How to Encourage a Hunter Horse with High Head Carriage to Stretch Down

I have a 16.3 hand hunter that is built uphill. His neck comes out of the shoulder a bit “high” which I like, but maybe it’s too much. When he is fresh, he carries himself really high and his frame goes a bit high. What can I do to help him carry his frame a bit lower? Is there a bit you suggest that may make a difference? Thank you very much.

I think you have answered part of your own question yourself. It sounds as though a few moments of turnout or on a lunge line (I prefer loose on a big circle) can make a significant difference in your horse’s carriage. From there, I think the solution is going to be about good, consistent flat work at home between shows. With this type of horse, I rely on working the horse both forward (basically my answer to most everything) and also “long and low.”

My favorite exercise for all horses, but this type in particular, is called neck stretching. In this exercise, start in the posting trot as it is the easiest gait, then move on to canter or slow gallop, and then back to walk. The idea is to first ride the horse forward enough that you have established contact in both hands. Once contact is established, closing the fingers (without losing forward or straight) and asking the horse to “accept” the contact is next. When a horse accepts the contact he does that in three places: mouth, poll, and hocks. When the horse has accepted the contact, the rider’s hands should relax. When this is done properly, the horse will reach out and a little bit down with his neck in reaction to the relaxation or reward. When he starts to come back up with the neck again, it is up to the rider to catch this and correct this by closing the fingers. As he accepts this pressure the reward is to relax the hand with the horse; relaxing and stretching the neck out and down a bit more. Follow this process until the horse has actually stretched his neck out and down all the way and is holding it there without help from the rider. In order to do this, the horse also has to relax his back which, in turn, is lengthening and relaxing the horse’s entire body. This is a great exercise for the horse both physically and mentally.

It will take awhile to perfect this exercise, but the effort is well worth it. Once you have a handle on it in the posting trot try it in other gaits; I suggest canter (or slow gallop), sitting trot, and finally the walk, in that order. My bit of choice is a plain snaffle as this encourages the horse to take the initial contact necessary for this exercise to work.

For another similar post see Julie Winkel’s: “Teaching Your Horse To Stretch Their Neck Out In A Hunter Under Saddle Class”