swinging head in dresaage- help please!

BroadfordQueen

BroadfordQueen

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I have developed a new and annoying habit of swinging Queenies had when doing flat work and it is losing me marks, I need to stop but I am finding it really difficult to break out of the habit :( I had a lesson last night with a new and very good trainer, who said my horse was stunning with beautiful paces and I am a lovely quiet rider but her swinging her head is ruining the picture and turning what could be a 20's test into a 30's. He said "every time she swings her head in a dressage test, she will lose a mark".
I can TOTALLY see what I am doing, I can see why it is bad, but I cant stop myself and I really hate myself for ruining her by doing it :( I didn't used to do it last year, its a new habit this year, and although generally she is a totally different horse this year, this one problem is basically preventing me from winning classes :(
I have tried the "just dont do it" approach, but its harder said than done when your stuck in a bad habit :( If anyone can give me any tips or hints to stop myself from doing it, it would be massively appriciated, cos I really feel like I am letting her down :(
NB: Generally it happens worse when warming up, but it does still happen in the test even when I spend the whole time thinking "don't do it" I still do.
Thanks :)
 
Oh tut tut young lady!! I think I commented on it last time I saw you. Its something a lot of people do, almost 'see sawing' them onto the bit, which actually doesnt work and ends up being like an out of control caravan on the motorway... at home, try riding with a short whip held horizontally just between your thumbs then you cant move, failing that I will come over and tie your hands together!!!!
 
I used to do it sub-consciously, but my trainer told me to get a loop of material (flash strap or something similar) and hook my thumbs through, it keeps my hands steady now :)
 
Thanks both, it is so annoying when I get my dressage sheet back and the majority of the comments are "head swinging". Will try the stick approach! Or you can come and tie my hands together haha anything to stop me doing it :p
Off to ALW later to do BE100 (they had no spaces left in novice cos we are slack at entering, boo :( ), am going to make a real consious effort to stop swinging her damn head!
 
Ditto the whip, I have had a similar problem with mine tilting her head to one side or the other and it is a really difficult habit to get out of, I have done a lot of riding with one hand to stop me trying to wiggle her into an outline. I think you just have to tell yourself, don't grab hold and try and ride more from the leg than the hand although someone will explain it better than me!
 
How about some lessons on a schoolmaster? I have come across some that will stop dead or chuck their head right up in the air unless your hands are 100% still. Quite an eye opener!

If your own horse "accepts" your hand movements without resistance it will be really difficult, although not impossible, to correct. Sounds like you are thinking of where her head is more than her overall way of going. Just think of pushing her forwards from your leg and merely closing your hand but keeping your hands completely still. If no response then you probably need more forwards (ie impulsion and swinging through), not more hand movements!
 
apart from mechanical means (holding a short twig/stick across under your thumbs, although this makes it pretty difficult to have much effect with your rein aids!), have you tried thinking of your hands (or at least your inside hand) as 'belonging to the horse' from the moment you take up a contact? the horse's mouth is sacrosanct - the inside hand should either stay 'on the place' or allow, NEVER pull. if you keep your inside hand still (but elastic, i.e. 'still' in relation to horse's movement obv, e.g. horse's head moves more in walk than in trot or canter so inside hand should do the same) and only use your outside hand to squeeze the rein for half-halts etc, and to allow for turning, this might help. good luck!
 
Don't know anything about the riding side of things, but the more you think "Don't do something, the more likely you are to do it". The brain is very good at filtering out "don't" commands under stress, and you end up telling yourself to do exactly the thing you are trying not to do...

So if there's a positive command (i.e. you must do x) that you can switch from the negative "must not" command, that might help.

This is the one bit of coaching psychology that has really struck a chord with me - it has worked for everything I've learned since, including riding, badminton, skiing and music!
 
Yes, Wishful's absolutely right, you need a positive command to think about such as "inside hand still" or "hands thinking forwards" or "hands belong to the horse's mouth", whichever works best for you, rather than "don't fiddle" or "don't pull". after that it's just tons of practice, practice, practice, I think, ideally with a friend or instructor watching you whenever possible to check it's working.
 
It just takes practice. Swinging slightly can help when training for certain reasons, but then you have to wean yourself and horse off it when whatever it was is fixed (with one of mine you needed to fiddle slightly with the bit all the time when she was a baby or when you actually asked for flexion/change of pace she'd have a fit; with another it taught her not to lean; with one with issues using her quarters it helped her engage each hind leg more until the relevant muscle had built up).
 
some good advice given. Two other things you could try- 1) have the rein going over the top of your hand (over the index finger), rather than the usual way, through the bottom 2 fingers. this makes you much more aware of your contact.
2) carry 2 plastic cups in your hands as well as holding the reins (normally) and pretend they are filled with water (or wine!) and you dont want to spill it
 
Thanks everybody, what you've all said makes so much sense (although sometimes easier said than done, as everything with horses!).
Kerelli, I had a dressage lesson last night with someone quite old (used to teach my mum when she was in pony club), and so his way of thinking was quite "old school". He told me to have a really firm outside hand, to literally be pulling her with it constantly, which goes against everything else anyone has ever taught me about going "with" the horse. So am a bit confused now! :p
Will try positive thinking rather than negative. I am going to make it my aim today to get my dressage sheet back and have no comment about "head swinging"! Don't care about anything else, just want to crack this and then I can work on the rest! :D
On that note, better get going! Thanks for all your replies :)
 
A good way to stop swinging the horse's head is to ride with a half bridge (both reins in one hand and one rein in the other). This means that you can use the reins normally but it keeps your hands more together. If necessary there is nothing to stop you doing it in a test. Equally reversing your hand on the rein as has been suggested is an excellent way to cope with contact problems and again there is nothing to stop you doing it in a test.
You are right to make a big effort to get yourself out of the habit as there is NEVER a place for swinging the head around when schooling. If you do you are conning yourself that you have the horse on the bit as the connection will not be true and it will catch up with you later. This is different to positioning the horse one way or the other for a few strides which does have a value.
 
do you do it in a certain pace or all of them?

what i find really works for me to make my hands soft and still is to have really elastic elbows- in trot you think of opening the elbow as you rise and closing it as you sit and in canter as you polish the seat with your bum you open and close your elbows.
 
BroadfordQueen said:
Thanks everybody, what you've all said makes so much sense (although sometimes easier said than done, as everything with horses!).
Kerelli, I had a dressage lesson last night with someone quite old (used to teach my mum when she was in pony club), and so his way of thinking was quite "old school". He told me to have a really firm outside hand, to literally be pulling her with it constantly, which goes against everything else anyone has ever taught me about going "with" the horse. So am a bit confused now! :p
Will try positive thinking rather than negative. I am going to make it my aim today to get my dressage sheet back and have no comment about "head swinging"! Don't care about anything else, just want to crack this and then I can work on the rest! :D
On that note, better get going! Thanks for all your replies :)
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I think you have your wish then, I dont think I said 'head swinging' once, although he was a little tense today or was that you, who looked terrified as soon as you saw it was me a C.....
 
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