How to Set a Horse's Head

Understand that a proper headset is the natural by-product of a well-balanced horse, not an end in itself. Each breed of horse will have a different natural headset based on his conformation and breeding. Quarter horses generally have necks that come straight out from their shoulders, resulting in a naturally low head carriage. Standardbreds and Friesian necks come up out of the shoulder at a steeper angle, resulting in a higher head carriage. Trying to force your horse into a headset that is not natural for his conformation will be an exercise in futility.

Longe your horse and watch how he moves and carries himself. When you longe your horse you remain in the center of a circle and your horse moves around you on the longe line. A longe whip can be used to provide a bit of encouragement as needed.

Also watch your horse as he runs in the field because he will show his natural head carriage and it would be foolish to try to force it to be different under saddle. You can train your horse to work off of his hindquarters, however, and that will help you achieve the best possible headset for your particular horse.

Ride your horse and do a lot of exercises with circles, serpentines and other shapes that cause him to bend and flex his body. The more flexible he is, the better he will be able to move off his hindquarters and the lighter his forequarters, including his head and neck, will be.

Practice doing half halts to get your horse moving off his hindquarters. With a half halt you cease forward motion and then immediately move off again. This teaches the horse to sit back on his haunches, strengthening the hindquarters and improving his flexibility. To do a half halt pick up slightly on the reins and give the "whoa" command, then immediately cue the horse to go forward. Repeat this exercise as you move around the arena or down the trail, but never do it at the same spot or your horse will learn to anticipate.

Use draw reins sparingly and only as a refinement tool. Draw reins can be a good way to refine an already good headset, but the headset itself should come naturally as the horse becomes more balanced. The more balanced your horse becomes, the closer his headset will match what you see when he runs in the field.

To use draw reins, connect the snap on each rein to the ring on the front of the girth, the loop the rein through the ring in the snaffle bit; use only a mild snaffle bit when working with draw reins. The reins loop through the bit and up over the saddle. Always ride two handed when working with the draw reins, and be sure to keep your hands quiet and soft. In the wrong hands, draw reins can do more harm than good, so be sure you know how to use them before you start. If you need help, ask a more experienced trainer.