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  Discussion on Head carriage conformation?
Author Message
Member:
Kthorse

Posted on Sunday, Jan 2, 2005 - 7:48 pm:

Hi,
I have encountered a problem with a friends horse. She has asked me to help.
This horse is wonderful well muscled from doing alot of hill work and trail conditioning. The problem my friend has is that she said he hates to be collected. She asked me to work with him. She wants his head position on the verticle because she has always ridden on a loose rein.
First I found the horse to be very reponsive and gives to the bit wonderfully after a 20 minute lesson. He however finds this position very uncomfortable. He does as told, he is soft on his mouth and brings his hind under him beautifully. I told her he needs to slowly get used to the new carriage as he is using new muscles, Which is what I believe, However I do have some doubts that he is phyisicaly able to continue this postiion for long periods of time because of his conformation. He has a very short neck, that truly does not look like he is comfortable or phyisicly able when on the verticle position that dressage requires. What do I tell her? Or do you think that even with this short neck or after more training we can get him to behappier in thisposition His negatives are tension, and irritability otherwise he resonds nicely.
Member:
Pauline

Posted on Sunday, Jan 2, 2005 - 10:31 pm:

Hi Katrina,
Your post reminded me of something from Kyra Kyrklunds book.She discusses resistance at the poll due to a lack of space between the jawbone and atlas vertebra.She writes that ideally you should be able to place three fingers between the atlas and jawbone (when the horse is standing in relaxed head carriage)so that the salivary gland is not sqeezed when asking for flection at the poll or conflict is created due to pain.
"If the freedonm of the jaw is not good,the salivary gland is pressed out, and can be squeezed when the horse flexes at the poll"
I hope that this helps and at least to eliminate that possibity.
Member:
Kthorse

Posted on Monday, Jan 3, 2005 - 6:37 am:

Hi Pauline,
So in other words, if this turns out to be the problem , he should not be ridden as flexed at the poll?
He is such a wonderful horse and learns so fast . He just wants to please which is why this bothers me. He does as asked however he does seem uncomfortable and not as relaxed as he should be. I know that certain conformation issues do make it harder for some horses to flex. I have never encountered this with any of my horses so its new to me. Should I tell the owner to ridehim with his head in a position comfortable to the horse. As long as she keeps nice bit contact and As long as he is not travelling on his fore. I personally dont think his head position should be that important. Or should I keep riding him like this for short periods until he muscles up and gets used to this position. My gut tells me otherwise. I usually follow my gut but this is not my horse. Any thoughts very welcome. Thank you
Member:
Kthorse

Posted on Monday, Jan 3, 2005 - 6:50 am:

I think I found the information I need. I can work this horse in a lower frame untill he builds the required muscles.
I am using this site as a guide.

https://www.classicaldressage.com/articles/seidler1.html

I still would love to hear comments. Thanks
Katrina
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