overbending.....not really

[Olympian06 <Olympian06@aol.com>]

Cathy,

    You are  very lucky.  As a dressage rider, getting your horses head down
is a major accomplishment.  When I clinic with some Top Notch People, they
have us warming up for a good 20 minutes with our horses noses dragging on the
ground.  This movement is said to be streaching the entire horses outline and
is very relaxing.  You mentioned you had just purchased him, did he have any
dressage background?  If you don't think he is going to buck, keep on with it.
You are very lucky, I would give alot to have that problem!!!!  Altho, if he
does do it on the trail that is another question.  Maybe try shorting you
reins on the trail if he wants to carry his head that low.  Good luck.  Hope
this helped!!!!

Johnna

I have a quick question for you (maybe)  I purchased a horse last fall
for endurancing this summer.  Anyway I have been working him in an
indoor arena during the winter (after the coughing finished).  I have
come to a problem in my training and I am not sure exactly what is
happening here and how to fix it.  So here goes..

He is overbending, I am not asking him to do anything but a working
trot, there is no pressure on the bit (loose rein) but his nose is
almost to the ground as if he is reaching to trying to grab/reach the
bit, or perhaps he is evading it, I am not sure.  Has anyone ever come
across this?  Does anyone have any advice to correcting it?  He doesn't
give me any reason to think that he is going to buck or anything like
that.  He seems honest enough.  But honestly, I am sure he could bend
his neck and put his head between his front legs.  I don't think he
would do well on the trail with his head in that position.  I have been
doing lots of bending excercises, as well as leg yielding exercises,
circles etc.  In other words lots of schooling stuff.

Any help would be great.
Thanks
Cathy and Ty(I promise to look where I'm going mom!)