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how do I train my young horse to have that western pleasure head set?

5K views 18 replies 10 participants last post by  smrobs 
#1 ·
Hi there I have a 16hh quarterhorse mare that just turned four and was just started last month. She sometimes holds her head in that nice western pleasure head set but then looses it...wondering what I could do to work on it...and make her do it all the time. My trainer says not to involve the side reins when im lunging her yet so I would love some tips on what to do when Im on her. A friend says I keep constant pressure on both reins until she drops and then I exaggerate the release??? I did that today and most of the time she didnt really drop her head. Any help would be great :) thanks all
 
#2 ·
Well it depends on the horse and bit, with my one gelding I just bump him and he levels his head out, with my other gelding I bring his reins back in fourth (jogging hand movement) and he lowers his head. Whenever they bring up there head I immedeltly bumb there heads back then, they eventually got the idea.
Sorry am not much help. :(
 
#3 ·
My horse seems to have been trained to lower his head with a squeeze from the legs.....
 
#4 ·
The horse was started a month ago. Don't expect a "headset" until the horse is balanced and working back to front and rides up into the bridle. The "headset" is collection, not just making them put their head in a certain spot. It is about the hindquarters, and working properly.

I don't get why people go straight for lowering the head, when there are so many much more important things that need to happen at the early stages of the game. Leave the head alone and teach the horse to move forward. Keeping constant pressure on the bit at this stage of the game will just be conflicting. Do I stop? Do I go? What does she want?

Teach the horse how to move and then refine it. Stay off of his mouth.
 
#14 · (Edited)
It won't come right away but I think it's an important part. My boss started to train my horse for a lower headset the third? day he was in training. I started at the stop, all I did was pick up on my left rein until he dropped his head, as soon as he dropped it a little bit you release your hands. Keep doing that until he realizes that when you pick up on your left rein you want him to drop his head. Then you work at the walk, then at the trot. My horse still has a horrible time lowering his head at the trot because his neck is so short.

The last trainer I went too, put a martingale on his on his second week of under saddle training. I was so mad, she didn't even want to work and take her time to naturally get him to drop his head, instead she took a shortcut.

Edit: ^ Everyone stop spamming up this thread, seriously.
 
#17 ·
LOL...sorry guys... looking back that DID sound quite sarcastic didnt it!! Not at all though...I can understand that you are trying to stear me away from screwing up my horse.... I have been riding since I was three (I am 27 years old) but havent done much with the western pleasure (training a young one for it) I totaly understand that I cant just work on head set without my horse learning how to "collect" I am working with a trainer and she is doing well at collecting....I guess Im just getting a little head of myself!! I appreciate all the feedback..good and bad :) sorry for the confusion !! LOL
 
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