Western Pleasure Headset

gallop girl · 06-28-2008, 01:26 PM

So I got assigned this gorgeous Appaloosa horse and I'm supposed to train her a bit; speed control, headset, neck reining, the works. And I've been having some difficulties setting her head.
I ride her with a curb bit and a tie down, which doesn't do much because her head is always way up.
I don't want to use any devices because I don't own her, and I don't wanna have anything extra or whatever.
So if anyone has a tip or trick that'd be great.

christinap · 06-28-2008, 01:58 PM

How old is she? It take a while to develop a true low head set using just your seat and pressure / release.
A tie down is just making her pull against it builting up the bottom of her neck. Wrong direction. Start with just a snaffle and If you must use a device A running martingale helps teach her to give to the presure of the bit.

Quita-keepen · 06-28-2008, 02:03 PM

I have used bunggie cords, I liked the out come. But I have heard of it messing up some horses, ask the owner first. But I loved them.

Circle C · 06-28-2008, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gallop girl

So I got assigned this gorgeous Appaloosa horse and I'm supposed to train her a bit; speed control, headset, neck reining, the works. And I've been having some difficulties setting her head.
I ride her with a curb bit and a tie down, which doesn't do much because her head is always way up.
I don't want to use any devices because I don't own her, and I don't wanna have anything extra or whatever.
So if anyone has a tip or trick that'd be great.

wait a min...back up...

why are you using a tie down?

if she doesnt neck rein then you should have her in a snaffle, NOT a curb. A curb is not for direct reining... you will ruin her mouth.

what is this this horse currently being used for?

Lopinslow · 06-28-2008, 03:32 PM

I agree, get rid of that tie down! "headsets" come from collection and being broke. a tie down does nothing but force the head down and dump the horse over on their front end.

as others said, if the horse does not neck rein, why is she in a curb bit? curb bits are for broke horses, and it sounds as if she is certainly not broke.. she needs to be in a snaffle.

Beau · 06-28-2008, 04:00 PM

Put a snaffle on her, and take the curb and tie down off, those are bandaids, getting you nowhere. You need to get her supple and relaxed, before you worry about headset. Get her flexing around, do lots of circles and serpentines, bending him will help him to get supple. Once he's supple and relaxed, he will begin to drop his head down. And do not put that curb back on until he can neck rein, and neck rein well. You do not direct rein with a curb, ever. You don't train a horse to go slow, and with a low relaxed headset, in a curb. You train it in a snaffle, and don't move up to a curb until he's got it right.

AllAroundRdr · 06-28-2008, 04:47 PM

Your lowered headset will come from the hindend (do a HGS search for IMPULSION) - your impulsion will come from proper balance - it's a trickling effect. You have to have the puzzle piece in the right place in order to get the finished outcome you want.

I agree entirely with pulling any such curb-type bit off this horse as well as the tie-down. If the horse is traveling with its head in the air a) a tie-down doesn't FIX the problem it just covers it up (and actually makes it worse) and b) hinders the horse's proper balance which destroys any sort of headset. I'd rule out pain being the reason for the head in the air before riding the horse again. The curb could (and probably is) playing a HUGE role in the horse's head being in the air (i.e. evading the bit).

shyxpony · 06-28-2008, 09:38 PM

Ahh, the good old headset question...

People really need to start making use of the search button! There are TONS of headset threads out there, go look. You are new though so it's forgivable

No worries.

quarterqueen267 · 06-28-2008, 09:48 PM

I use a martingale but my horse has a natuarally low head set

gluey33 · 06-28-2008, 11:03 PM

I do agree that a snaffle would be better and definately get rid of the tie down(just not appropriate in this case).
How about posting some pics of the horse, preferably with you riding so we can be a little more helpful in the advice. Its a bit hard without knowing how the horse moves and what your doing.

06-28-2008, 01:26 PM	#1
gallop girl Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 5 Images: 5	Western Pleasure Headset So I got assigned this gorgeous Appaloosa horse and I'm supposed to train her a bit; speed control, headset, neck reining, the works. And I've been having some difficulties setting her head. I ride her with a curb bit and a tie down, which doesn't do much because her head is always way up. I don't want to use any devices because I don't own her, and I don't wanna have anything extra or whatever. So if anyone has a tip or trick that'd be great.

