How to get a better headset?

Question

I have a new foxtrotter that I use for trail riding. I am having his teeth checked this week. When gaiting he seems rather high headed with his nose out in front. Can I use a training fork with a leverage bit to encourage a lower headset? Any suggestions? Every now and then he will toss his head.

Answer 1

When you have a problem with a horse's headset, the answer is NOT more elaborate / powerful hardware to force his head into the desired position. The head toss you are getting may be your horse already uncomfortable with whatever bit you are using or how you are handling it.

Each horse has an ideal headset it can achieve. You can attain this headset by working with your horse to develop the muscles and mindset it needs to have to assume its own best possible headset. Hardware and force will just increase the horse's anxiety and make your work harder.

Here are some things to consider...

Many horses are afraid of the bit and become high headed due to rough hands from the rider. It can be painful for us to admit that we are too hard handed, but in many cases, the nervousness that leads to high headed horses comes from us pulling on or yanking on a bit - or from a too harsh bit in the mouth of the horse. Been there and done that and had to work a long time to get rid of it.

Your horse is new to you. He may not know or trust you yet. He may feel he needs to keep his head high to look for threats because he does not know if you can protect him. Nothing but time and experience can cure this. I'd suggest reading "Horses Don't Lie" by Chris Irwin to get some perspective on what makes horses afraid and what can lead them to trust you.

If your horse is new to the trail, remember that the trail is a spooky scary place to a horse, filled with potential predators. You will not calm your horse by trapping his head. You need to help him gain confidence in you as a leader who will keep him safe. See the above. Also, Stacey Westfall has a great trail riding video that offers a lot of help with ways to "despook" your horse.

Your horse may be extending his gait too much (which leads to him poking his nose out) because he is afraid or because he lacks the muscles to collect properly. If it's the muscles, lateral work (half-pass, side pass, etc.) can help, along with specific collection exercises you can get from your instructor or trainer.

Keep in mind that the horse's headset is body language, not disobedience, and you need to pay attention to what it is saying if you want to attain the kind of control you need.

I hope this helps!

-- Some more tips based on your additional comments --

Two weeks is not a long time to get to know a horse or vice versa. I'd suggest spending as much time as possible halter walking your horse around the property and in the arena. During this work, let the horse look around and smell everything you safely can. This will help him gain confidence in you and his new home.

Try to work with your horse in the arena for 15-20 mins before going on the trail. Repeatedly start and stop the horse. Do all gait transitions in both directions. Do small circles in both directions. Stop at various times. Get the horse listening to you in the arena before you leave and the horse may be able to relax earlier.

If your horse starts to speed up, turn him in a 180 degree turn toward the arena wall and then back in the direction you came from. Repeating this every time usually shows the horse that increasing speed is a waste of time and just leads to more work. And the focus it needs to perform the manuver takes its mind off its fears.

Try to do as much as possible of this manuvering with legs rather than reins. That effort may surprise you and show that you are using more rein than you think.

Keep trying - the rewards are terrific!

Answer 2

If you don't listen to Mark C, I'm going to beat you with a big stick!!!!