The same thing must be happening to Pony: since I’m giving her new and different cues, she’s experimenting in order to figure out what I’m asking her to do. Because I’m using my reins differently than I used to, she’s starting to hold her head in all kinds of different and surprising positions and, in essence, asking me where I want her head to be when I use the new cues.
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Here, Pony is flexed at her poll (the area where her head attaches to her neck) and her face is almost vertical from nose to forehead. Horses often feel vulnerable when they are in this position. Why? Mostly because they are relinquishing some control to their riders when they carry their heads this way: the action of the bit is much harder for them to fight against when their heads are down and their polls are flexed. Also, carrying their heads this way changes their balance– and horses really dislike feeling unbalanced: their fear of falling down is very strong.
Pony doesn’t look afraid here because she trusts me not to cause her to lose her balance and not to broadside her with strong, abrubt tugs on her reins.
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