How To Train A Horse To Lower Its Head

Introduction

There are few behaviors more important for the horseman than a well-trained head lowering. The lowered head allows the horse to be mounted, bridled, and examined with ease. However, each of these tasks requires significant time, effort and patience on the part of both rider and horse. In order to train this behavior, it is necessary that both parties have an understanding of how learning occurs in animals. Additionally, it is important for riders to understand how to avoid common mistakes that can complicate training. With these things in mind, here is your complete guide to training a horse to lower its head:

Horse head lowering training

The horse should be comfortable in the training environment.
The horse should be familiar with the training equipment.
The handler should be able to demonstrate a relaxed demeanor, especially when handling the bridle and lead rope.
The horse must be in a good mood and well fed and watered before beginning this exercise.

The mechanics of training a horse to lower its head

The horse lowers its head because it is uncomfortable.
The horse lowers its head because it is scared.
The horse lowers its head because it is trying to avoid a threat.
The horse lowers its head because it is trying to avoid pain.

What to do when the horse tries to dodge your hands

If you’ve been following the steps above, and your horse still tries to dodge your hands as you’re teaching it to lower its head, don’t get frustrated. It’s not necessarily a bad thing if your horse tries to avoid being touched by your hand. That is, after all, what we’re trying to teach it!

The key is for you not to move either of your hands too quickly or too slowly: when the horse moves his head away from you, he should be able to see that there’s no threat coming from those hands so he doesn’t need to move away. On the other hand, if they move too slowly towards him (like a snail), then he’ll get bored because nothing is happening and may choose instead just keep eating grass while ignoring them altogether.

For best results when training a young foal or colt who hasn’t yet learned how much pressure their skin can take without getting hurt (and therefore will still try dodging away whenever they feel uncomfortable), try moving both hands at once so that their body cannot react quickly enough with one movement alone; this way they’ll have nowhere else left but forward or back – whichever direction we want them going!

Common mistakes in training

Don’t get frustrated if the horse doesn’t lower its head the first time.
Don’t force the horse to lower its head if it doesn’t want to.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you’re struggling with training your horse, or simply need someone else’s perspective on things.
If you’re not seeing results after a few weeks of dedicated work with your horse, don’t be afraid to stop and try again later—it might just need some time!

Reinforcing head lowering behavior with cues

In order to reinforce the horse’s lowered head, you should use a cue that is consistent and not too complicated. Your cue should be used sparingly and only when the horse is relaxed and not stressed or distracted. You should also avoid using it when the horse is tired or hungry.

With patience and consistency, you can train a horse to lower its head.

This will take time and patience, but if you are consistent in your training methods, it is possible. It is important to be patient when training a horse because you want the animal to be comfortable with the process so that it becomes more readily able to comply with your requests.

It is also important for the trainer to remain calm while they are training their animal. A calmer trainer will have an easier time communicating with their horse than someone who is nervous or tense while working with them. This also allows for them both to feel more relaxed during training sessions which makes learning easier for both parties involved in these exercises together at home on farm grounds or on public roads where people see them traveling along together near other commuters driving cars nearby as well

Conclusion

Training horses is not easy, but the rewards can be great. With patience and consistent practice, you will have a horse who has learned to lower its head with ease and confidence. The key to success is teaching your horse in small increments so he understands what you want from him at all times.