How to teach a horse to set thier head/collect?

mistysangel0 · 11-05-2009, 09:12 AM

I was told by some one that to teach a horse to set their head you had to give them half halts and like hold them back but then give them leg and urge them forward at the same time? That doesn't seem right to me, it seems kind of counter productive, but I don't have any idea as to how to do it. Is that right?

Also I was told that getting a surcingle and lunging them with that will teach my two year to collect and set her head?

I ask because I know you can teach them to "look the part" but they aren't really engaging and that can hurt them.
I know that I will need to teach Snickers to collect but I want to make sure I do it the right way.

analise · 11-05-2009, 09:27 AM

The half halt thing is less about head and more about engaging the hindquarters (if they're doing that, the head part comes naturally). Basically, you use your leg and seat to encourage energy and forward movement but you contain it with your hands (not like holding on the reins or pulling, but steady contact and little half halts).

It's not something I'm yet too focused on working on with my boy (we're still working on going straight, turning nicely, going forward, rating speed within a gait, etc).

A lot of the exercises my instructor (do you have one to help you with this?) has us doing though are about encouraging him to get off his forehand and engage his hindend. "rollbacks" at the trot, going over trot poles, that sort of thing.

Lopinslow · 11-05-2009, 12:22 PM

you might get a lot more responses in the training section.

If you do a search on headsets and collection, you'll get a LOT of information.

It isn't so much about a headset, but getting the horse to be collected and use their body correctly. the headset should be the last thing you worry about, and usually comes by itself if you are riding correctly

11-05-2009, 09:12 AM	#1
mistysangel0 Senior Member+ Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: In your closet Posts: 2,383 Images: 539	How to teach a horse to set thier head/collect? I was told by some one that to teach a horse to set their head you had to give them half halts and like hold them back but then give them leg and urge them forward at the same time? That doesn't seem right to me, it seems kind of counter productive, but I don't have any idea as to how to do it. Is that right? Also I was told that getting a surcingle and lunging them with that will teach my two year to collect and set her head? I ask because I know you can teach them to "look the part" but they aren't really engaging and that can hurt them. I know that I will need to teach Snickers to collect but I want to make sure I do it the right way. __________________ Hold on just a bit longer bubby, I love you Doc horses have the ability to give us an escape form out mundane existance real love is forever Aunt Bunny Sept 27 07 Destiny June 12 08 Koti Jan 9 09 Austin Oct 28 09

11-05-2009, 12:22 PM	#3
Lopinslow Senior Member+ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: MN Posts: 2,256 Images: 51	you might get a lot more responses in the training section. If you do a search on headsets and collection, you'll get a LOT of information. It isn't so much about a headset, but getting the horse to be collected and use their body correctly. the headset should be the last thing you worry about, and usually comes by itself if you are riding correctly __________________ Quality AQHA Western Pleasure Horses The Naughty Version, Goallthewaymay & Unzipped n Naughty

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11-05-2009, 09:27 AM	#2
analise Full Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Maryland Posts: 172 Images: 10	The half halt thing is less about head and more about engaging the hindquarters (if they're doing that, the head part comes naturally). Basically, you use your leg and seat to encourage energy and forward movement but you contain it with your hands (not like holding on the reins or pulling, but steady contact and little half halts). It's not something I'm yet too focused on working on with my boy (we're still working on going straight, turning nicely, going forward, rating speed within a gait, etc). A lot of the exercises my instructor (do you have one to help you with this?) has us doing though are about encouraging him to get off his forehand and engage his hindend. "rollbacks" at the trot, going over trot poles, that sort of thing.