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Western/English Pleasure Headsets

6K views 17 replies 6 participants last post by  AQHA_MHonora_Pleasure 
#1 ·
Well first off I'd like to say hello :D I'm new to the forum. I left my old one because I wasnt getting any help and was hoping to get some here!

I have a few questions I was hoping people might be able to help me out with.


My horse Scotch is really an amazing animal. But when we get to shows he likes to be a butt faced loser and act like we've NEVER trained before. When in reality he's a highly trained Western horse. But he doesnt like to think that! Haha


What are some exercises I can do with him to get his head down in the arena that wont cause him to go faster? He's spur trained but when I use my spurs in the arena he goes "HEHEHE!! I can go fast cause she's 'telling me' to!" and then we go zipping around. It's frustrating since at home I can have the reins dragging on the ground and having him moving slower then a snail with a perfect headset! UGH!


Any ideas? I wanna stay away from using my reins and bit just because 1) it frustrates him 2) I may over use it and 3) It looks bad in the arena.




And for the english head set. How in the world do I train for it? I can NOT seem to get my english horse,Tino to put his head down and stop arching it. How can I get him to start stretching down and out?

Same thing for collected. How do I get him rounded up without ticking him off?



Thanks =) Greatly appreciated.


-Mary Honora
 
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#2 ·
What kind of exercises are you doing now? Do you do any softening ones?

I've found that doing softening exercises helps them have a more natural headset for both english and western.

Hope I can help more after you answer my questions.

Oh, and Welcome to the forum! I'm sure we can help you here!
 
#3 ·
mlkarel2010 said:
What kind of exercises are you doing now? Do you do any softening ones?

I've found that doing softening exercises helps them have a more natural headset for both english and western.

Hope I can help more after you answer my questions.

Oh, and Welcome to the forum! I'm sure we can help you here!
Thank you! I like it already =)

We do lots of bending and head down. I do lots on the ground with little treats and such. First we touch our toes, then our tummys, then our chests, and so on. Lots of bending while riding and counter bending.


By softening what exactly do you mean? I'll try anything you throw at me.
 
#4 ·
Ok, I'll try to explain in words, but it's easier to show.... So here goes...

I know you said you want to not use a bit, but it works best to teach this at first with a bit so they have an idea of how to respond, but you can start with a halter or move to a halter shortly after.

Stand still on his back with your body relaxed so that he won't back up. Take hold of both of the reins. Try to hold one a bit shorter than the other so that it's harder for him to lean on the bit. The best place to put your hands after you have hold is up against your thighs. Because it is more to the side and straight back instead of back and upward it is easier for him to understand what you want. Also, because you have your hands up against something stationary it's easier to tell when he softens.

At first he will probably feel tight and maybe even like he's pulling on the bit. Yes, this does happen even if they have vertical flexion, but we're working on softness and lightness and then head posture will follow. You need to hold your hands stationary until you feel him soften up when he's NOT moving, if he's backing up just wait for him to stop. When i say "soften up" I mean that he will bend his neck better and loosen his jaw to you. That's him pretty much saying ok I give. The instant you feel him soften give him release give him a giant release from pressure. The best way is to kinda throw the reins onto his neck, but if he likes to go, this isn't always the best idea, and i just move my hands really far forward quiker.

At first it is a really long waiting game and just hang in there! Even if you feel like you aren't getting anywhere, he'll catch on quick. Just don't give up, and if he's taking FOREVER to soften the first few times tighten that shorter rein a tad bit. Oh, another thing! Start with a little bit of tension at first when he's still getting the idea, but later you can add more. It's really great being able to see them learn how to soften up, and they are sooo much more fun to ride!

After he has a really good idea of how to soften using the exercise you can have him soften for longer times, maybe 3 seconds then release, then 5, and so on. Also you can do this at different gaits. Just start from the begining of the exercise for each gait, but when you are moving it's a really good idea to have your hands on your thighs because it's hard to tell when he softens otherwise.

Soon he'l know that whenever you pick up the reins he should soften. And for the western pleasure one, I've found that you can just touch them w/ your legs at the same time you pic up on the reins to get them back on the vertical with out changing gaits.

Hopefully that helps, and feel free to ask any questions!!
 
#5 ·
mlkarel2010 said:
Ok, I'll try to explain in words, but it's easier to show.... So here goes...

I know you said you want to not use a bit, but it works best to teach this at first with a bit so they have an idea of how to respond, but you can start with a halter or move to a halter shortly after.

Stand still on his back with your body relaxed so that he won't back up. Take hold of both of the reins. Try to hold one a bit shorter than the other so that it's harder for him to lean on the bit. The best place to put your hands after you have hold is up against your thighs. Because it is more to the side and straight back instead of back and upward it is easier for him to understand what you want. Also, because you have your hands up against something stationary it's easier to tell when he softens.

