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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 516
| I have a 6 year old cutting reject that's cruising a great pattern, slow works great, broke super well and vet checked clean.
He works his little butt off and loves his job but he's pretty high headed during a run, especially going into the first barrel which sometimes throws off our positioning. He drops it right away once we go to turn but setting up initially gets difficult because his head is so dang high. He's currently running in a short shank Jim Warner.
Are there any tools/drills you guys use for your high headed horses? I can get him to give to my hands no problem in slow work but during a run that's the last thing I'm worried about.
He's kind of an anxious horse anyway so I'm sure that has something to do with his high head, especially with the pressure of competition, but he slow works so well that I'm not sure how to fix it. 
Any tips appreciated! 
Edited by WiscoRacer 2017-08-29 10:24 PM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 534
Location: Ohio girl moved to PA | Im sure ill get bashed for this, but, try a tie down. You dont need to crank it down, just enough that he knows its there. I have one horse that i absolutly CANNOT ride without one or else i will end up leaving with a broken nose. Hes been to a professional trainer and hes fine when its on. But the moment he knows its off. BOOM in your face. Start with a super soft noseband and see how he does. if he learns he cant put his head up then maybe eventually hell get to the point where you wont need to put it on him anymore. Good luck! |
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 Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
 
| I have to use a tie-down on my old horse. He rides around like a pleasure horse in the warm up pen, head down, collected, but when it's Go Time, his ol' head comes up and without the tie-down, he loses focus going into 1st barrel. As you can see, it's not real tight, but it keeps his head out of my lap going into the arena.
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Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| And he can stretch out just fine. |
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 Serious Snap Trapper
Posts: 4275
Location: In The Snow, AZ | My mare cannot make a barrel run without her tie down. She gets strung out, head up, hollowed out and legs everywhere. But can make a flawless pole run without one, and works out home without one fine and level headed. A lot of people think it's a crutch, but it works for her. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 516
| I ride him in a hack because he feels "trapped" in a bit. He's a super touchy and sensitive horse, I fear a tie down would really make him uncomfortable but I suppose I wont know until I try.
Was hoping there's something else I could try, like drills or relaxation techniques before I throw more equipment on him. |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7268
| I'm guessing you've already had his teeth checked?
Maybe try a shadow roll - yes, it's more equipment but it's something simple to try. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 516
| Griz - 2017-08-30 11:14 AM
I'm guessing you've already had his teeth checked?
Maybe try a shadow roll - yes, it's more equipment but it's something simple to try.
Yes his teeth are fine. He runs in a hack anyway. Never thought about a shadow roll for a barrel horse. |
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Expert
Posts: 1695
Location: Willows, CA | Every horse is a little different, but when you say he loses focus when his head is up I would assume that he is also losing collection. They can't have their head elevated and be collected at the same time unless they are built pretty weird. An old horseman that I knew years ago said "When a horse puts his nose in the air, his brains go out his ass". I always felt this was true. If he works better collected on the rest of the run, he should have the ability to do so at the start. I am not a tie down guy, and have not had a horse that needed one. That does not mean that there aren't some that do, but I would focus on collection first.
Edited by winwillows 2017-08-30 5:32 PM
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 602
| Is he high headed when working slow at home? Some horses are high headed due to confirmation. Throw him in a round pen or on a lunge line and see if his natural head placement is high. It could be as simple as that. |
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Duct Tape Bikini Girl
Posts: 2554
| I didn't read all of this, but I love a high headed horse. Go natural. |
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boon
Posts: 1
Location: Oregon | Try a leather chin strap. Chain chin straps ask the horse to lift their head. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 516
| Thanks for the suggestions! He does have a naturally high head set as it is, which is another reason I didnt want to put a tie down on. I actually switched him back to a bit for our last race and really focused on dropping his head and relaxing. Seemed to help more than I thought it would so I'll stick with that for awhile.
I will also try a leather curb, makes sense to me! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 966
Location: Loco,Ok | Quit pulling on his head. Most all unless it is conformation are made high headed by the rider.How does he move loose in a pen or pasture running and playing.When they loose focus. It's because they can't see where they are going.. If head is up so are their eyes. Horses see out of the side of their head. Not in front like humans. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 516
| clampitt - 2017-09-03 2:53 PM
Quit pulling on his head. Most all unless it is conformation are made high headed by the rider.How does he move loose in a pen or pasture running and playing.When they loose focus. It's because they can't see where they are going.. If head is up so are their eyes. Horses see out of the side of their head. Not in front like humans.
I wish he was an automatic barrel horse, but unfortunately that's just not the case so I have to guide him to the first barrel 
I have light hands anyway but not directing him just isn't an option. |
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High headed horse