Help with Horse's Headset?

Question

Whenever I am working my horse in an arena, while going along the rail he always has his nose pushed into the side of the arena. When I try to get him to straighten out his head (push with inside leg, pull with inside rein) the leg pressure only makes him go faster and the pull from the rein makes him raise his head up in the air, stiffen up, and still have his nose pointed into the wall. Any ideas how I could fix this?

I've tried walking him in a tiny circle so that his nose would be to the inside and then gradually making the circle bigger in the hopes that he would still have his head relaxed by the time we got to the rail, but whenever we get past a certain point, he jerks his head to the side again.

Any ideas?

Answer 1

haha thats funny, i just had the same problem with my TB mare! its easy to fix, really. when you are going down the rail and he has his nose tipped out, take your inside rein and pull up and back, and press the rein into his neck just in front of his shoulder. this will align hin neck and help him track straight. when he goes straight, release him. when he tips his nose out again, do the same until he straightens out. then relase again. do this over and over and he'll catch on. my mare got it within the first day or two (which is AMAZING because she isnt really known for her brains... haha). try it, it might work, and it cant hurt to try! =]

Edit: when i say "pull up and back" i mean to 'block' that side by putting slight pressure on that rein and shifting the rein over the top of the neck. just clarifying.

Answer 2

UGH im sorry but i really dont like it when ppl refer to it as a "headset". It really doesnt even have much to do with their head. You need to try to stretch his topline out by doing what i like to call a stretchy circle. just go on an average 20 meter circle and little by little overbend him to the inside until re relaxes and stretches his neck down. When he gives to you like this immediately relax the rein contact and praise him. Dont just pull on the rein either. without the proper movement from his hind and back, this will just make him twist his head to the inside. After you do it to the inside overbend him to the outside of the circle in a counterbend. Once he relaxes his neck and back for you on that side, just repeat it to the inside until you are getting a nice consistent stretch all the way around the circle. Do this in both directions, and if you still need a bit extra try a very light leg yield to move him in and out on the circle. This will keep him moving lateraly and help you get the stretch. Once you can get him consistently straight and stretching on the circle then you can move to the rail and try it. It may not work right away but keep working with him like this consistently and youll have it in no time.

Trust me my TB used to be the same way, and we just did this and a few other helpful excercises and now he goes down on the bit and is stretching down straight and forward by the end of warm up! just rememer that its more about the movement through his topline that keeps him straight rather than whats going on with his head. i really hope this helps good luck!

Answer 3

start doing "shoulder fore"

this is done by pulling his nose into the center of the ring, but keeping lots of contact on the outside reign. then you use your inside leg to keep him on the rail. this way, he will get used to going straight but bending his neck the correct way, instead of counter flexion

Answer 4

Get off the rail and work on keeping the horse round and on the bit at all times.  He may be balancing himself on the rail because he is not using the outside reign.  

If he pulls and wants to jerk his head to the side when he is working in hand, do a change through the circle or a half circle.  Or - *as soon as* he jerks his head, do a change through the circle or a half circle.  He should eventually learn that jerking his head equals more work for him.  After the change, reward him and push him forward when he is in hand and not stiff.  If he stiffens and jerks again, do another change through the circle or half circle.   Keep repeating until he does not do it anymore.  It sounds like he may not be trained so it will take time to get him to not do that.

Answer 5

is your horse young??

when my horse was green she did that what you are doing is right but just tighten up on your reins more to prevent your horse from speeding up. you can also try flexing your horse's neck and that may help. or you could just bring your horse down to the walk and work on using your inside leg and rein at the walk until your horse keeps his head straight then move up to the  trot and work on it..