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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 378
 
Location: Saskatchewan | I've recently moved to where I have unlimited arena accesss (YAY), and my one young mare (4, with about 40 days total on her), is completely obsessed with having her nose almost in the dirt in the arena. I can understand smelling it a few times here or there, but even while I'm trotting her, she has her nose down like she's trying to smell the dirt lol
She isn't gaping her mouth like a horse that is evading the bit, and I ride her with a loose rein until she does it. I'm really not a fan of her dropping her head THAT low, but she does it every time I drive her forward and ask her to round up a bit.
She has yet to do such things out in the pasture, so do you think it's just cause she's bored and lazy in the arena?
I find it SUPER annoying, I don't want a WP horse, thank you very much lol. No one taught her this, she just started doing it on her own....
Should I be letting her put her head down and just add more leg, or pick her head up and get her moving?
This is her doing it:
Edited by QHriderKE 2016-07-25 2:28 PM
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 IMA No Hair Style Gal
Posts: 2594
 
| A dressage trainer taught me to use leg to get them to bring their head up. When I sit on my horse and stand there he would drop his head and pull on the bit, so I found myself naturally using my reins to pull his face back up. The guy that was helping me at the time said I need to use leg to get their heads up and he had me just do a light squeeze....bam...his head came up a lot easier than using my hands to pull on the bridle.
It is actually good to let them stretch out a bit, so I would maybe let her keep her head down each way for a little bit. Then once she is warmed up have her connect to the bit by using seat and leg to move her up into the bridle.
Also she looks nice and collected, which you can tell by how close the back feet move to her front feet. A horse that is on their front end will not have their back legs moving up under them and you will notice some space between their front and back feet. Not sure if what I am saying is making sense, as learning about proper movement is a very long process. I am still in the beginning stages. :) |
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IMA No Hair Style Gal
Posts: 2594
| I love what this video has to say about proper movement/what to look for/how to develop a horses back.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hokqRs9GbrI
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 378
Location: Saskatchewan |
So is this something I should be encouraging and just adding more leg to? |
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  Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | its not the arena dirt.. she is stretching out her back.. it can be a few things.....with her being young...proper saddle fit is something to look at while your at it.. but working low is a good exercise to do to develop her back.. but in lil intervels Id ask her to come up.. what bit are you using? a simple 3 piece snaffle works best.. you need to supple her and ask her to come up some BUT not pull back .. make sure you ask with your seat and legs and spurts to encourage her to raise her head into the bridle .. but we always before and after work thm low and stretching out.. Id keep a eye on it for her back could also be weak and so if she doesnt eventaully start working up more then id look further.. but always stretch them out and work low before and after and in between.. it gives them a break and their muscle a break.. her topline will develop nicely as wel..she has a nice overstride.. thats not collection ....check saddle and Bit though..and her back and check into strenghtening exercises .. has she always been like that during her 40 days? |
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IMA No Hair Style Gal
Posts: 2594
| Ultimately, you are the one that feels her movements. Based off the pictures it looks to me like she is stretching herself out which would be considered a good thing. If it were me, I would use a bit of leg and see how she responds and how it feels. That should bring her head up. She will tell you how much leg to use if her head comes up really high you used too much leg, if her head barely comes up use more leg.
I would be curious to watch a video of her walking and trotting to see how she is moving. |
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IMA No Hair Style Gal
Posts: 2594
| Bibliafarm - 2016-07-25 4:06 PM its not the arena dirt.. she is stretching out her back.. it can be a few things.....with her being young...proper saddle fit is something to look at while your at it.. but working low is a good exercise to do to develop her back.. but in lil intervels Id ask her to come up.. what bit are you using? a simple 3 piece snaffle works best.. you need to supple her and ask her to come up some BUT not pull back .. make sure you ask with your seat and legs and spurts to encourage her to raise her head into the bridle .. but we always before and after work thm low and stretching out.. Id keep a eye on it for her back could also be weak and so if she doesnt eventaully start working up more then id look further.. but always stretch them out and work low before and after and in between.. it gives them a break and their muscle a break.. her topline will develop nicely as wel..she has a nice overstride.. thats not collection ....check saddle and Bit though..and her back and check into strenghtening exercises .. has she always been like that during her 40 days?
