About 6 months ago, I purchased a 10 year old gelding Quarter Horse for my 11 year old daughter. Prior to this purchase, she had been borrowing a paint gelding, and showing western pleasure and english in paint shows. She has a good seat, and did very well in these shows.
She has now joined 4-H, and is again participating in western shows. This gelding has had a good training foundation, (does showmanship and does have his head low enough) and for the most part does moderately well in the shows. My daughter is struggling to train herself and her new horse to improve his collection, (he is "strung out"), and his nose is tipped out more than it should be. We know that he could be "tuned" up by a professional trainer, but we do not have the money to do so. She is a very devoted girl, and loves him a great deal. She has very quiet hands, and worries that she is doing the wrong thing by physically tucking his head in and asking him to move out. A trainer got on him and did so, and he revolted by rearing. She has never had him rear with her on his back. Can you suggest some techniques which will help her with his collection, and in getting his nose tucked in? We are a bit afraid that we may ruin what training he does have, and need some advice. Thanks so much, Connie
Hi Connie!
There are various ways of getting Western horses to tuck their noses in and drop their heads, but your daughter has already found out that forcing her horse's head in and trying to push him forward is not a good idea. Rearing is a horse's reaction to pain, fear, and closed doors -- when a rider "closes the front door" by pulling the horse's head in or even by holding the reins too tightly, and then tries to push or kick the horse forward, the horse cannot go through the "closed door" and so moves in the only direction possible: UP.
There is only one way to achieve genuine collection, as opposed to creating a falsely shortened silhouette. I know that the methods of attaining false collection are often successful in the show ring, but that's wrong and shouldn't be perpetuated. A pleasure horse should BE a pleasure, to itself and to its rider. Your daughter can learn a lot and become a better rider by taking her time and helping her horse gain the strength and balance that he needs to carry himself comfortably and correctly.
I know that money is an issue, but do try to bring in a really good instructor, or take your daughter to one, even if it's just for one or two lessons. A good instuctor can make an immense amount of difference in a very short time, and will give your daughter "homework" to do when she is working alone with her horse. A good instructor can also help you evaluate tack suitablility and fit. These things always matter, but they should be checked and re-checked whenever a horse begins to move differently, behave differently, or become agitated.
In order to collect, this horse must first be developed physically so that he has the strong muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones that will let him do the job. He'll need a combination of aerobic work and body-building, and that's what your daughter can do with him. If she takes him for long walks up and down hills, he will develop his aerobic capacity and his muscles.
When he's more fit, she'll be able to trot up the hills and walk down them, which will build him up even more. In the ring, she should work on transitions, asking for quiet, energetic ones in which the horse uses his hind end to power forward into each transition.
The horse's nose is the very last thing anyone should be worried about at this stage, or at any stage. If your daughter's horse is going to be a real pleasure to ride, he needs strength, flexibility, endurance, and a clear understanding of what's wanted. All of this will come from building up his body and mind through long slow distance work, hill work, and thousands of transitions. Once his "engine" is engaged, he'll be able to become stronger, and then he'll be able to lift his back better and reach more with his head and neck. If he is developed and ridden correctly, his nose will find the "right place" all by itself, as a result of his physical development.
Jessica
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