[IIIBarsV]

Also, be prepared to, once you get a "down" cue established, correct some rooting on the bit by holding the pressure a little longer than you do when she goes down. The trainer who rode my 3 yr old for 6 weeks made him root on the bit so bad with the head down cue that every time you touched the reins, he was dropping his head like a bomb. He basically had to be laid off his training so that we can restart him properly.

[jackiesbabyjet]

ride that poor horse in a snaffle bit.. Sounds like she just needs riding time before you train her for anything.
not sounding rude or anything: How much experience have you had in training a horse for WP?
WP is a long prosses to train for. I started training my gelding for WP 3years ago and he's not even finished in it.
I say take off the the tie down and the curb bit. What kind of curb bit is it by the way?
Can she move off your seat and leg? Does she bend at all??
When you say she used to be a racehorse is she pretty broke and calm when riding?
WP takes alot to get what you need without ruining the horse, Impulison,carriage,hind end impulison.
How much time do you have to train this horse?
I personally would ride her in snaffle and work on her turning and neck reining. Start slowing her and teaching her about impulison and carriage.
then I would gradually move into teaching the headset but don't start it without the proper impulison.
I hope to god your trainer knows about WP. I've seen soo many horses ruined by there trainers.

[Sheza_Angel]

I recommend the use of a snaffle - not a curb! They are just what is needed in this type of situation. I like to call tie downs a temporary training aid.

[MyhorseAnnie]

I haven't read everyones post, but, heres a thread that might help. It helped me!
How to get head down farther-2 :]
How to get head down farther????
Theres quiet a few pages... Hope that helps some!

[dotgotcalm]

Originally Posted by AllAroundRdr

I'm not disputing I'm just trying to understand what you're saying. (Bold) -- I could be completely misunderstanding this section, but although we all want I horses to move away/off pressure, there's that lovely line of understanding and moving away/off and evading. This horse obviously appears to be lacking some fundemental training and there's gaps here and there -- how would you prevent the horse evading the discomfort rather than understanding and following through with what the rider is asking which is to yield to the pressure?

Doesn't everything we teach a horse involving moving away from pressure, be it leg or hand, start as an evasion on the horses part? The horse looks for a way out, eventually makes the move we are looking for, we reward by releasing, and with repetition the horse learns the correct response to that particular pressure/cue.

I'm giving her the crude, over exaggerated version of this but it is something that I teach all my horses. With refinement I can close both legs, hint at raising my hand straight up, at any gait, and my horses respond by brideling up. Of course, that also involves flexing at the poll but since this horse sounds high headed and exciteable I'd like to get some neck control to take a bit of fire out before I'd mess with the face much. Maybe it's just me but I honestly can't do much with a horse who's got his head up and his back hollow so I work on lowering the head and stretching the topline, long and low, first. Works for me but it's certainly not the only way to go.

[gallop girl]

Mk, soo she's definitely doing better, but her head is still really high. I tried doing the heal rolling thing, but she's uber sensitive, so she thinks i'm asking her to run...


Um i got new pictures



Racingg Dream


Erm, driving dream?



Just plain dream



She's soo pretty, lol. i love her a lot.
I did join up today...it went well
I take time to bond with her, so i'm not like a random chick making her do weird things. lol.



Her speed is still an issue, but i think i can handle that.



Any more tips or tricks or training issues?

[Zypheir's Ring]

I would just search "Headsets" on the forums search and see what you get. Also "Collection" "western pleasure" "WP frame" might be some other things you'd want to search.

Beautiful horse!

[belle4]

She is a gorgous mare. I think you should take a few steps back and switch to a snaffle. Good luck with re-schooling this beautiful mare. Take your time and do it right with kindness and compassion. This mare deserves that and more. She is a looker.

[jackiesbabyjet]

stunning mare.. Take the time to reschool her and patience is the key.

[IIIBarsV]

Oook... while I agree, she's very nice... I'm going to just come out and say it that I doubt very much she is ever going to really want to slow down for you. She's been a racehorse as well as a chariot racehorse! If she won anything in either, then she had to have liked going fast. While you can train a fast-liking horse to go slow (I've done it with my gelding and my little roan mare), and even got them to do some western pleasure.... it takes a LOT of patience. They will always want to go fast. Even when they know how, you will have to ask repeatedly and it will get frustrating.

My advice now after seeing the mare's background is to just focus on individual "get her more broke" things.... giving to bit pressure, some speed control, trotting out long and low, turning on the haunches, neckreining around. She will not be a flat and long necked horse- she's not built for that. She is built to be strong from behind and light up front (I bet she's a fabulous and powerful mover). You will kind of have to take what you can get- her neck will be more archy (more dressage-like), so don't fight for lower. Dropping her too flat will put her on the forehand at the canter and be very difficult for her.

The real importance should be to get her soft on the bit (I might've said this already in other posts)... and just asking for lightness, which you can then apply to speed control, vertical flexion, etc. As far as training goes, this mare will actually be able to correctly lift and collect herself, unlike low-necked horses who have to work harder to lift their low-set front ends.