Training Tip: Teach Your Horse to Lower His Head for Bridling

Anytime I’m haltering or bridling a horse, I want him to lower his head and slightly look in at me. That’s the complete opposite of a horse throwing his head up in the air, trying to get away from you, while you have to get on your tiptoes to reach his face.

I teach my horses to lower their heads to my belt level with the Intermediate level exercise Touch and Rub: Poll. Using the exercise, you’ll teach the horse to lower his head when you gently touch his poll. Then, you can ask him to tip his head in toward you by pressing the right side of his jaw with your fingertips.

If you get in the habit of asking your horse to “assume the position” every time you halter or bridle him, he’ll automatically start doing it on his own.

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