Q: My horse sometimes tilts his head to the right, especially in leg yield. I’ve had his teeth checked, and there doesn’t seem to be anything physically wrong with him. How will this affect our score in a test?

~ Linda

A: This is a very interesting question, and essentially it’s a training issue. But I’m not going to give training advice here, because I’m assuming Linda has a trainer and I’m not there on the ground to watch exactly what’s happening—and I’m an L grad. But if I see a horse in the dressage ring with a tilted head, it tells me there is probably a connection issue and that the rider is struggling to achieve proper hind end to the bridle connection.

This typically stems from the rider using the reins incorrectly in some way. When a rider is trying to create bend or a change in the path of travel and only uses her reins, she’s likely going to lose that connection. Instead, she needs to use the reins with support from the leg and seat aids.

So, if I see a horse who consistently tilts his head throughout a test, I will comment on it. For example, I might note, “energetic, circle covers ground, head tilt, crosses nicely in leg yield, head tilt, prompt transition, head tilt.”

I might not take 0.5 or 1 point off every single movement, but I will take it off on a lot of the movements. And I will address it as a submission issue, as well as in the effectiveness of the aids score box. So, it is a pretty significant problem if it’s consistent through the test.

If—like Linda mentioned—the horse tends to tilt his head to the right in certain movements like leg yield that again indicates she’s likely using only her reins to move her horse sideways rather than using her leg and seat aids in conjunction with her reins. If she relaxes her right rein, her horse would probably straighten his head out so his ears are level and even and she’d have a lovely leg yield.

However, if I only see it in leg yield and everything else looks good—the horse is aligned properly, is crossing correctly and doing all the other things he’s supposed to be doing—I take 0.5 to 1 point off for the movement, depending on how egregious the tilt is and will probably comment on it further in the remarks.

It could bring your effectiveness of the aids score down 0.5, but if this is the only time I see it, I’m going to make the assumption as the person sitting a C that you likely don’t fully understand the aids for leg yield versus if I see it consistently throughout your test. At that point, I’m assuming you’re not riding your aids correctly at all.

Everything in dressage is a matter of degree. In a dressage test, you’re being judged on your training and how correct your training is. When I was judging awhile back, I saw so many riders trying to muscle their horses into a frame using the reins, rather than allowing the rein to go forward in order to ask your horse to step into the bridle from his hind legs to achieve proper connection. This is such an important concept to learn and work on.

For More:

• To read more with Aviva Nebesky, click here.
• You can listen to our Dressage Today Podast, hosted by Aviva and Stephany Fish Crossman, here.

About Aviva Nebesky

Aviva Nebesky started riding in her 30s, but horses rapidly took over her life and she went on to graduate with distinction from the USDF “L” Program. She actively trains and competes in dressage while maintaining a busy teaching and judging schedule throughout the mid-Atlantic. She has her USDF Bronze Medal and the Fourth Level scores towards her Silver and has competed internationally representing the USA at the Maccabi Games in Israel in 2022.

Aviva regularly works with eventers, working equitation riders, Western Dressage riders and traditional dressage riders and also cohosts the Dressage Today Podcast with Stephany Fish Crossman. With a master’s degree in social services and Social Research and decades of work in the field of physical rehab, Aviva specializes in working with adult amateurs with fear issues.