For a totally different approach, you might look to rather old school classical dressage to do simple work in hand and on long lines. Some do this with side reins (not tight), some use a cavesson (spanish style). I like Manolo Mendez’ teaching, but there are many others who could be a good resource. For a horse who has worked hard and now has to learn a different shape/way of moving, going slow this way can yield surprisingly fast results.
Enjoy the process! Sounds like you have a nice fellow.
This as I said they only suck back with side reins if the side reins are too tight.
I have used a chambon. They can get away with just coming down and not working.
If he has a really high head carriage. You need to be quick to turn your head sideways if he throws his head. You can be knocked out.
I had a “giraffe” mare. She HAD to have a standing martingale on to protect my face.
I got tired of using a standing martingale. I went to my equitation books for an answer, and in “Give Your Horse a Chance” by D’Endrodny (sp?) I found this technique which I’ve used successfully with several horses.
While doing this be careful about your horses eyes!
Bring your hands up so the reins are parallel to the cheek-pieces of the bridle. Keep contact, hold the reins up keeping normal contact, moving your hands as the horse’s head moves (if walking or cantering.) BE PREPARED, some bad “giraffes” will, all of a sudden, “dive” their head down, sometimes to the ground. Keep contact, apply your legs, and reduce contact when the horse’s head is in its proper place.
With the first horse I tried this, at first I had to do it several times each ride. Gradually she improved, but she still tended to be a giraffe. Finally, in hopes of further progress, I made me up a chambon and lunged her in it three times. She improved greatly after that, in that she stopped trotting inverted while loose in the pasture. I still had to do the reins up parallel to the cheek pieces the next few months, but only occasionally(once or twice a month) instead of several times a ride.
Every other horse has also improved with the reins parallel to the cheek pieces. With these other horses I did NOT have to use a chambon, it generally just took three rides of me using the parallel reins when the horse inverted, to pretty much stop the giraffe from appearing again. None of these other horses “dove” their nose down to the ground, they lowered their heads while reaching forward with their noses. Loosen the contact, but keep light contact until the horse’s head is where you want it, then reward the horse by taking the weight of contact off of their mouths.
I found that light, supple fingers help prevent the horse from acting like a giraffe. Stiff, “holding” fingers incite these horses to raise their heads. When I use my legs as a driving signal I always move my hands forward a little bit, and I relax my fingers. When I give a rein aid I “release” it immediately (back to normal contact or lighter.)
YMMV
Also try the “ribbon candy” exercise, sometimes called Christmas candy.
Along the long side of the arena, take a few walking steps toward the center, then turn back to the rail as tightly as you can, reach the rail, turn back to center - describing the curl of the candy. SLowly make your way down the long wall. This bending exercise is greatly limbering to the neck and back. Also very relaxing to do on a day when they are high as a kite.
One of my favorites, great for everything from limbering up, teaching them to follow the rein with their shoulders and then body, keep the mind busy, etc. I used it yesterday with a GP horse and a training level QH. Perfect for everyone!
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