|
|
 Member
Posts: 25
| Im so unsure what to do. I have a five year old On The Money Red grandson. I have done all his training and I started him late because he wasn't growing properly. But late last season and lately he as the worst head set. he breaks at the poll ect. Iv tried training forks but he pulls against him and then sense he has a light mouth he starts backing still with his head in the air. I have rode him in a tie down and im scared he will start to rely on a tiedown or sense he is so touchy with his face it will hold him back. what should I do?? |
|
| |
|
The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
  
| I never worry about head set if their nose is pointing to the ground. You horse may just have a natural high head set.
I also don't use tiedown on young horses as I find it be ones a Clutch for both horse and rider.
Why do you think his head needs to be lower, is his head impeding his movement?
I don't want my barrel horses to carry their head like a pleasure horse, I want them to carry it where it is most comfortable for them.
Edited by cheryl makofka 2014-03-16 11:27 AM
|
|
| |
|
  Northern Chocolate Queen
Posts: 16576
Location: ND | IMO if he's pulling against you when you he does not have a light/soft mouth. A soft horse gives to the pressure, they do not argue with it. Up until the last couple years I did a lot of showing so I'm pretty fanatical about my horses being able to collect up properly & work in frame. That has been the hardest thing for me to completely let go of now that I'm competing in mounted shooting. I still teach all of my horses proper collection BUT when they are on a pattern they can carry themselves however they need to so that they can be balanced & perform their best. I teach them the basic foundation with collection & once they are ready to go on patterns I trust them to find their own balance point. Each horse is an individual some are simply higher headed due to their conformation. Some will travel with their nose out & some will stay more vertical...........BUT if this is newer behavior for your horse & he used to work more framed up I'd suspect he's hollowing out & throwing his head up due to soreness, possibly in his back or hocks. |
|
| |
|
 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 417
Location: CA | Nose in, head up is usually a means of avoidance, not suppleness. Sounds more like he's evading the bit instead of giving to it.
ETA If this is a new thing that he's doing, it might help to have his teeth checked.
Edited by Grunt 2014-03-16 7:07 PM
|
|
| |
|
Itchy Boobs
Posts: 360
| I'm currently working through this exact same issue! |
|
| |
|
 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1092
Location: OK | Sometimes this is a saddle fit issue if a horse won't put his head down. Hollowing the back causes them to walk around like a goose kinda. |
|
| |
|
Location: Texas | I'd check saddle fit, and his teeth. Also what type of bit are you using? |
|
| |
|
Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| This will be the first season I run without a tie down...why? My saddle fits now. The last few rides in my crown c have been like a different horse! I leave on a business trip Tuesday and he'll be wearing his new PHT sheet while I'm gone. I can't wait to get back and ride him after that, hopefully working out the last signs of soreness from poor fitting saddles.
I hack around at home in a myler d ring comfort snaffle and will do slow work and lope throughs in this as well. We run in a josey go round.
It sounds like he either hurts somewhere, or he has never been taught to accept a bit - is this a new issue? |
|
| |
Folks on-line