Head too high...

[maaarylynn]

As you can see, my mare carries her head very high. I ride her in a snaffle, although she's very strong and forward going. Walking is fine, but as soon as I ask her to trot, her head goes up and she's off. I usually ride her in a running martingale, but I've taken it off now as it seems to make no difference. I've had her since she was 9, and as far as I know she was only used for hacking before I got her, so I suspect she's never had much schooling. I've lunged her in side reins once, which she didn't appreciate, and she was a bit better when I rode her immediately afterwards, but it had no lasting effect. Recently we've been doing loads of circle work in walk and trot as she's very stiff on one side, and she does tend to relax her head after about half an hour. The only problem is that I can't spend half an hour doing circles in walk and trot before going out for a ride or jumping! I keep her at home, so I can only ride in the field when it's dry; otherwise it's just roadwork Any advice?

[florence]

I think you're going to need to go right back to basics for this one as it seems she's she doesn't really know what you want. It's going to be difficult to correct quickly as you need to get all the muscles in shape without causing her any discomfort. If I were you, I'd find a good instructor to come and give you some lessons whilst you have the field to ride in. Make sure she gives you lots to work on in between lessons so you get as far as possible with her, as in the winter you won't be able to have your lessons in the field and you're going to have to do some schooling whilst hacking or hire some time in a school if there's one nearby.

[fimacg]

OMG she could be Dexter's Twin.... is she about 16hh and from Ireland originally?



1st things 1st, have you had her teeth checked, she may be evading a sore bit in her mouth
secondly, she may be uncomfortable in the bit she is in have you checked it for any signs of wear and tear. Finally have you had her back and saddle checked as if she is experiencing pain in her back she would carry her head high.

Have you tried lunging in a pessoa as that will encourage them to work down into the bridle more, but I agree with the others that getting a good instructor will be key, you could also try a hanging cheek snaffle as that will apply a little more poll pressure to encourage her to drop her head and may also help with the brakes too.

Horse and rider mag have done an article this month on common bit evasions so it may be worth seeing what they suggest too.

[fimacg]

meant to add that Dexter had a similar problem (before he was retired) and I changed his bit to a straight bar happy mouth hanging cheek bit and it definately helped,

A further thought is if you are having to constantly hold her and it is a single jointed snaffle the nut-cracker effect of the bit on her tounge and palette may be the reason why she is lifting her head, so a straight bar/mullen mouth bit or double jointed bit i.e. french link or one with a lozenge in the middle may lessen her desire to put her head up.

[brigadier]

Hi Maarylyn
she looks really nice- balanced conformation. The above advice is really sound, Id go down the instructor route and also look at a bit that does not ask the horse to raise its head such as a mullen mouth etc as above - she has done this for some time looking at her musculature so she needs gentle persuasive work- although side reins will work they will also make her uncomfortable and other evasions will creep in as she doesnt have the muscles on her topline to support an outline just yet. Have a read of some of suzii's posts where Ive done a reply as to how to encourage the horse to soften its jaw. This will help her understand what you are asking when you are doing your suppling work, serpentines are fab as are small cirles working off a large one both to the inside and outside. Time spent on suppling now will really help her hacking and jumping.
If you find the head carriage a bit too dangerous out hacking (poss bloody nose etc) then I would consider a harbridge to use for this purpose only. Its a gadget so should only be used to help not to sort out the problem. Shires do them but are pricey or an alternative is on the below link (much cheaper)
stopthathorse.com/rearstop/rearstop.php
good luck
brig

[maaarylynn]

Thanks everyone She's ridden in a hollow loose ring snaffle, used to be an eggbutt snaffle but had to change due to wear and tear! I have to admit I know next to nothing about bits, I just wanted something that's easy on her mouth. As regards teeth/back, I'll have to do something about that soon. I want her checked over by a vet anyway as she's started choking/coughing when ridden, so I want to get that sorted out. I'm hoping to get a few lessons, but struggling a bit as freelance instructors don't seem to exist around here, and I'm rather poor right now That also means no gadgets...on that note, I'm not sure about whether using side reins is a good idea, as I've heard they can cause harm...but a soaking wet field means lunging is out of the question right now anyway. Once the ground dries up a bit I'll be able to get back to the basics with her, I'll have to stay strong and keep away from the jumping!

Fimacg - Dexter and Molly do look really alike! Molly is only about 14.3-15hh, but I live in Ireland and as far as I know she was bred here and has foaled at least once. Do you know what part of Ireland he came from? What age is he?

[fimacg]

Maaarylynn, Dexter is 7, but no idea where he came from in Ireland as I bought him from a dealer here in Scotland, he is now a companion because 3 months after I bought him he was diagnosed as a wobbler.

I don't know why but I have a really strong feeling that this problem is caused by her mouth/bit please get her teeth checked...

[maaarylynn]

Hmm, I doubt there's any connection, although they do look scarily alike!

Yeah, I really need to get the dentist out as she's never had her teeth checked in the four years I've had her! When I first got her I assumed the head carriage was just the way she was, but I'm starting to think differently. I'll get her checked out as soon as possible!

[ceej]

I agree - definately rule out the physical as it is an un-natural carriage....after that, as brigs said...slowly really as she will be 'set' a bit in that way!

teeth first.... ;D

[zara]

If after having her teeth checked then i would advise ditching the single jointed bit and trying a french link or if you can get one / afford one, a Myler comfort snaffle. Some horses, particularly those with big fleshy tongues, cannot tolerate a single jointed bit and the improvement can be amazing! When i bought AJ he was in a single jointed hanging cheek snaffle, he was often rude and found it difficult to keep his outline. I then tried a Mullen mouth pelham as i rode my previous arab in one for years and she went really well in it. All was OK for a while but then he just seemed a little unsettled in it, snatching, tossing his head etc, it was at this point I got a Myler and we've never looked back, good luck Zx

[Becca]

back check
teeth check
tack check
french link check

not much more for me to say, other than definately try find out if there is a problem before you try get her working or she will really fight you.

goo luck, let us know how it goes

[fimacg]

I had a wee look in horse and rider magazine as they were doing common bit evasions, and for a head carried too high they provided the folloing info:
1) could be caused by action of single jointed bit
2) bit could be too thick (if you are using a hollow mouth snaffle it might be worth re-thinking your bit after teeth checks

recommended using a double jointed bit with a lozenge in the middle of a thinner bit or a fillet baucher bit - i.e. hanging cheek,