Up goes his head...(sorry, a bit long)

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Flicker

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Hi, any advice gratefully received. My new lad is a show-jumper by trade but I'm doing some dressage on him, for which he is showing a tremendous aptitude. However, when excited or trying to evade work, he does that old show-jumper thing of sticking his head right in the air. I jump him in a wilkie and running martingale, which is fine but for dressage he's in a snaffle only.
When his head goes up, of course he flattens and it is hard to get anything out of him.
I'm not used to this - the mare dragged her nose on the floor when I got her and I've learnt very well how to pick them up but don't have much experience of the other way round.
Am I riding inside leg into outside hand, same as the mare, or should I be doing something else? I've found small circles and lots of up / down transitions are helpful but if anyone has any other brilliant ideas, I'm all ears. Also, as far as possible I would like to stay away from gadgets - I figure we might as well both learn to do it properly from the start.
Back, teeth, saddle all good, btw, and he sailed through a 5 star vetting not 2 months ago.
Thanks!
 
Keep going as you are, also maybe add in some leg yeilds and transition within a pace i.e. free walk to medium to extended. Rein back can also help. Encourage him to work over his back with his hocks underneath him, thus it will enabling him to stretch his neck forward. It will come he just needs time to build the correct muscles. Widening the hand can also help encourage them to stretch and loads of half halts to keep him off his forehand. It will take time and you will find that when ever he is unsure, nervous or excited he will revert back, but he will get there in the end. Good luck.
smile.gif
 
I find that my SJ brings her head up when she is unbalanced - i would come back to walk or halt when they do this and start again xx

i ride mine in a hanging cheek for a little more pole pressure x
 
Even when excited your horse shouldn't be bringing their head up for show jumping or dressage. You are probably asking for a more consistent contact in dressage so I would also check that you have help them out by NOT using a single jointed bit. These automatically bring the head up.
 
CotswoldSJ, that's interesting. My wilkie is french-link, with a lozenge in the middle - do you think that is why he's better when I'm jumping him?
 
Yep if you normally use a double jointed bit, and you are using a single joint for dressage, it means that when you are doing dressage every time you ask for a half halt you accidently stab him in the roof of the mouth.

Taking a strong contact witha single joint can also touch the roof of the mouth, so will be asking him to raise his head.

Lozenge snaffles are only £12
 
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