How can u help make a horse more supple?

[Sophia]

i own a horse with very high withers and a naturally high head carriage. i start doing dressage with him to strengthen his back and just for fun. he was ten when i started to train him and becos of his high carriage he can be a little stiff through his back and hind quarters. i was wondering if any1 knows any good suppling exercises?

[Tootsie4U]

Conformation plays a big part, but just because he has a high neck carriage wont keep him from working through his back. I have a Morgan and you can't get much higher than that. :D

If you're taking dressage lessons, ask for some specific instruction on "lengthening". Before you do that though, your instructor will first make sure you BOTH (horse and rider) are able to maintain "self carriage". That comes with practice - learning balance, learning a good contact while keeping the horse moving from behind.

Once you start doing those lengthening exercises (where the rider allows the horse to take rein out of his/her hands, but doesnt give up contact, so that the horse can stretch and reach for the contact. -He cant do that if he isnt balanced and carrying himself properly), you will find that your horse loves it and his back will feel as if it rises up six inches. Thats the first step to getting the horse used to using his back while he works.

Also, high headed-ness can mean sore backs, sore mouths, and if he's young in his training, lack of balance.

[Lgd]

Difficult to recommend any specific ridden exercises without seeing him in action. The tension that you describe suggests that he is hollowing his back and not working over the back correctly into a forward neck.

Lunging in a Chambon and long side reins would help to get him working over his back. The Chambon encourages the horse to work long and low and to put his neck forward to reach the contact offered by the side reins. Because it only has an effect when the horse puts it's head up and goes hollow it does not restrict correct movement. It is one of the few 'gadgets' I will use.

If you have never used one before try and find someone to help you who has. The most important thing is that it should be slack when the horse is working correctly

[Tootsie4U]

Lunging - the best place to start... good one Lgd. Been awhile since I've seen you here, welcome back! Even with that, have a knowledgable instructor help you as lunging can be quite technical, especially when you're working on things like this specific issue.