Head Position and Horse Vision

["Tina Rushing" <tinarushing@coastside.net>]

I was once concerned about my filly's head position which I thought was "too
high".  Looking back, I don't know what made me think that I was able to
judge this while cantering down a tricky trail.  I was micro-managing.  Her
head isn't high at all; I just wasn't confident of my youngster.  She's big
and strong and she can be a handful.  I thought I'd feel safer if her head
was d-o-w-n.  But she's as agile as a deer and can spot a predator in plenty
of time to achieve warp speed under any conditions.  (The gal who is going
to ride among lions needs a horse like this - if you can stay on through
lift-off she'll get you out of danger).

There was a great article in Equus 268 (February 2000 feature) on how horses
see.  I am now convinced that she pulls her head up to see better at speed.

This information probably didn't help with your horse's high nose problem,
but I did want to share a tip about the article because it gave me a better
understanding of equine vision and it has improved my confidence.

Tina Rushing
El Granada, CA

-----Original Message-----
From: Don Pollock <donp@dcr.net>
To: Ridecamp <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Date: Sunday, September 10, 2000 4:43 PM
Subject: RC: [Fwd: Training ride today]


... At the canter [he] ends up with his nose in the air after a couple of
hundred feet... He's had plenty of
practice at the canter but not in the woods.