HOw can i get my horse to do this!!!!?

Question

soooooo ive just started training my horse for western pleasure.when loping him i massaged/jiggeled the reins in his mouth unitil he droped his head. its working some what well. but for the collection and speed issue he wiill not collect and slow down. ive tryed circles, but they seem to make him want to go FASTER. also somtimes when i jiggle the reins he tosses his head up and stuff. (im usin a tomb thumb). HOW can i get him to collect ans slow down!? also is there any other ways to get him to drop his head????

Answer 1

equus said it and in case you don't get it, 11 others have thumbs up'd it.  (Because it's a great answer)

Stop looking for an easy way and do it right!

Answer 2

Throw that tom thumb in the garbage.  He speeds up on the circles to maintain his balance.  I see so many western pleasure horses that move on the forehand for the sake of having their noses on the ground.  If you jiggle the reins to make him drop his head, he is avoiding the bit and jiggling the reins is no way to get collection.  I have worked with Arabian western pleasure horses.  The right form was achieved through dressage techniques and a snaffle.  You need to teach him to collect at a trot (jog).  When you canter him, keep him in large circles and don't be nervous yourself or hold your breath.  He needs to get over what the tom thumb did to him.  Let him relax and slow down himself and then you can work on collection.  Get some dressage books that describe proper collection so he can get some balance.  Good luck.

Answer 3

I really debated with myself in answering this question............I have tried on at least 3 different occasions to help you achieve what you are looking for but my suggestions haven't been what you have wanted to hear as the"best answers" have been shortcuts, simple, temporary fixes and here we are 3 weeks later asking the same question........the only way you are going to get results is to "go back to basics" first, put your horse in a plain, copper-mouthed snaffle, get rid of the tom thumb......its not one of my favorite bits and has a nutcracker effect. secondly...you need to do ground work, your horse is not soft and flexible or balanced as he speeds up in his circles. If you have access to a round pen you need to bit up this horse as to teach how to give to pressure, he needs to learn how to move in a bitting rig and learn a new balanced way of moving engaging his hindquarters, lifting his shoulders, rounding his back and using his neck for balance, he needs to learn to do this without you on his back. Once he is lifting, bending, driving from his hind end correctly then you can go back to riding. Then this is where circles will help as doing different sizes, figure eights, stopping, backing, pivots, turn on the forehand, turn on the haunches.....these are exercises that help you create a responsive, light, supple horse...there are NO easy shortcuts and doing your training half way or skipping steps just leaves you where you are...........