Thank you for your comments - it was quite a loss and I have decided to sponsor a traveling trophy in remembrance of Zip for the high point reining horse in our horseshow club. I miss him so terribly yet and haven't really gotten into the other horses lately.

wow. Im really sorry for your loss. I know I cried my eyes out when the horse I rode died, and I didn't even own him.. I can't even begin to imagine what it would be like to lose a horse I owned.

I am based In Wadsworth and i am looking for a dressage partner for "pas de deux". I have a Lusitano mare , grey, 15.5 hands, at level 1 or 2 ( half pass at trot) and I would like to find someone who is interested in this kind of work. I am experienced in pas de deux choregraphy so i can design it.

i would try shuffling the bit, that is where you just open and close one hand on the rein, which causes the bit to move back and forth in the horses mouth, this is how i get my horse to put his head down. I also tried this on a very hyper thoroughbred mare who i think is about ten, she was off the track and a jumper, she did put her head down. After you shuffle the bit, if she puts her head down relax you grip on the reins, this is her reward. let me know how it goes and if it works....

Think more that she needs to relax her back. Having her head down is a very balanced position, and she may like it better once she has even muscle tone. This position will not come from trying to get it through her face, but allowing it to happen and making it pleasant for her.
*First make sure you are easy on her back. a good steady and inviting seat will allow her to relax it and let it bounce freely with her trot. This will also help if the problem has to do with back pain.
*The next step is to gently give her whatever cue you use at other gaits. There is no reason you should have to go to extra measures whatsoever. If she doesn't respond, Don't use punishment yet. She probably hasn't given you control of her back and shoulder yet. This may be hard if she doesn't trust you not to pull her head down.
*****Do the below exercises at the walk first until you perfect them*****
*To get her shoulder, Hold your outside rein firmly, with unchanging pressure. (This may upset her at first.) Then soften her up with your inside rein gently and your inside leg at the girth. As always, you outside leg should mimic your outside rein.
*When she gives in (it may take a bit of time, but she will) she will push her shoulder out for you without changing her direction or her head position. At this point comes reward (Maintain all aids, but release the inside rein and use that hand to rub her neck. Use soothing verbal aids with it.) After brief praise, repeat the exercise until you can get her to do it at the trot.
* Now you have submission AND a relaxed back.
I hope this helps :]

I had a similar problem!

What type of bit are you using? If you have her in a bigger bit, like a kimberwick, moving her into a french mouth or other soft snaffle might help. Going back to a more basic- and dressage appropriate :) - bit helped my worried mare relax and accept the bit more. If she's already in a snaffle, make sure you are paying attention to keeping a soft hand, (complimenting a soft seat, as the above post suggests). Also make sure you keep your legs solid, because the constant pressure should encourage her to move into the bridle and move with more balance.

In addition to the exercises she suggested, I would recommend including serpentines at the walk and trot, as well as figure eights at the trot and canter (with simple lead changes). Both worked wonders for my mare's balance. Even just including them as part of your warm up can show great improvements. I also use them to get my stressed out horse thinking and paying attention to me instead of scary surroundings at shows.

If none of this helps, you may want to try side reins while lunging before a ride. I know side reins are scary, but they can just be used to encourage a natural carriage when used properly.

If you have never used them before: I would recommend the nylon kind with the rubber donut in the middle, and only on the longest setting (she doesn't need to get all jacked up, because that doesn't help anyone! lol). When you have her completely tacked up, buckle one side rein on each side of the girth. When you are ready to lunge her in the arena, tie up the reins so they don't get in her way. Then clip one side rein to each side of your mare's bit, and run your lunge line through the ring in her snaffle and over her head, clipping it to the other side. Make sure to have her track both ways, otherwise her balance will just get worse!

I hope this is useful advice! Good luck!