western pleasure headset...

[DixieGirl]

i'm in the process of training my QH to lope for WP. She has the level and perfect headset at W/J but doesn't wanna keep her head level and go slow for the lopeing part. do you guys have any training techniques or tools I could use to help me? if you do thanks!

[iluvcreek4vr]

Im training my horse to do the same thing...

-Small circles at the lope that will slow it down(it has with Creek)

-If you have a round pen that will help too.

-You could try draw reins also but if your horse throws his head than those might be kinda dangerous.

[DixieGirl]

ok, thanks!

[Manda]

I would suggest a surcingle and side reins. It works in english, and it worked for my crazy TB when I was training him not to look like a giraffe.

[moodymare]

Side reins, as Manda has said. They're really great in English to get the head frame or shape to what you're looking for.

[DixieGirl]

ok! are there negative about using side reins?

[Manda]

I used them on a crazy, pretty much unbroke 3yr old TB, and he took to them well.

I would suggest using the one's that have elastic (http://www.horsetackco.com/legacy-leather-elastic-side-reins.html) because it provides a little "give" to the horse.

Start them off as loose as they go, with no pressure on the horses head, and gradually make them tighter (I would tighten every 5-7 days with Wes, and he did great with them)

Just use them in a round pen with a surcingle, and take the horse through it's paces using the side reins, eventually the horse will figure out that they have to put their head down to relieve the pressure.

[DixieGirl]

ok, thanks!

[mandyicequeen14]

With Dutch boy I rock the bit very smoothly, (no jerky motions) and tell him easy and he would sumwhat give me a headset (im working on it also)

But I've riden Joey (a horse at my barn) and we think he was trained by pros cuz when we do that he gives us the perfect headset.

[DixieGirl]

yeah, see Bargain has that best WP headset anyone could ask for in W/J but she tends to want to rush in the canter and put her head up a little more.

[crazy4horses]

I would suggest using side reins or a surcingle, and maybe lungeing Bargain at the canter. Hope this helps Taylor!

Here is a link that might help (I think its REALLY helpful!): http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080608182713AAE86qm

[DixieGirl]

wow, thats a good article! thanks everybody!