Why does my horse keep lowering his head when I canter him?

Question

He didn't do this when I first rode him, but he has been a little "stubborn" lately, and when I used the crop on him today, he actually bucked. He is a retired racehorse, out of the business for about three years. Is he just getting lazy and needs to be worked. SHould I get a strap to hold his head up?

Answer 1

no strap is going to "hold his head up"

my advice would be to lift your hands SLIGHTLY above "normal" and ride him foreward.

also, check you saddle/bridle fit.

he is either being lazy, can't balance himself (so hes using his head to balance) or is evading contact...

you have to decide which one since we can't tell through a computer

EDIT: thanks, I'm sure I've been riding longer then you, and I've been retraining OTTBs for years, i know what a standing martingale is, and i know they re DANGEROUS and they won't keep his head UP! yes it will stop him from stretching down so much BUT IT WONT FIX THE PROBLEM.

Standing martingales are incredibly dangerous, and I'm my opinion to risky to use, especially on an OTTB.

I still say you need to hold your contact and ride him fore ward, if you use your core muscles and sit up, he shouldn't be able to pull his head that far down.

Answer 2

Its ok if he is just lowing him, it probably feel more comfortable for him. I show western pleasure and my horse keeps him head down because he is trained to . There is nothing wrong with this as long as it is not to low , or he goes way down then comes back up kinda fast,, then he is pulling on the bit.

Answer 3

i think he is just stretching. The horses in training at my barn all stretch. It is a good thing that means that they are getting more flexible and can "round" more easily. Let him do it.

Answer 4

This could be a foot problem.  A horse will often do this if their front feet start getting tender.  Is he ridden barefoot and if so is his front feet perhaps a little short?

If not then I would go with eventers advice except that a piece of nylon (not the weak hemp)baling twine tied  from the top of the bridle to the saddle (oh that's right you would have an english saddle-darn) will hold the head up and get them out of the habit of lowering it.

Addition

We have a horse that began throwing its head down as nothing more than habit.  We checked everything we could think of to find why but it seems it didn't matter what bit we used or if we used a hack she would dip her head intermittently just to have something to do.  So we tied her head up on a few rides.  She seems to have just about knocked it off.

Answer 5

Did he buck before you used the crop, or has he? Maybe he's stretching into the saddle, and about to get really well collected? That's what my horse does, I just wait until she brings it back up and then go on, and usually she's more "there" if you know what I mean. You should see what happens if you just let him do his thing, if he bucks, starts getting mad, or brings his head up on his own (or many other things, just listing a few!).

Answer 6

A martingale will not help you. Martingales prevent the horse from throwing the head into the air, they allow the horse to stretch the head down, usually freely depending on how it is adjusted. Also, unless you are driving, there is no "strap" to hold a horse's head up. Generally speaking, where a horse carries his head depends on muscling, his level of training, whether he is working correctly or not, and whether he is comfortable physically, with his tack, and with his rider.

Is the horse diving/ rooting his nose down, or simply relaxing and stretching to the bit? A horse does not need to be trained to drop his head. A quiet rider allowing the horse to relax when he is working correctly from the hind end will naturally drop his head and come to the bit. If he is light in your hand, this is extremely desirable for any horse. If his head is down, his back is up, which means that he is starting to engage the correct muscles that will help him stay healthy and sound longer than if he's not working correctly. If a horse is tearing around the arena with it's head in the air, it means that the back is hollow, the horse is not relaxed, and is uncomfortable in some way.

However, if the horse is leaning on your hand in the canter and is very heavy in your hand, simply give a half-halt with the inside rein (or the rein that he tries to get away from more*) when the shoulders come up in the canter stride to help lighten the forehand. Note, if you use your inside rein when the shoulders are down in the canter stride, it should stop the canter, so timing is everything.

Answer 7

get his back, saddle and teeth checked. it could be that.

Answer 8

What he's probably trying to do is buck. Especially if he's pulling his head down towards the ground. There is no device made to keep your horse's head up. The best thing I can think to do is try not to let him put his head down. The one mare we have out at work tries to do this only when she is cantering in the arena. What I do  is try and pull and keep her head up, otherwise she's going to buck.

Answer 9

it could be that he's trying to buck, or trying to get the reins away from you to ether take off or wants a little slack.

Answer 10

hmm, well i show and a horse with a head down is actually favorable. it makes the horse look a lot prettier. he might be changing now. since hes bucking and now, maybe hes trying to make you happy by keeping his head down, since it is favorable after all. its probably a bit more comfortable as well. but if your noticing that hes bringing his head too down, like almost sniffing the ground just tug on your friends to lift it up. make sure your reigns are tight enough to feel his mouth

hope this helps (: