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My horse keeps putting her head down while im riding, what should i do?

69K views 41 replies 20 participants last post by  LoveTheSaddlebreds 
#1 ·
Every time i ride my horse, she keeps putting her head down. I pull her head up, and keep her going but she keeps doing it. I know she is trying to get away from the bit, so she doesn't have to work. Any suggestions will be great!:D
 
#2 ·
My instructor used to put me on a pony that would put his head down, stop, and buck. Whenever he put his head down, she told me to give him a pop in the mouth with the reins. Just take one rein, pull it up quickly and sort of harshly, and then put it back into normal position again. Keep doing this, and she might get the point. Not sure though, because the pony I rode was bucking, so if she's not bucking it might not help. I don't know. lol.
 
#3 ·
Anticipate the head down move and stop the horse from doing it........ or try changing bits or riding in a bosal or hackamore....
 
#4 ·
AWW54- thanks for the advice, i will try that tomorrow! :D
Citrus- I have only used one bit on her, and she doesnt like it at all. I did buy her a bit-less bridle, but it didnt fit her big head. It so hard to find stuff thats fits her! LOL
 
#5 ·
You can try the half-halt, that always works with any horse I'm riding who starts to get heavy on my hands.

If she's putting her head right down, kick her to go on and kind of pop her, like AngelWithoutWings suggested. My old pony used to do that, to try and eat grass, and that's basically how we got over that.
 
#6 ·
Today i was "smacking" her when she put her head down. pulled the reins up if that didnt work. When i did that she was kinda of surprised and went. Then she just did it again. She wasnt trying to eat grass. She would have her head down and was pulling against the reins. she had her mouth open wide(like she was yawning) and i could hear her move the bit with her tongue. This is the first time she has constantly done this.
 
#8 ·
she just a little booger thats all;) hahaha. jk.
Thats probably what it is. Or that she is just lazy and doesnt want to work? So shes trying to get out of it.
Im getting her a roller bit this weekend. and soon after that a bit-less bridle.
 
#42 ·
Getting a bitless bridle is avoiding the problem and she will never get over her issues with the bit. You HAVE to confront the problem, or it will always be there.


The 'yawning' thing sounds like a mouth problem, you may want her looked at. If its not, then theres a simple fix. A lot of people agreed with the jerking the rein thing, but I don't really like that because if the horse hates the bit now, she's gonna hate it more jerking her mouth. When she does this, turn her head to the side, keep your inside leg on her butt and yield her hindquarters REALLY fast. make her spin as fast and as energetic as possible. If she feels like she's tiring, then push her really hard for like 3 extra seconds then let her stop and move forward again. This makes her have to move her feet really fast and work hard - her punishment for misbehaving. When you pull her head over, bring your hand to your hip or knee. Make sure you raise her head - even just a little from where it was. Also, if she gets lazy while youre trying to get her to spin, use a crop and whack her butt with it. And switch off when you spin, like if she's bad the first time, then spin one way, the next time, spin another. And if she fights going the way you tell her, then push harder, don't give in.
 
#11 ·
Don't pull on her. Pulling on her mouth will encourage her to lean more on your hands. If she's pulling her head down in an attempt to pull the reins out of your hand, sit back and drive her forward. Horses moving forward cannot put their heads down.

Good luck!!
 
#17 ·
She's probably going on the forehand, my pony does that sometimes too and I used to ride a horse (awhile back) that always did that. Do LOTS of transitions and half halts, as another person already pointed out. Just do tons of lengthening/shortening the stride, half halts, and upward/downward transitions. Trying to lift your horses head up with the reins most likely won't work.
 
#18 ·
nope it really didnt. i didnt think of doing half halts while i was riding her earlier.
the only think i did was give a leg or a smack with the riding crop and it surprised her and she jerked her head right back up. then she just dropped it again.
Thank you for the advice! :)
 
#20 ·
Have her teeth done before you do anything else with her, and also have someone experienced check her bit and bridle for fit. Gaping the mouth and trying to suck her tongue back off the bit is a solid indicator that there is something not right in her mouth.

Pulling is basically ineffective. Look at the muscle in her neck compared to your arms. There is no way you can pull her head up. Put your leg on to get her head up. Get her going forwards, raise your hands up and forward to encourage her head up so she's running around above the vertical for now. When she will work with her head up, and off the forehand, you can start to work with a good coach to refine it all and start getting her to come onto the bit.

Also try changing direction frequently, she can't turn sharply when she's hauling down on the reins!
 
#21 ·
WOW! This is hitting home because as of late last week my horse has been doing the same thing, in addition, he's biting at his chest. Its really obnoxious beause he throws himself way off balance by putting his head so low. And then he trips. I showed this to the trainer at my barn and my friend, they both said theyve never seen it before. He's almost dragging his head as if grazing but not. FYI I tried it in his western bridle and english, 2 way different bits. Still did it. What I've been doing is half halting harshly, or keeping him busy (ie: doing directed circles around jumps or barrels and when he does it I keep my inside leg on him to turn, but pop the outside rein. It seems to help a little. And after a long ride he stops doing it. I anticipate and try to correct AS HE DOES IT. I will be following this thread..
 
#22 ·
My dear one just started pulling this. Going away from home when he realizes where we are headed down goes the head poor me like, in all fairness he does not do this when we first start this is always toward put up time. I found it hilarious, first (I am dumb) I thought omg I got him too tired but mi goodness turn around for home and up his head goes and he goes into 3rd shift. He is funny. He also used to be in the ring and nowdays western pleasure "kiss" the dirt so I also originally thought he had reverted to show behavior.
 
#23 ·
I haven't read all the responses, but when my mare did this my instructor said not to touch her face. I was told not to pull her back up, raise my hands, pick up more contact, etc.

I was told to push her up with my legs every time she dropped her head and drive her forward. It worked really well.
 
#24 ·
Pro, legs are definitely the first step, but if you have a rider on board who doesn't have the skill to do that, you need a little influence with the hands as well. Pulling does nothing, but increasing the leverage on the bit by raising the hands can give you a little more power and incentive for the horse to raise its head, in strong conjunction with the driving leg. Using rein aids is ineffective without driving aids.
 
#26 ·
Bundy recently started going along for a few strides with his head brushing the ground. he only does it out on trails.

I just let him do it. It seems to me he does it to stretch his back out. As longas I wasn't asking for anything, i just let him do it and he soon comes back up. He hasn't done it when we are actually working yet.
 
#27 ·
My mare does this when she's nervous or really working and thinking hard. I usually just use my legs and seat to drive her forward as others have mentioned. In addition I also wiggle the inside rein a little to get her attention and basically tell her to knock it off ;)

If it continues I'll ask her to do something she knows well like halt to walk and walk to trot basic transitions until she chills out...then go back to the new skill we were working on.
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