Horse headset too low

Question

We just bought a new horse, 5 yr old paint, outstanding temperment and gorgeous floating gaits, started dressage etc. However, my trainer rode him tonight, first night on the ground and he just wants to drop his head. No buck. Just wants to ride like a western pleasure peanut roller. So I know from videos I have that he knows how to hold his head but we can't get him to keep it up. He just wants to scoop dirt as he goes along. What can we do to keep his head up without resorting to harsh means? His mouth is pretty soft and we don't want to change that. He feels just the slightest twitch of the reins for direction, only problem is headset waaaaay to low and he fights over changing it.

Answer 1

Why would you want to change his headset? Some horses have conformation that makes it much more comfortable to carry their heads at a lower level (like western pleasure horses). If you try to bring his head up you would be forcing the horse into an unnatural frame. I don't really see a reason why anybody would want a horse that runs around with their head in the air and I don't see a reason you would need it higher.

Answer 2

We put our horses in a bitting rig and work them from the ground in the exercise ring.  The rig is adjustable so you can give him the head set you prefer.  After he is acustomed to the head set you select he will know where to hold his head when you ride him by the way you hold the reins.  The bitting rig is like a harness without tug straps.

Answer 3

tighten up the reins so he can't get to the ground..and if you want his head up more. pull on the reins right left right left.. gently and he should know what to do.

to be honest. its better to have his head down a little then to have it roaming around looking around because when the horses head is set for western pleasure that means the horse is focused but when the horse it out looking around its going to get more scared of things around it then just going for a nice ride.

Answer 4

Try starting from the beginning.

When you first get on him to ride, collect his head up before you tall him to start walking. if he's been dressage trained, then he should know to collect his head higher... so try collecting him the hole time. and he should do better for you. if he starts getting his head down there again, just lightly give him a little tug and push with your hips a bit, he should get the clue without you having to resort to anything more.

Good Luck with your new horse! he sounds like a winner!!