March
10
How do I cue my horse to hold her headset like this (sort of like a dressage horse?)?
Maybe I just don’t know how to cue her?
I KNOW she is physically able to do it, because the horse in the picture is her.
This is her (allbreedpedigree page, look at image):
http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/miss+status+quo
I do a lot of lateral stuff with her, but she is still very extended! Maybe the real question, is how do I get her to collect?
She’s holding her head that way because she’s collected, moving freely and using her hind end properly. You don’t cue for headset, it’s just the outcome of riding her properly and with impulsion.
Do lots of lateral work with her and that ought to do the trick. Make sure you’re balanced, sitting deeply and quiet on her back. She looks like she knows what she’s doing, just let her do it!
Good luck.
EDIT-
Collection comes from suppleness in her jaw, poll, neck, back and ribcage as well as impulsion. If she’s still going with her head low and her hindend under her, you’ve got the impulsion and you just need to work on suppling. I’d work on bending and releasing to pressure. I’d do lots of bending and counter-bending on the straight and at a standstill. I would ask for her to bend her neck around to your foot at a halt, hold until she gives her nose and breaks at the poll, then release the rein and return to center. Do it the other way, and repeat until she breaks at the poll immediately. Next, I would get her moving out, trekking up, with her hind end under her, engaged and well off her forehand. Once you’ve got her going, either use the "constant pressure" or "massage" method to bring her nose in. Constant pressure is when you hold the reins with elastic contact and ride her forward into the contact. The massage method is where you squeeze each hand alternately (or if she’s really sensitive, you can move each ring finger to do the same thing) and drive her into contact. Which one you use depends on how the horse was trained, how you were taught.
You should only use these as a ‘reminder’ for your horse to bring her nose in, and not constantly or your horse could get confused or go behind the vertical.
You could always take a lesson or two with a hunter trainer (as your horse is obviously trained to go as a hunter).
March 10th, 2010 at 6:32 pm
She’s holding her head that way because she’s collected, moving freely and using her hind end properly. You don’t cue for headset, it’s just the outcome of riding her properly and with impulsion.
Do lots of lateral work with her and that ought to do the trick. Make sure you’re balanced, sitting deeply and quiet on her back. She looks like she knows what she’s doing, just let her do it!
Good luck.
EDIT-
Collection comes from suppleness in her jaw, poll, neck, back and ribcage as well as impulsion. If she’s still going with her head low and her hindend under her, you’ve got the impulsion and you just need to work on suppling. I’d work on bending and releasing to pressure. I’d do lots of bending and counter-bending on the straight and at a standstill. I would ask for her to bend her neck around to your foot at a halt, hold until she gives her nose and breaks at the poll, then release the rein and return to center. Do it the other way, and repeat until she breaks at the poll immediately. Next, I would get her moving out, trekking up, with her hind end under her, engaged and well off her forehand. Once you’ve got her going, either use the "constant pressure" or "massage" method to bring her nose in. Constant pressure is when you hold the reins with elastic contact and ride her forward into the contact. The massage method is where you squeeze each hand alternately (or if she’s really sensitive, you can move each ring finger to do the same thing) and drive her into contact. Which one you use depends on how the horse was trained, how you were taught.
You should only use these as a ‘reminder’ for your horse to bring her nose in, and not constantly or your horse could get confused or go behind the vertical.
You could always take a lesson or two with a hunter trainer (as your horse is obviously trained to go as a hunter).
References :
March 10th, 2010 at 7:05 pm
i was told to make a wall with your reins and push her on with your leg but i am working on the same thing as you
References :
March 10th, 2010 at 7:20 pm
What has worked for me is teaching from the ground to begin. The key to vertical flexion is lateral flexion. Once perfected on the ground, it is easy to translate under saddle. I prefer that my horse’s position be natural and soft instead of mechanical and contrived and forced by devices and/or force of movement leaving him no place else to go, which is typical in maintstream dressage and "lesson" type training. When I initially ask for vertical flexion under saddle, I do it while standing still. Once perfected, then go for the walk, trot, canter, etc. It works beautifully, develops harmony between you and your horse, and it is the ultimate in softness and responsiveness. This is just my preference, but it works beautifully. good luck.
References :