06-28-2008, 01:58 PM	#2
christinap Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: ohio Posts: 809 Images: 61	How old is she? It take a while to develop a true low head set using just your seat and pressure / release. A tie down is just making her pull against it builting up the bottom of her neck. Wrong direction. Start with just a snaffle and If you must use a device A running martingale helps teach her to give to the presure of the bit. __________________ : redhorse:: running: Why breed your own when you can save one? Last edited by christinap; 06-28-2008 at 02:23 PM.

06-28-2008, 02:03 PM	#3
Quita-keepen Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 582 Images: 32 Blog Entries: 5	I have used bunggie cords, I liked the out come. But I have heard of it messing up some horses, ask the owner first. But I loved them. __________________ PLEASE don't feed fingers to the horses! Q.u.i.t.a & C.o.w.b.o.y

06-28-2008, 03:32 PM	#5
Lopinslow Senior Member+ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: MN Posts: 557 Images: 22	I agree, get rid of that tie down! "headsets" come from collection and being broke. a tie down does nothing but force the head down and dump the horse over on their front end. as others said, if the horse does not neck rein, why is she in a curb bit? curb bits are for broke horses, and it sounds as if she is certainly not broke.. she needs to be in a snaffle. __________________ Quality AQHA Western Pleasure Horses The Naughty Version, Goallthewaymay & Unzipped n Naughty

06-28-2008, 04:00 PM	#6
Beau Senior Member+ Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 1,117 Images: 101 Blog Entries: 2	Put a snaffle on her, and take the curb and tie down off, those are bandaids, getting you nowhere. You need to get her supple and relaxed, before you worry about headset. Get her flexing around, do lots of circles and serpentines, bending him will help him to get supple. Once he's supple and relaxed, he will begin to drop his head down. And do not put that curb back on until he can neck rein, and neck rein well. You do not direct rein with a curb, ever. You don't train a horse to go slow, and with a low relaxed headset, in a curb. You train it in a snaffle, and don't move up to a curb until he's got it right. __________________ life ain't always beautiful, but it's a beautiful ride Member of the HGS 20lb Club SW:185 lbs CW:165 lbs GW:145 lbs

06-28-2008, 04:47 PM	#7
AllAroundRdr Senior Member+ Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Southern CA - The Land of Fires & Shakey Ground Posts: 3,083 Images: 9	Your lowered headset will come from the hindend (do a HGS search for IMPULSION) - your impulsion will come from proper balance - it's a trickling effect. You have to have the puzzle piece in the right place in order to get the finished outcome you want. I agree entirely with pulling any such curb-type bit off this horse as well as the tie-down. If the horse is traveling with its head in the air a) a tie-down doesn't FIX the problem it just covers it up (and actually makes it worse) and b) hinders the horse's proper balance which destroys any sort of headset. I'd rule out pain being the reason for the head in the air before riding the horse again. The curb could (and probably is) playing a HUGE role in the horse's head being in the air (i.e. evading the bit). __________________ People say riding isn't a sport...Well you see, the 'ball' I play with has a mind of its own. I've been Goosed..and I LIKED it!

06-28-2008, 09:38 PM	#8
shyxpony Senior Member+ Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: In the barn! Posts: 1,527 Images: 1	Ahh, the good old headset question... People really need to start making use of the search button! There are TONS of headset threads out there, go look. You are new though so it's forgivable No worries. __________________ we bet you know one little girl who'd rather ride all day, than dance all night!

06-28-2008, 09:48 PM	#9
quarterqueen267 Full Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 62	I use a martingale but my horse has a natuarally low head set __________________ Jen Allen & Dee Zipper Is Lucky

06-28-2008, 11:03 PM	#10
gluey33 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Victoria, Australia Posts: 340 Images: 5	I do agree that a snaffle would be better and definately get rid of the tie down(just not appropriate in this case). How about posting some pics of the horse, preferably with you riding so we can be a little more helpful in the advice. Its a bit hard without knowing how the horse moves and what your doing.

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