Please keep your head up

[aniaw]

I got 8 years old gelding last month. He is so sweet and kind but still little green. He’s is very green on the jumps side. First few weeks were very successful for both of us. At the beginning he had tendency to lower his head to the ground level at the trot and walk. More during walk. Last week he improved and he didn’t walk with his head down as much during trot but he did start that cantering. His canter was fine before, very smooth and his head was in perfect position. He uses harness bit and my hands are soft. I don’t pull him up. I don’t like when he canter with his nose touching ground. I don’t feel safe and he gets very nervous. Please help. :)

[sarahbeth]

That happens quite a bit to the horse's I ride at the stables.
Sometimes, if they are a bit tired, they will lower their head
I usually do little tugs, just inching their heads up. My instructer tells me to do this, and she says if you do it soft enough, it won't hurt the horse's mouth.

[entreat]

my friends horse will do this when his back feels tight - just a nice stretch for him I guess. although, he nearly tripped over his own chin in canter!

[leviskipperette]

a mare i used to ride would lope with her head down. she was a cranky mare, and shed usually try to buck when she did it. but one time she caught her foot on her chin and nearly flipped us both over. as far as i know she hasnt done it since, it must have scared her.

if he does it alot and trips you could try putting an anti-grazing rein on him, so he couldnt lower his head so far. and try stretching or lunging him before a ride. like entreat said he could have a tight back.

-meg

[galadriel]

He may just be unbalanced. A green horse may have difficulty carrying a rider and keeping his balance. Even if you are an excellent, balanced rider, a green horse has to learn to adjust.

If you're not familiar with the methods used in encouraging a horse to keep his balanced, using reins and seat, then I suggest you find a local instructor/trainer to help you. If he's simply unbalanced, then he will need some very clear signals (by which I mean, exaggerated) and support to make transitions and to proceed in a balanced manner.