Head up in the air, not bending in corners...

[k8_doran]

So...I went to ride this horse the other day. She is 7, lovely horse, really lovely. Anyway, her head was up in the air, no bend in the neck, not bending into the corners very well at all. Can it be done, can I make her come under into an outline and bending in corners?

Before this, I have been bringing on a youngster (well was 6 as broken in late as was mistreated). It has taken a while, but in lovely outline bends beautifully. The new horse just feels so stiff, can it be done? And any tips/suggestions on how?

[Nayds]

Ginger used to do this and occasionally still does.
It's just a lack of education. They haven't learnt to accept the bit or bend around the leg.

Just takes schooling to fix.

Anymore questions PM me :D

Nayds

[Yann]

It could easily be a badly fitting saddle or back trouble too, worth checking out and eliminating from the equation.

[k8_doran]

Thanks yann will check it out.

Its not up in the air loads, but Iv been riding a horse in an outline and feels different compared. What I used to do, is warm them up, than ask them to bring their head down, pulling left rein slightly then right rein if not listening. I dont expect her to do it straight away at all, but dont want to use and form of artificial aid. i remember my arms used to ache holding the boys head in, but really good now. and the corners bending, just something you have to keep doing?

[NoviceNic]

DITTO what Yann has said.....It does sound like there is a tension in your horses back from the tack. I am looking forward to feeling and seeing the difference with a well fitted saddle this weekend.:)

[summerguest]

check out the conformation...if its hollow backed with the muscle under the neck built up more than the muscle running along the top line you will have to spend time changing its muscle formation by working long and low for a while. could be its just uneducated or it could be a back / teeth,or conformation problem. Check you can fit two fingers between jaw and vertebrea where the horse flexes its neck. large jowel and thick neck will make flexing difficult.

[CurlyWurlyRach]

curly was like that - bad back and her saddle was too wide.

good luck :)

[k8_doran]

hello, i have spoken to owner, she had a part share and horse was being schooled 3 times a weel but not sure that it lasted long. she has been hacked otherwise so dont think been schooled like that. her back has been checked and saddle so thats ok.

will try and post a pic so you can see conformation.

[Forever Fern]

Fern was like that, but that was due to a very baddly fitting saddle, so hopefully in about 2 months i will see a difference thanks poohsmate. :D
I would definately look into getting the saddle checked
xXx

[Iron Maiden]

My old cob was like that, he was ex-RS & had become very defensive in his way of going - he tended to set himself against the hand and be very hollow, and he dipped his back (probably because some people used to bounce about on him). I was like you, determined not to use any gadgets or quick fixes, & it took over 3 years of schooling to get him working softly in an outline & from behind. I am not a big schooling fan so I'm sure this could have taken less time if I'd been a bit more dedicated but I think he had developed all the wrong muscles & needed plenty of time to physically be able to work properly. Sometimes you just need to be patient!

[Daffy Dilly]

Daffy had a sore neck/pelvis and was very one sided, also had a too-narrow saddle on, although he could drop his head.

Now he's all fixed and correctly kitted out, I had a few strides of an outline several times as we did a 16 loop serpentine down the 20m centre line on Monday. Didn't flex the reins at all, just asked him to flex his neck.

And now I can't really type any more, because the sun is shining on my pc and I can't see. :(

[k8_doran]

i found out that the horse has never really been schooled peoperly, and mainly hacked. i am thinking this may have something to do with it too?

[NoviceNic]

Iron Maiden interestingly you are describing my ex riding school cob.......:(

[Bay Mare]

i found out that the horse has never really been schooled peoperly, and mainly hacked. i am thinking this may have something to do with it too?

Possibly, if the horse has just been allowed to go along any old how.

If all the physical and tack checks are ok (and it's always worth double checking) then it's a matter of working her long and low to get rid of the muscles on the underside of her neck (which she'll have if she's been going around with her head in the air) and to get her working from her back end and lifting her back so that you're gradually building her topline muscles correctly. Carrot stretches can be helpful in getting the horse to stretch out too.

We've found in-hand work to be very useful as you can still get them to work correctly but without a riders' weight on their back. Long reining is also good.