves when she neck stretches, I would guess its the former reason I gave.

 

[HaffiesRock]

Yeah she doesnt lean at all. She is very light in my hands. I just find it strange looking forward and there being nothing there!

We are just hacking in walk so she can get used to my weight and build some muscle (shes a 9 year old ex broodmare) before I start schooling her. Just happy plodding around at the minute. x