How Can I Get My Horse to Tuck His Head?
Most competitive riding disciplines, including dressage, western pleasure, hunters, western horsemanship and reining require the horse's head to be held in a specific position. With a tucked-in head position, the horse arches its neck and carries is head in a downward position. Ideally, this position occurs when a horse is properly collected and being ridden on the bit, meaning it is moving forward into the bit and propelling its movement using the hindquarters. It can take years to achieve proper collection, however, so many riders teach their horses to carry their heads low long before achieving the true collection and movement the head carriage is supposed to display.
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Instructions
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Lunge the horse in the round pen with side reins on. Side reins are a training aid. They attach to either the dee rings on the saddle or a surcingle, depending on your preference. They are designed to encourage a horse to improve its balance and reach for the bit, consequently tucking its head in gently. Side reins are often used as one of the first steps in teaching proper collection. Ask the horse to work in side reins for five to 10 minutes during lunging. Start with the side reins loose and gradually tighten them over time as conditioning improves.
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Ride your horse in draw reins. Draw reins force the horse to lower its head. The extent of the lowering and tucking depends on your use of the reins. Ride in draw reins long enough for your horse to understand where you want it to carry its head and get into the habit of doing so; then only use them as a reminder. Do not use side reins and draw reins in the same workout. Alternate between the two and take days off from both for a balanced training schedule.
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Ride the horse without aids, maintaining proper headset. You can simulate the effect of draw reins with a horse that has been ridden in them by lowering you hands to the side and giving a light squeeze on the back on the reins. This can serve as a friendly reminder to the horse to lower its head. Some riders opt to ride with a martingale, which can keep the horse from raising its head past a certain point.
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Repeat and continue training as necessary. Incorporate training aids into your riding program or use them as needed when your horse appears to need a reminder. Horses will not retain lessons that are not practiced regularly until they become a habit.
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Tips & Warnings
There is a difference between teaching a horse to tuck its head and teaching a horse to collect properly. A horse that is simply going around with his head low and tucked is not necessarily collected and may not be receiving any of the physical benefits of collection work. A properly trained and collected horse, on the other hand, always has its head in proper position when being ridden correctly. True collection work requires a significant amount of training and effort on the part of both the horse and the rider. It can take months and even years to master true collection properly.
Training a horse improperly can have a number of negative side effects. Only individuals with adequate riding experience should attempt training a horse with training aids. Consult a riding instructor or horse trainer for assistance if you have problems training your horse or are uncertain about how training concepts should apply to your specific riding discipline, breed of horse and experience level.
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