Vertical Flexion: At the stand still

Vertical Flexion: At the stand still

If you cannot get your horse to vertically flex at the stand still (like in the photo), then do not expect them to hold vertical flexion at the walk and trot etc.

I believe, and there are many varying philosophies this is just my one, that a horse needs to understand the cue for 'vertical flexion' at the stand still, before it can be expected at a moving gait. 

The most common way I see people trying to achieve this head carriage is by holding the reins tight and clenching with their legs when the horse is at the trot or canter. In this situation most often the horse is hard in the riders hands (often seem by the BULGING arm muscles of the rider and gaping mouth of the horse). In this situation also, the rider normally has to have ALOT of leg on and grip tightly with their thighs. None of this situation is ever very pleasant for the horse. 

Do not get confused by vertical flexion and collection. Vertical flexion on its own is NOT collection. Collection is when the horses hindquarters are actively engaged (it is NOT all about the face).

To achieve vertical flexion I normally go through the following steps;
Step 1: Hold the rein at the buckle up high in the air with your left hand, then slide your right hand equally down the rein until it is resting on the horses neck
Step 2: Put one hand on each rein at this point and take them out as wide as your hips (make sure they are equal)
Step 3: Hold a steady pressure on the reins- NOT pulling
NB: If the horse was to dip his nose at this point I would completely release the reins.
Step 4: If the horse has still not given to the pressure I would take my hands out wider, which would put more pressure on the horses face.
NB: Again if the horse gives to the pressure let the reins go completely loose to show him he did the right thing.
Step 5: If the horse is still leaning into the pressure I would put a jiggle in my fingers to encourage him to dip his nose. 
Step 6: If he does not respond to step 5 just WAIT, stay doing what you are doing eventually he will want the jiggling to quit and he will drop his nose.

Success tips:
-A jiggle is NOT a saw, it is one finger on each rein moving about 3cm to cause the rein to move a little bit
-Release the rein right out QUICKLY as soon as the horse does it correctly
-Try to ensure that the horse understands you want him to stand still and just move his head
-Use Step 1 method for gathering your reins, the reason is so that your reins are 1, even and 2, that they are the right length