At first he will probably feel tight and maybe even like he's pulling on the bit. Yes, this does happen even if they have vertical flexion, but we're working on softness and lightness and then head posture will follow. You need to hold your hands stationary until you feel him soften up when he's NOT moving, if he's backing up just wait for him to stop. When i say "soften up" I mean that he will bend his neck better and loosen his jaw to you. That's him pretty much saying ok I give. The instant you feel him soften give him release give him a giant release from pressure. The best way is to kinda throw the reins onto his neck, but if he likes to go, this isn't always the best idea, and i just move my hands really far forward quiker.

At first it is a really long waiting game and just hang in there! Even if you feel like you aren't getting anywhere, he'll catch on quick. Just don't give up, and if he's taking FOREVER to soften the first few times tighten that shorter rein a tad bit. Oh, another thing! Start with a little bit of tension at first when he's still getting the idea, but later you can add more. It's really great being able to see them learn how to soften up, and they are sooo much more fun to ride!

After he has a really good idea of how to soften using the exercise you can have him soften for longer times, maybe 3 seconds then release, then 5, and so on. Also you can do this at different gaits. Just start from the begining of the exercise for each gait, but when you are moving it's a really good idea to have your hands on your thighs because it's hard to tell when he softens otherwise.

Soon he'l know that whenever you pick up the reins he should soften. And for the western pleasure one, I've found that you can just touch them w/ your legs at the same time you pic up on the reins to get them back on the vertical with out changing gaits.

Hopefully that helps, and feel free to ask any questions!!

That sounds awesome and makes sense. I like it!


I'll def. try it out and tell you how it goes. Thanks so much.
 
#7 ·
...for your western horse... teehee haha **** RFLOL har har...

Oh sorry... Did I laugh out loud? **** - I have 2 that are just like that! One if you watched me ride her at home, you'd think I could win the world, at the shows, she's a tail raised head upped arab looking thing!

Some of it I know is me, and probably with you... I'm sure you probably get a little tense, I think we all do. You need to longe obviously to let him get the kinks out and then when you get on, ask for headset immediately. Don't let him look around, at all. and work on STOP-STOP-STOP. When you go into warm up, jog and halt back jog halt back jog halt lope halt back lope halt jog halt walk halt.

I know that sounds sucky but since he's perfect at home (which I totally believe because like I said, I have 2 just like that - in fact I gave up on showing one and the other I just do locals on becuase I get to up to bring them down). You just need him to be anticipating the halt and the back on show day. He'll be slower becuase he's waiting for the halt and then he'll be traveling underneath himself because he's waiting for the back. My friend ties her horse on show day because he gets really up and alot of people will scream CRUEL but it works for her. She ties him with his head somewhat up so that he WANTS to drop his head when she gets on him. He just needs show-miles is all it sounds like...
 
#8 ·
I know you said that you basically dont want to get after him in the arena because it looks bad but you may have to get after him and blow a class so that he learns...

My older horse used to goof off in the arena cause I was scared of not placing then, but it got worse and then I wasnt placing at all. They know when it is "show time" and they go "haha I can goof off now". As long as you arent making a big scene about it or messing up some one elses ride I would be afaid to bump him or go into slight training (two hand or whatever it may be)... he will only get worse.

There are some great things that have been suggested on here already so best of luck on how it goes and let us know...
 
#9 ·
farmpony84 said:
...for your western horse... teehee haha **** RFLOL har har...

Oh sorry... Did I laugh out loud? **** - I have 2 that are just like that! One if you watched me ride her at home, you'd think I could win the world, at the shows, she's a tail raised head upped arab looking thing!

Some of it I know is me, and probably with you... I'm sure you probably get a little tense, I think we all do. You need to longe obviously to let him get the kinks out and then when you get on, ask for headset immediately. Don't let him look around, at all. and work on STOP-STOP-STOP. When you go into warm up, jog and halt back jog halt back jog halt lope halt back lope halt jog halt walk halt.

I know that sounds sucky but since he's perfect at home (which I totally believe because like I said, I have 2 just like that - in fact I gave up on showing one and the other I just do locals on becuase I get to up to bring them down). You just need him to be anticipating the halt and the back on show day. He'll be slower becuase he's waiting for the halt and then he'll be traveling underneath himself because he's waiting for the back. My friend ties her horse on show day because he gets really up and alot of people will scream CRUEL but it works for her. She ties him with his head somewhat up so that he WANTS to drop his head when she gets on him. He just needs show-miles is all it sounds like...

Oh he's got PLENTY of show miles trust me! He had 600 QH points by the age of four!


