Hi, just wondering if anyone knows why my daughters pony keeps dropping his head right down when he is galloping? She gives him a tug on the reins and he lifts his head, but then drops it again. He does not try to buck her off, but she said it is like he is going to, but he doesn't. She has him on a very loose rein.
Thanks
Linda
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Horse Care and Comfort
Pony keeps putting his head right down when galloping
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Hi linda,
I don't know how old your daughter is and how her ridingskills are, but since the pony responds to her picking up the reins, I suggest she rides him more on the bit.
Let there be contact through the reins between her hands and the ponies mouth, always being very careful not to hurt him. Maybe he was trained to be ridden "in frame" and misses this contact. Could you help her with this, or find a ridinginstructor that can help her to ride her pony in a more collected way?
Let us know how you're doing!
Miriam
Something that might help is to use the dually halter under the bridle and hook side reins from the nose rings on the dually to the rings on either side of the saddle where you would normally hook the chest strap. This keeps the horse from being able to drop his head down without pulling on his mouth. He will quickly school himself to stop dropping his head. I used this technique on my gelding to keep him from trying to eat while riding, it worked very well.
Good luck,
Kleinne
Is this just a recent occurrance, Linda? If so I would get his back checked as they tend to do this if they are sore - it stretches their back muscles out and relieves the pain. Just a thought.
Thanks for your comment. I get his back checked regularly but I had wondered if maybe he was sore or if it was his saddle. My daughter is 11 and has only started galloping on occasions recently. We are now starting to have lessons with a really good instructor so we will ask him. Thank you
Miriam, yes he is trained English style, but we felt it just didn't suit him. My daughter has been told continuously to shorten her reins, shorten her reins by all our past instructors, and this really slows our pony down, he didn't go into trot well, or canter,told to kick him harder, whack him with a stick to back up her leg! It wasn't working for pony or my daughter. So she stopped having lessons decided to try it alone for the time being and lossened her reins, he is so much more forward going never needs to kick or use a stick she is so much happier and so is our pony. We have now decided to take western lessons, which we have wanted to do for a long time and we have found a fabulous instructor . We are planning to retrain our pony western style, he is only 7, I know it will be hard work but I feel this will help him. Thanks
Miriam, yes he is trained English style, but we felt it just didn't suit him. My daughter has been told continuously to shorten her reins, shorten her reins by all our past instructors, and this really slows our pony down, he didn't go into trot well, or canter,told to kick him harder, whack him with a stick to back up her leg! It wasn't working for pony or my daughter. So she stopped having lessons decided to try it alone for the time being and lossened her reins, he is so much more forward going never needs to kick or use a stick she is so much happier and so is our pony. We have now decided to take western lessons, which we have wanted to do for a long time and we have found a fabulous instructor . We are planning to retrain our pony western style, he is only 7, I know it will be hard work but I feel this will help him. Thanks
Wish you all the best LINDA and to you lovely daughter and pony as well! Love your comment on how your daughter and pony wants it! Have you checked the teeth as well?
Never the less - you can longline on the Dually and see how the pony is moving - it might be the way his frame needs to be while galloping. If it works for horse and rider - and feels good to watch, I would be a happy Mom!
Warmest Ann Lindberg Sweden CI
Hi Ann, yes I get his teeth done every 6 months, in fact the dentist is coming this Sunday so we will make sure all is well with Zebedee's teeth. My daughter who is just 11 was cantering in the school today bareback just so she can feel him more and also work on her balance, it was lovely to watch, she may not be doing everything properly but the bond the two of them are getting is brilliant. They are both really young not very experienced but are working well as a team. I will try long lining him in the dually and see how that goes. Thank you :-)