Training Horse to lower Head when on ground ?

Flibble

Flibble

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I am getting on fairly well teaching Horse Too Big his stable and yard manners and he is turning into quite a poppet.

Current problem which is quite vexing is how to ask him to lower his head when I am leading him and he has one of those 'Good Grief what is that over there moments'.

At almost 17hh he has his head so high I cant even reach his headcollar sometimes. I need a key of some sort to say 'Oi you burk concentrate on me I'm down here!!'.
 
Hold your lead rein about 6in from where it's clipped on to the headcollar and hold it so your hand is parellel to the ground. Vibrate the rein, gently at first, but slightly downwards. The idea if that he should yield to the pressure. When he gives and drops his nose a bit, release the pressure and praise. Ask again by vibrating the rope until he drops it a bit further. Do be firm about asking though and if he ignores it, be a bit more forceful but don't ever tug. Eventually you should be able to do it in one go. I find that (at the risk of sounding nuts) it helps if you *sigh* loudly while you're asking as they seem to sigh and drop too. I was told that when they have a "moment" then getting their head down stops adrenalin production so should chill them out, but no idea how true that is.
 
I do exactly as CC said.

You might also like to train him to drop/lower his head on cue when on board (head down means a more relaxed horse, it is a very useful 'calmer' if a horse will head down on cue)

This Parade horse (Canadian Cowgirl Display Team) dropped his head for the National Anthem.

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Really like the sound of this and understand about not tugging but how can be firm if he ignores and I dont tug?

And what sort of sigh should I give is it like I have just had a nice cup of tea?
and how can I train him to do it when I am on board ?

I dont think you sound like a nutter its amazing the things I am learning about horse behaviour with this guy!

Ooops I hope noone wierd reads this or I will be off to Funnyland!!
 
I sometimes do the same kind of sigh Unsuitable Chestnut Arab makes when he is relaxing after something to relax him. It is more 'blowy' than cup of tea mmmm sigh if that makes sense. Does seem to work on occasion!
 
Sorry, had to giggle as Dolls is now 18h and I have the same problem.

I have learnt to jump and throw when doing rugs / headcollar etc.

The main thing to get them to learn is standing still, you can do most things when they're just in the right place.

Good luck. I have to say it's about the only thing that "the penny hasn't dropped on."
 
I have the standing still thing. He knows the word WAIT said sternly means whatever you were about to do DONT!

I must admit when I bought him 16 months ago I was terrified he would kick me stomp me and in fact he did once spin round and knock me over.

He has become an absolute poppet and everyone loves him its just when the Good Grief moment happends I want to be able to get in there and say concentrate on me.

I can do anything with him in his stable and if I am mucking out and he moves and bumps into me or the shavings fork he promptly does the 'Oh Pardon me' look and steps away.

Its great that all this has been done with calm firmness its just the heads up thing for now.
 
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Really like the sound of this and understand about not tugging but how can be firm if he ignores and I dont tug?



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What I do is have proper training sessions so that the horses understand they are there to concentrate on me, not the tractors half a mile away or that bit of straw blowing in the wind across the yard.

When I am training I use a nose chain, they understand that the chain means concentrate. If I am teaching head down I do exactly as CC described, if they ignore me I give enough of a tug to bring their attention back to me. A halter noseband, or rope is easy to ignore as it is so normal for them, something that gives them a "Oh! Right!" moment helps. Just like a choke on a dog, it is a reminder, nothing else.

I give verbal and physical cues, to start with I'll say "head" and he'll figure that means drop the head, then I start to give a touch on the neck (reachable from the saddle) at the same time as the verbal cue, they soon get it, some faster than others.
 
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Hold your lead rein about 6in from where it's clipped on to the headcollar and hold it so your hand is parellel to the ground. Vibrate the rein, gently at first, but slightly downwards. The idea if that he should yield to the pressure. When he gives and drops his nose a bit, release the pressure and praise. Ask again by vibrating the rope until he drops it a bit further. Do be firm about asking though and if he ignores it, be a bit more forceful but don't ever tug. Eventually you should be able to do it in one go. I find that (at the risk of sounding nuts) it helps if you *sigh* loudly while you're asking as they seem to sigh and drop too. I was told that when they have a "moment" then getting their head down stops adrenalin production so should chill them out, but no idea how true that is.

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this is how i went about it too. I also timed it with the command 'put your head down' in a calm sighy sort of voice.
They pick it up really quickly and then you can give the command from the saddle too. It is a really calming thing if they are being a prat.
 
If you place your hand over the horses crest about 4 to 6 inches down from the ears and gently squeeze you should find a trigger point that will automatically lower the head.
 
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If you place your hand over the horses crest about 4 to 6 inches down from the ears and gently squeeze you should find a trigger point that will automatically lower the head.

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Yes, I use that too when I can reach. I was going to say that, but then thought it might not work if the poll was 8' off the ground (thinking of me here)
 
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? Nose Chain ??

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I use a choke chain threaded through the noseband rings, often frowned upon because it is considered cruel - only in bad hands.

It has to be OVER the nose to have any effect in this situation, as if it is under the chin it brings the head up. In your case can it get much higher?
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You might find this interesting, JL refers to western trained horses but the principle is the same I imagine.

http://www.horsemanship101.com/John-Lyons-Training-Newsletter/Issues/Lower-Your-Horses-Head.html
 
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If you place your hand over the horses crest about 4 to 6 inches down from the ears and gently squeeze you should find a trigger point that will automatically lower the head.

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Absolutely but when 17hh is doing his Giraffe impression the only way to reach his poll is to run really fast get the stepladders and hope that by the time you have run back to him hes hasnt cleared off
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Just editted to add I did a bit of sighing this pm unforunatly I was accused of having a when Harry met Sally moment
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