Hunter Headset

[ToujoursLesBelles]

So I'm training my mare to keep her head nice and low and flat for hunter shows on the flat as well as o/f, and she will put her head in the right position, but I can't really tell when she is doing it(and when to stop asking her to, once she does it), my trainer has to tell me when..
My trainer says I should be able to tell by "feel" when her head is in the right position, but I haven't had any luck with that yet, and I end up continuing to ask her to do something she already is doing!
How can I tell when her head is in the right spot, so I don't mess up what we've worked so hard to train her?

[fowlerk]

I have been doing the same thing and I can tell when he does that headset I feel his back really stretch out. Good luck with this!

[Comanchegurl14]

Maybe the reason you're so confused is you don't know how it feels when your horses head is in the right position. Maybe have your trainer watch you one time and tell you when her head is in the right position and memorize that feeling. Then you'll start to know just by feel. That's what my riding instructor does with me. :) Good Luck! Hope this helps!!
God Bless,
Rachelle

[bethfornow]

You don't need to memorize her head set so much as what the correct head set does to the rest of her body. When her head is in the correct "hunter" position, she can't pull with her front. She has to push off her rear which gives hunters that floating trot. What you need too feel for is that little extra push out of the saddle when your posting.

Hope this helps.

[ToujoursLesBelles]

thanks guys!!!
comanchegurl, yeah my trainer always tells me when she has her head correctly placed, but i still cant seem to get it...
bethfornow ill definetly try to feel the rest of her body more, and i sort of can now, its just really faint and i dont really feel the difference unless my trainer points it out...
thanks again!

[pony hunters 101]

You see many of today's horses in an incorrect headset. Many people think that a head set is set by just see sawing the reins or wiggling them down into a frame when that is really incorrect. You need to engage the backend so they arent going on the forehand. Make sure you aren't just wiggling the reins :)

[saddleseatsweetie]

i had the same problem when i rode hunt seta i could never feel it
when ur trainer says her head is in the right spot look down and memorize the spot its at then while ur riding glance down with just ur eyes(want to keep the good eq. lol))and see if its in the spot that u memorized if its not make it go in that spot

[ToujoursLesBelles]

thanks guys!
pony hunters: yeah i am trying to get her back end engaged, and by wiggling the reins she figures it out and does that...gosh, just so complicated :/ haha but thank you!
and saddleseatsweetie: thanks!! maybe i can memorize how her head feels in the correct position the same way riders learn to feel the right diagonal and lead...

[saddleseatsweetie]

no problem
i would try to keep from seesawing her head down use ur legs to get her head down
pick up on one side of the reigns and press the same leg son her and keep it firmly presed on her until she puts her head where u want it then release so she learns thats what u want, all hands can make a hard mouth
it should be 10% hands and 90% legs when u ride

[alliekk]

Ask your trainer to ride her and set her head and tell you kind of how she feels to her/him. That worked with my Quarter Horse, I had the same problem, only I knew where his head was supposed to go, the problem was keeping it there. She got on him and kind of told me how it felt to her, like an instructions manual.
I don't know if this will help or not, but maybe you could try putting knots in the reins. When your trainer tells you her head is in the right spot, put your fingers on that exact spot on the reins and ask her to stop. Once you have the knot in place, ask her to pick up the trot again and put your hands on the knots and see if you can put her head back in the position to where your reins felt perfect, it may help.
P.S. this idea just kind of popped into my head, I've never tried it, honestly. Maybe it will work though... DON'T FORGET TO HAVE FUN!!!