How do you stop this??

[Deleted]

How do you stop a horse from going round with his head bent in completly the wrong direction, he goes round on either rein with it bent to the out side and just falls in, we've tried side reins, drawreins different bits, he's so strong that if he does it being led he just pulls you everywhere, any helpful tips?

[SuzieP]

Bear in mind that I'm not hugely experienced - but I have had this with both my horses and my instructor has helped me to sort it.

It's a balance thing - the musculature isn't developed in the right way to enable the horse to corner in the correct manner and so they turn their heads out to balance. The way I was advised to address it was to school using lots of circles, serpentines and lots of inside-leg-to-outside-hand. Alfie was young and soon became balanced. Bea isn't young - but he's getting there now....but it's taken a long time because I don't have a lot of time to school him. It's taken longer to get him balanced on the left rein than on the right.

I did notice though that after he came back into work after three months off with a bout of arthritis he is loads and LOADS better balanced. I can only assume that he was in pain (his near side hind) and was falling in to try and avoid stepping through as strongly with his sore leg as he should do. Now he's not in pain he's much more willing to work correctly.

[NFK Dumpling]

In addition to all of the above we did spirals ie start on a 20m circle and make it smaller and then bigger again.

I use my pointy elbow in James' neck if he starts to drag me - once his head has gone round its too late

[SuzieP]

The spirals is a good one - forgot that. Also I had a tendency to support Bea too much - my instructor advised cantering circles and letting him fall in, but keep him going. The circles got smaller and smaller (and it got scarier and scarier and more like the wall of death LOL) - but he soon found out how uncomfortable it was cantering a small circle with his head turned out the wrong way! LOL

[DalesLady]

yep, loads of inside leg to outside hand and lots of serpentines and circles, the spirals inward and outward are particularly helpful. It takes a while, but it is worth it. It is not something which can be cured overnight whether the horse is young or old. Just keep at it consistently everytime you school him and be patient.

[Debbie]

If he's setting his neck against you walking inhand, its easily an evasion thing (think of a teen saying 'I don't have to listen to you... lalalalalaal' ).

But the falling in on either rein does sound like a balance, lack of musculature issue. On top of the excellent advice with the spirals, you could also do carrot stretches on the ground. Where you ask him to bend his neck round to one side, then the other utilizing a bit of carrot as a reward. The feet have to stay still, only the neck bends round, so this is easier with them against a wall (keeps the body from moving). You can also ask them to bend the head down and between the front legs as well for a nice stretch through the top of the neck.

Please, do the stretches after exercise, or after a vigorous grooming. You'll want to be sure the muscles are 'warm'. And don't overdo. Ask him to reach, and when it looks like he can't reach further, reward him. I've actually seen an overeager (and very hungry) Quarter Horse overdo a neck stretch. So be careful not to let him do too much. All the stretching should help to loosen up the muscling and may make it easier for him to bend.

[clara]

Have had similar situation and the spiral thing certainly helps. Although this presurposes that he moves away from the leg. If he moves away from the leg then you can then turn ( by maintaining contact in the outside hand which allows him to respond to your inside hand turn and leg aid) his head toward the inside. I would suggest having afew lessons with someone you like who is on the ground and can respond to the situation as it occurs. It may be that you have to overemphasis (wear spurs if you know how to use them) the inside leg aid at first as some horses just don't understand what you are asking of them. If you stand still you can apply a leg and ask him to move sideways away from it and see if he gets it/respects it? The other thing a suggest if youfeel like you are just doing battle in the school the whole time is to go on a hack and use your hands toplay with the bit in his mouth while using gentle leg aids and hope fully get him to soften if you can do that then ask him to walk in straight line (lots of outside rein and inside leg) while playing with e the 'inside bit in other words ask him to turn his head but go forward straight. he won't be able to do this but he might catchon to the concept of what you are asking him to do while stretching the essential muscles he needs to do it. Youcan also do this on the straight side of the school. I loathe being dragged around and my old pony George was like that. I slid the head collar rope around the nose to give more action but it didn't work for him so I tried a chiffney for about three weeks and that stopped it for a while, he is retired now but every now and again he needs a reminder of who is in charge!

[clara]

Just had a schooling session with an instructor and we sis give and take action with the outside rein and it worked a treat to get the pony onto the inside rein. If you do it with lots of inside leg it's worth a try!