Thanks! I am still learning all the correct dressage lingo....I guess I should say she is moving up under herself well....collection would technically be when they seek the bit and elevate onto their hind end correct? Which comes after learning and gaining the muscles of stretching out? |
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Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | Her being 4 id not worry to much at this point.. she needs to stretch her back .. but start asking more..our 4yr olds and 5 yr olds we stretch out alot during work.. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 378
Location: Saskatchewan | She only does it when I'm working her in circles or figure 8's or anything like that. Going down the pasture and stuff, she's never done it. I've always kind of bugged her to bring her head up a little (level with the wither at least), but I guess it won't hurt to slide some rein out and get after her with my leg a bit more, cause she is SUPER lazy in a pen.
I am using this bit, I use it on most of my horses: http://mediacdn.shopatron.com/media/mfg/9281/category_image/x01_450...
Edited by QHriderKE 2016-07-25 3:18 PM
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Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | magic gunsmoke - 2016-07-25 4:10 PM Bibliafarm - 2016-07-25 4:06 PM its not the arena dirt.. she is stretching out her back.. it can be a few things.....with her being young...proper saddle fit is something to look at while your at it.. but working low is a good exercise to do to develop her back.. but in lil intervels Id ask her to come up.. what bit are you using? a simple 3 piece snaffle works best.. you need to supple her and ask her to come up some BUT not pull back .. make sure you ask with your seat and legs and spurts to encourage her to raise her head into the bridle .. but we always before and after work thm low and stretching out.. Id keep a eye on it for her back could also be weak and so if she doesnt eventaully start working up more then id look further.. but always stretch them out and work low before and after and in between.. it gives them a break and their muscle a break.. her topline will develop nicely as wel..she has a nice overstride.. thats not collection ....check saddle and Bit though..and her back and check into strenghtening exercises .. has she always been like that during her 40 days? Thanks! I am still learning all the correct dressage lingo....I guess I should say she is moving up under herself well....collection would technically be when they seek the bit and elevate onto their hind end correct? Which comes after learning and gaining the muscles of stretching out?
MAGIC i am still learning barrel racing lingo lol.. 
Edited by Bibliafarm 2016-07-25 3:26 PM
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| What is her pedigree ...
At first glance she looks like a halter horse that some one
tried to make a WP horse out of ... and left her in a round
pen or arena with her head tied down for hours at a time or
used weighted reins on her .............. so when she goes
into an arena she drops that head ... . IMO ... she has had
more than 40 rides on her ... and your lazy statement falls
in the WP category..
Take note .. she is not flexed at the pole but has that
stringy stiff neck WP drag your nose you see at AQHA
events where they call it natural head carriage ...
here in tx/ok we call them peanut pushers ....lol
Take the bit out of her mouth and ride with a bosal and
get out of the arena to do your riding ... old learned training
habits are hard to untrain ... do lots of galloping ... not loping
... and bursts of speed ...
Good Luck ..
Edited by BARRELHORSE USA 2016-07-26 4:06 AM
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Expert
Posts: 4766
Location: Bandera, TX | Ahh, the horse that is aiming to please you. Yes, that is a form that very intelligent horses will take as a form of submission to you. Iv'e only had a few that would do it to the degree you've shown in the picture but it was all good.
Yes, add the leg the other above stated and get out on the trails or in the pasture to check fences. They will look up and out instead of totally focus on you and dropping into this submissive stance. |
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| uno-dos-tres! - 2016-07-26 5:30 AM
Ahh, the horse that is aiming to please you. Yes, that is a form that very intelligent horses will take as a form of submission to you. Iv'e only had a few that would do it to the degree you've shown in the picture but it was all good.
