That's a good question, because it has nothing to do whatever with
the head and everything to do with the complete balance of teh topline,
engagement from behind and quality movement in the front. In other words,
enough motor to move, enough agility to get outta his own way, and strength
and fitness and training to lift and support the total topline - back, neck
and through the hips. When all the other parts are in place, the head will
tend to easily go where it is now in balance.
**Sandy and all.....this is a very, very good
point, and MY opinion, after years of riding and observing horses is that a
lot more damage is done trying to force any type of headset or even
collection. Horses in the pasture do a quite fine job of carrying
themselves around...especially those who have athletic training, developed
muscles and are fit. They travel around my pasture, with their necks
OUT, heads fairly low, backs up, etc. IN my experience, if you leave
this ALONE, and allow them to travel on the TRAIL, with a loose rein; so their
heads and necks are low, then they weil travel the same way. I have
ridden and seen too many horses put on contact....that just get all bunched
up, lose the free and easy walk....the stride shortens, and the back
hollows. My goal on the trali, is to LOSE contact, and ride on a totally
loose rein, especially at the walk. At the trot, also, loose rein, a tad
shorter, but stay out of the mouth!!! Consider riding in a rope halter;
you sure can't collect with that at all....but my daughter rides her Arab in a
halter and reins, loose rein, no contact. A very slight bit of pressure
on the nose slows her horse down.....her horse travels with neck out, head
down and very, very fast walk......while those along for the ride, trying to
ride "collected", are back there jigging, becuase their horses are not allowed
to get their necks out and WALK OUT.
Maybe in the arena, collection and refinement
of aids is a fine thing to teach, but IMHO, the best way to get a horse to
relax, walk fast and increase stride on the trail, is to ride as relaxed and
sloppy as possible; just move with the horse. Anyone who has ridden long
periods bareback automatically leans it is easier to flow with the horse than
collect him. IT's easier bareback to just slump the back, allow y your
hips to move with the horse, and let your legs just dangle. If you try
to ride by gripping and contact with the bit, the horse automatically bunches
up.
