Re: [RC] High headedness and arabs and martingales - Karen Williams
When I was training my high-headed
Arab/Saddlebred cross, I taught him to give to the bit on the ground.
First, make sure your horse is longing well.
Put on the halter, then the bridle
(with snaffle bit) over the halter. Get a pair of very long reins
with snaps on the ends. Clip the snap to the rings at
the top of the halter, run the reins through the snaffle bit, down between the
front legs and up over the back. Tie the ends over the back
with plenty of slack for the horse to carry his head in a comfortable
position, but not able to flip it up or get his legs over the reins. Longe
and let the horse figure out where his head should go. If he tries to get
his head too high the pull comes from the poll with a minimal amount of
pressure on the mouth. The horse's movement creates movement in the bit
and he learns to give to it.
The horse I used this on would
stick his head in the air and refuse to give to the bit when I rode him.
The first day I tried this, he backed, whirled, half-reared (he couldn't rear
too high because he couldn't get his head up) -- we were all over the
place. I kept asking him to do what he already knew (longe) and finally he
figured it out. I ignored all his other antics and concentrated on getting
him to trot calmly around me.
After a few days of this, my horse
was longing very nicely with his head in a good position.
I did use a running
martingale when I first started riding him, but gave it up as I still got a
black eye and a fat lip going up a hill when he suddenly flipped his head
back. Seems that when you really need it you are least prepared to use it
and I found it to be a nuisance on the trail.
Subject: Re: [RC] High headedness and
arabs and martingales
PLEASE, if you are going to use a martingale on your horse (I prefer
German) work with him on the ground first! I have had much success using
side lines and a bitting rig. Yes, the horse may go over backwards or
back up, and most of them will test it one way or another, but it is best that
you are OFF when this happens! Usually they test it once or twice and
never again.