Yes, add the leg the other above stated and get out on the trails or in the pasture to check fences. They will look up and out instead of totally focus on you and dropping into this submissive stance.
ENJOY ...
https://youtu.be/rqyV9kGQpEc
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 378
Location: Saskatchewan | Here's a video from last night:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awvF2emS8ro
I've never put her in any kind of head or draw rein contraption, and the guy I had her at for her first few rides didn't use anything to that effect either. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 672
| QHriderKE - 2016-07-26 10:01 AM
Here's a video from last night:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awvF2emS8ro
I've never put her in any kind of head or draw rein contraption, and the guy I had her at for her first few rides didn't use anything to that effect either.
Honestly, the young horses that I've ridden that have reached their heads down like that were testing to see how far/long they could get their heads down and scheming to get a buck in. I thought it was innocent at first, until my colt had his head down and went to bucking and had way too much rein. His 1/2 sister did the same thing. It was about 30/40 rides in before they tried anything. I'm not saying that is what your colt is doing, but I would encourage a normal headset :) |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | BARRELHORSE USA - 2016-07-26 7:08 AM uno-dos-tres! - 2016-07-26 5:30 AM Ahh, the horse that is aiming to please you. Yes, that is a form that very intelligent horses will take as a form of submission to you. Iv'e only had a few that would do it to the degree you've shown in the picture but it was all good.
Yes, add the leg the other above stated and get out on the trails or in the pasture to check fences. They will look up and out instead of totally focus on you and dropping into this submissive stance. ENJOY ... https://youtu.be/rqyV9kGQpEc
Ha ha ha ha, that was a great video. That dressage horse made the Quarter look like a little pony. I loved it when the riders traded horses, the look on their faces ha ha ha..The Dressage dude looked like he was having a good time with that pony so relaxed and having fun, but the cowboy was a little tense looking on the Dressage more work for him but still had fun I bet, even leaving the ring the Dressage dude had the biggest smile, and the spins that was great. The dressage dude once he got the spin down I dont think he wanted to stop, lol.The cowboy had a bouncy spin, he looked happy to stop. Thanks for posing this USA it got a laugh out of me it was so cute and fun.. |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | QHriderKE - 2016-07-26 10:01 AM Here's a video from last night: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awvF2emS8ro I've never put her in any kind of head or draw rein contraption, and the guy I had her at for her first few rides didn't use anything to that effect either.
I dont understand why you are letting her get her head down, I would be picking her back up untill she learned not to do that anymore. And what do you have tied around your waist, looks like a rope to me  |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 672
| Southtxponygirl - 2016-07-26 10:26 AM
QHriderKE - 2016-07-26 10:01 AM Here's a video from last night: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awvF2emS8ro I've never put her in any kind of head or draw rein contraption, and the guy I had her at for her first few rides didn't use anything to that effect either.
I'm pretty sure it's the get down rope on her mecate? |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 378
Location: Saskatchewan | Southtxponygirl - 2016-07-26 10:26 AM
QHriderKE - 2016-07-26 10:01 AM Here's a video from last night: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awvF2emS8ro I've never put her in any kind of head or draw rein contraption, and the guy I had her at for her first few rides didn't use anything to that effect either.
It's the get down from my mecate. It's just looped through my belt.
Edited by QHriderKE 2016-07-26 10:31 AM
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | QHriderKE - 2016-07-26 10:30 AM Southtxponygirl - 2016-07-26 10:26 AM QHriderKE - 2016-07-26 10:01 AM Here's a video from last night: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awvF2emS8ro I've never put her in any kind of head or draw rein contraption, and the guy I had her at for her first few rides didn't use anything to that effect either. It's the get down from my mecate. It's just looped through my belt.
Thats what I was thinking its a get down rope but never saw it like that around a waist when I did use one it was tied to a string on the front of my saddle, and another way I saw it used was looped threw your belt so it would come unravel if your horse bucked you off or just got away from you. |
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