He knows what he's doing is bad, he likes to be a little trickster. The holding his head up thing works with him a bit. After a while he goes "FINE!" and drops it, but then we need to keep doing it.


The problem I have is that my absoulte favorite class is showmanship. I adore it and it is my life at the show world. I spend hours getting ready for it, and lounging before is a big no no for me. His veins get all popped out and stuff and it's just not nice in the arena.


mlkarel2010, your softening idea worked REALLY well. I threw his show bridle on for about 15 minutes yesterday and did all those exercises bareback. They worked amazingly!!! He was so good about it too, really understood it and I didnt feel like I was yanking on his mouth at all.


Thank you so much! I cant wait to try it with my english horse after his break.
 
#10 ·
Angel_Leaguer said:
I know you said that you basically dont want to get after him in the arena because it looks bad but you may have to get after him and blow a class so that he learns...

My older horse used to goof off in the arena cause I was scared of not placing then, but it got worse and then I wasnt placing at all. They know when it is "show time" and they go "haha I can goof off now". As long as you arent making a big scene about it or messing up some one elses ride I would be afaid to bump him or go into slight training (two hand or whatever it may be)... he will only get worse.

There are some great things that have been suggested on here already so best of luck on how it goes and let us know...

Hmm thats def. true. I'll keep that in mind at my next show. Thanks!
 
#15 ·
I think draw reigns and other training devices are great if used properly.

In all honosty, if the horse was shown as heavily as you are saying (although I think you might have meant... I don't know, 6 pts? or maybe 60 pts?) it is very possible that your problem is one of these 2 issues, maybe even both.

A - he's soured. If he's been shown that heavily, it happens and he needs a break.

B - It's rider error. If he's won tons of points like 60ish and has an ROM, then it's very very possible he needs a break. If you keep pushing him when he's rebelling that much, it's only goign to get worse.

I'm not trying to be mean, just trying to pinpoint your issue. What else is he doing?
 
#16 ·
Nope, its def. 600. I'll pull out his papers, it may be a few less. But that boy was shown a bit and was quite the champion before he got sick.


But, I do agree with you completely. I think he's a little tired of it. He went from being in a shown barn 24/7 and at a new show every weekend to a small time barn with a little girl who just wanted a pony.


I did use draw reins with him and I refuse to use them again. They work with some horses, dont get me wrong. But not for him, he rebels.



The whole softening with countinous contact has been working MIRACLES. He really seems to be taking to it. I think I may bring him down to a nice soft bit too. He enjoys a nicer bit rather then the correction or curb.



I think part of the problem is me, but I dont think its that I'm pushing him too hard. It's that im not pushing him hard enough. I have terrible knees from sports so sometimes I dont train with him for a week at a time until I can bend properly again. They've gotten better but I still have to keep my training sessions short. Plus, and as embarassed as I am to admit this, I have a terrrrrrible temper and if we start to go downhill I'll start to lose my cool. Rather then take it out on him and be a mean jerk face to him I hop off and walk him out.

I'm going to be getting a new trainer soon and will hopefully be able to pay her a little extra to get on him once in a while when my knees are really bugging me. I may be getting surgery to fix them, so hopefully I'll be back to my 2 hour daily training sessions with him.


His old owner is a good friend of mine and when he started pulling this crap with me I e-mailed him. Apparently this isnt new? But he was able to work it out with him fairly quickly, while I cant seem to get him to do what I want.



Thanks for the ideas and help guys, really appreciating everything.
 
#17 ·
well... It sounds like you are on the right track! Good luck to you. I know what you mean about the "temper" especially when you are a dealing with a been there done that horse. You just want to scream becuase you knwo that he knows what to do, he just chooses not to!

I get angry and then stiff and then it's all downhill, so I completely understand what you are going through. Good luck!

PS - somewhere you mentioned something about banding and I think you said like 38 bands... I looked on the internet, is it like braiding where there is supposed to be a specific number of bands when you do it? I do the best I can but my bands arent pretty yet (mane is still too thick - just keep pulling just keep pulling... )
 
#18 ·
farmpony84 said:
well... It sounds like you are on the right track! Good luck to you. I know what you mean about the "temper" especially when you are a dealing with a been there done that horse. You just want to scream becuase you knwo that he knows what to do, he just chooses not to!

I get angry and then stiff and then it's all downhill, so I completely understand what you are going through. Good luck!

PS - somewhere you mentioned something about banding and I think you said like 38 bands... I looked on the internet, is it like braiding where there is supposed to be a specific number of bands when you do it? I do the best I can but my bands arent pretty yet (mane is still too thick - just keep pulling just keep pulling... )

Yeah banding you're suppose to have a certain amount of bands, they dont count but it looks pretty.


If you want tips feel free to message me. I do it A LOT!
 
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