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Member
Posts: 19
| Have new project working on, he's high headed and runs on the bit, have been working on flexing laterally and vertically to try and get better control without tiedown etc. On average how long does it usually take for them to catch on and how often after do you re enforce those lessons. Also will this help with always trying to run off or speeding up and being on the muscle?
Thanks for input. |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
 
| I found out my high headed horse isn't nearly so high headed with a saddle that fits him well. When their back hurts they hollow their back, hence the high head. Not saying this is your problem, but you might check really thoroughly. My horse did not act like his saddle didn't fit except for the high head and reluctance to catch his right lead. Oh and if your saddle fits, then it could be his back is sore from the previous owner's saddle or bad seat when riding.
Edited by GLP 2015-02-25 2:54 PM
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  Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315
 
Location: East Tennessee but who knows?! | A lot of times a horse will carry their head high because they're not using their back muscles - they're hollowed in their back. If they start using their back and rounding it and using their hind end, the neck automatically comes down as a side effect of that.
When horses rush, a lot of times it's because they're not balanced -they're trying to catch themselves. Most of the times that also comes from their being hollowed out through their back.
If you teach a horse how to round their back and carry themselves - and help them build the muscle to do it - a lot of the rushing and high headedness will go away pretty quickly.
It's something I work on a lot, every ride. They have to maintain those muscles. |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | What type of bit are you using and were are your hands while riding him? |
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Tried and True
Posts: 21185
Location: Where I am happiest | You also have to keep in mind, some horses are naturally high headed because of the way the neck comes out of the shoulders. And nothing is going to change a horses conformation. |
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Expert
Posts: 1561
| You described our horse to a T.
Im here for more info and ill suggest what others have told us. |
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Member
Posts: 19
| As far as bit, using simple snaffle with oversized D ring. Have had his teeth done recently and been Chiro'd. Oh yea and another issue this guy is terrified of cows, I mean to the point of trembling of fear. Anythoughts on how to help with that? Other then these couple of issues he's really a sweet guy and wants to learn is just do scared all the time. |
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Tried and True
Posts: 21185
Location: Where I am happiest | wjbracer - 2015-02-25 3:29 PM As far as bit, using simple snaffle with oversized D ring. Have had his teeth done recently and been Chiro'd. Oh yea and another issue this guy is terrified of cows, I mean to the point of trembling of fear. Anythoughts on how to help with that? Other then these couple of issues he's really a sweet guy and wants to learn is just do scared all the time.
We had a mare that was scared to death of cows like this. Shaking, trembling, then would flat just try to leave. So we put her in the round pen with 2 cows and left them. She lived with them for a month in that round pen. She got over it. It was beyond her worst nightmare the first week or so and no, she didnt eat even though there was ALOT of hay available at all times.She was to busy standing there against the wall staring at them. Fact I dont think she drank for a day or 2 either and every time they moved, oh man! By the end of the first week she was getting over it. Then when she finally figured out THEY would move off and away of HER, it was a game changer. |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12841
| My suggestions is a German martingale. I use a Jr cowhorse, goosetree delight or ed wright short shank. All three of these bits are very much alike and seem to work well. I actually run the paint in the German martingale because he roots with his nose. It is going to take awhile to get the horse head broke so don't expect it to happen in a week. |
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Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315
Location: East Tennessee but who knows?! | wjbracer - 2015-02-25 3:29 PM As far as bit, using simple snaffle with oversized D ring. Have had his teeth done recently and been Chiro'd. Oh yea and another issue this guy is terrified of cows, I mean to the point of trembling of fear. Anythoughts on how to help with that? Other then these couple of issues he's really a sweet guy and wants to learn is just do scared all the time.
Tracking cows (following them) is the absolute best thing in the world to get over that. The ranch clinics I've gone to that's what they've always had folks do that have horses that are scared of cattle. Helps build their confidence and it encourages curiosity. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 239
| I am riding one like this right now. She is 8 and is extremely strong, but goes around with her wither down and head up. Also very stiff.
It has taken me almost 15 rides to get her now where she will lope off with her head below her withers. I use mostly feet to get their head down but will get in their face if I have to. I use alternating movement with my hands rather than a steady pull and lots of leg to push forward.
It should help with running off too as a previous poster said, once they pick their withers up and are using their hind end properly they don't have to scramble to get going.
It is a long journey and I am not so patient, LOL! But once they get strong enough to pick up their withers and use their body properly they become a lot more handy. |
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Expert
Posts: 3147
| I sent my young horse to a trainer and she was very high headed when he first got her. She had been ridden about 30 days total before he got her. After two weeks she was riding with her head in a low relaxed position-no draw reins, running martingale, etc. She was high headed because she hadn't been ridden enough to relax, trust the rider and wait for his cues. The more she's been ridden the lower her head has gotten. |
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 Coyote Country Queen
Posts: 5666
| ThreeCorners - 2015-02-25 3:19 PM
You also have to keep in mind, some horses are naturally high headed because of the way the neck comes out of the shoulders. And nothing is going to change a horses conformation.
I agree. I have two geldings that naturally carry their head higher. I don't expect them to travel with their head low all the time, because that's just not how they're made. But I do work on traveling long and low, and flexing at the wither. I think that getting their heads down has helped build their back muscles which allows them to travel more consistently with their head lower. It also helps them to relax.
One of my geldings is respectful of the bit, and even if his head is up he still flexes at he poll and responds to the bit. The other, who had some issues when we bought him, will put his head up in an effort to evade the bit. If he does this, I ask him to go long and low, flexing at the wither. This makes him relax and listen to me. The problem with a horse that has learned to respond to the bit by putting their head up is that it seems like they never truly forget that and it takes a lot of work to retrain that response, followed by a lot of work to reinforce it so they don't revert back. I could probably put a tie down on him, but I don't think this will fix the issue, just be a crutch. I will say however that when ridden with a tie down he does seem more relaxed, and I think it's because he can't get his head up. So in certain situations he is ridden with a tie down, but for everyday riding I leave it off. I also think a martingale would be beneficial for a horse like this because it constantly reinforces the head down response from the bit.
As far as how long it takes one to get over this, we have owned the gelding with issues for over 4 years, and I'm still working on the long and low regularly. And that's why I said earlier that sometimes they never forget that head up response. If you haven't already, you might have his teeth looked at to see if the high head is in response to a pain issue in the mouth. And like was mentioned, look into saddle fit and anything else that might be causing this. The longer that the comes up, the more engrained that response will become. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 669
Location: Central Texas | ThreeCorners - 2015-02-25 3:19 PM
You also have to keep in mind, some horses are naturally high headed because of the way the neck comes out of the shoulders. And nothing is going to change a horses conformation.
This is definitely something to consider. My gelding is a little high headed and it stems from how his neck comes out of his shoulders. He will collect for you all day and back clear across the pasture with a nice rounded back but he is high headed. I won't try and change that. |
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High headed horses Question