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  Discussion on Cures of no Avail
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Posted on Friday, Mar 8, 2002 - 9:10 pm:

Thank you Janette!
I have a 4yo TWH and have read your Gaited Articles. They are very helpful. My horse can do turns on the forehand and knows shoulder-fore and leg yielding...but he JUST WON'T DrOP HIS HEAD!! I've tried to do your stretch walk but he is insistant on standing "tall n' proud." I thought that it might be his back, or saddle fit or the way I sit on him and my trainer and Chiropractor don't believe these are the cause. He doesn't even relax his neck in the 12 acre pasture! He eats and grazes at ground level...but that's about it.

I'm going to start trying to teach him how to give to pressure with downward pressure on his bridle/halter. I DO give him treats to stretch his neck and poll. He is VERY sensitive about his poll and ears. I've got to be sneaky to put his bridle on over his ears. I have to slowly rub and scratch my way up his neck or face ust to massage the knots on his poll. Do you think this could be the cause? I had a Chiropractor come out and am doing all the exersices she said (although not daily like I should.) Are there any suggestions to get him to stretch down? I do use a snaffle bit. I've used hollow (fat) bits, and french/Dr B birs with no change in head carraige. Let me know if you need any other information to help me with this "sight unseen" problem. He is SOOOO pacey naturally. (He DOES come together and do the running walk when we walk to the indoor arean 3 miles away. He was trained at a TWH breeding barn and was going to be shown on "stilts". I believe he "knows his job" and feels he only has to do it in the indoor) I hope that helps. Thanks for reading all of this!

Posted on Tuesday, Mar 12, 2002 - 9:38 am:

Hi Joanie,
Sorry for the dealy in responding to you. I don't always get by here every day.
A few questions for you: How old is your horse? How long was he trained "big lick"? how is he bred? How long have you been working with him?

Some of the TWH that the big lick breeders turn out seem to truly be genetically hardwired to pace. These really pacey horses are sometimes very difficult to ever get good natural smooth gaits from.
You said that he won't DrOp his head, but is he willing to "give you his nose" or does he want to stick his nose out and travel "hollow"?
Would it be possible to post a picture of him taken while he is moving? Or better yet can you send me a video of him?
I'll be happy to help anyway I can.
Janette

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 3, 2002 - 11:02 am:

I, too, own an ex-BL TWH. He was VERY pacey when I got him, altho' he did have a good square flatwalk. I do everything possible to get his head down to stretch his topline. He was very ventroflexxed from moving in that head-up position, probably in a long shank bit. His lower neck muscles were also very prominent. He was a very upside down horse.
For the last year+ I have been riding him long and low [he almost falls asleep ;-) ] I also am sure to turn him out to roll and play w/my other playful TWH every day. I have also encouraged him to trot while lunging to offset the pace and work the diagonal rather than lateral frame. He is much looser than a year ago and can do a nice RW now. I have also taken him from a long shanked bit back to a snaffle [in controlled situations] and avoid any gag bits which raise the head. Many TWHs are never trained in a snaffle and have no idea how to give to the bit. They stiffen up against it.
I hope you don't give up on your ex-BL horse. If their minds haven't been lost in that cruel show world, they can be the most loving, appreciative horses.
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