how can i get my horse to listen she won't even hold up her head!?

Question

i have an older horse so i ride with a hackmore but she always pulls her head down and walks to the barn. i irde western and she shakes her head if i ride her with a bit

we can't ride with bit it hurts her

Answer 1

my horse did that and i waited to feed her till after we rode andshe caught on and now she fine

Answer 2

It's very hard to lift a horse's head with a hackamore on, especially one with long shanks. Any pressure on the shanks encourages the horse to lower the head or bring the nose in.

I three link snaffle would be the ideal way to fix this. I don't know what kind of bit you have tried or if her teeth are OK... The this snaffle, you can make it function on the lips of the horses head like a gag and literally lift her head up in he manner of Phillip Carl and Boucher. You can also use this together with your hackamore so the bit is only for lifting.

Whenever she starts to lower her head, you lift your hands high above her head and give two quick pulls (not to hard, but enough for attention) with immediate releases. Keep doing this until you get a response, then stop. Your goal at first is a response of anything but further down! This is also a great method for horses behind the bit.

You keep dong this, asking for the head to come up more often and longer each time. Not all will happen in one ride. Be sure to release for a reward and never get in a pulling/ holding match. She can't be given anything to pull back on. you can vibrate the reins or make them like a rubber band, but not dead weight. Sometimes a few quick short jerks are needed if you get nothing for a response. Eventually, you'll find that when you lift you hinds (if you feel like an idiot, then you've got them high enough!), she'll lift her head.

Now if you absolutely can't use a bit for some mysterious reason, You can try a tight side pull, bit less bridle or tight rope halter around the nose. You CAN'T use a leverage bit or hackamore to do this!

I guess a pony's anti grazing rein as a last resort could be an option. GL

Answer 3

Just because she's older, doesn't mean she can't learn a thing or two. If it were me, I would find an enclosed area (round pen if you have one) or even a barn and go back to the basics with a bit. Teach her what it is for...long line her...I don't mean lunge her, teach her what a simple, mild snaffle is for...find a wall or fence to work her off of and keep turning her into the fence, teach her to get back on her haunches and off of her front end. If you will do this, she will lighten up on her front end and learn some respect for you at the same time. After you teach her this, then you can ride her. Anticipate when she usually tries her monkey business and use your hands to keep her head where it belongs...she is actually barn sour and when she decides to go home, she has been getting by with it. Carrying a crop with you wouldn't hurt either, you might not even have to use it, sometimes if they know you have it, they won't try you. If she still tries to put her head down and go to the barn, you have control because now you have a bit in her mouth and you can use one rein to pull her around and go the other way...do this every time she decides to go to the barn...she will eventually discover that you actually do have control over her.

Answer 4

It really depends how she is used to be ridgin before. If you've just got her, then ask the previous owners whether they had trouble - and what they did.

I think that buying a stronger bit - such as a snaffle may solve the problem. Although, that sometimes makes matters worse.

Lunge her daily, and keep her occupied when riding, like make her do circles, or poles, jumps, anything really just to keep her motivated.

Also, it depends on what level at riding which you are at. Maybe a trainer could help if you are a novice.

Finally, make sure that there's nothing hurting her, i.e her mouth or back, because sometimes it can just be the bit irritating the mouth.

Hope this helped =)

Answer 5

You could try riding her with a snaffle bit, and using direct pressure to pull her around when she tries to turn to the barn. If she's shaking her head because she doesn't like the bit, oh well...she'll just have to get used to it! After using it awhile, she will stop shaking her head. When she pulls her head down, just pull her head around to one side and make her walk in a circle. Face her back the direction you were going, and start over again. If she pulls her head away and tries to turn, do it again. If she tries to turn to the left, pull her to the right and kick her with your left leg (and do the opposite if she turns right). Its going to take work, but you don't want her to get away with it!

Answer 6

Is she doing this in order to avoid working? Your question sort of makes it sound like she is putting her head down and taking you back to the barn. If that is the case she has learned a way to avoid work and you need to discover the way to counter her avoidance.

You refer to a hackmore, do I assume a mechanical one? It makes a difference in offering advice.

Answer 7

Have you had her teeth checked? Lots of bitting issues can be solved with this simple solution. It sounds like you would be better off with a bit that prevents the horse lowering its head and therefor dropping the contact. Perhaps a Cheltenham Gag or a Continental Gag...

Answer 8

You could try lifting her head up by raising your hands up in front of you, and riding like a saddle seat rider for a little while. Then lower your hands back down and see what she does. If she lowers it again, then lift your hands and arms again. You might also try having her checked by a vet, just to be safe.

Answer 9

i would use a bit-less bridle...one arabian at my stables has or had the same probalem so we got him a bitless

Answer 10

She's in control, not you. Back to basics. good luck