Opinions please

I dont see this as a problems. I have a horse that will have her head way low when at a trot and lope. But i like low headset, it keeps there head lower and more focused on the cow when im working them.

Hoyt- Working a cow it is great to have their nose low, Heck I don't mind it to much if they drop down clost to that running barrels.  Riding on a trail- you want their nose up a bit or something is gonna get snagged and if they spook you want a little more control.
 
I had a pleasure horse who would do this just to be sarcastic, he was one of those horses.  I would GENTLY pick-up the reins and lift his nose up and push him forward a bit.  As soon as he lifted I would release.  Once I did this a few times he would be fine.  I had to do it almost everytime I rode him.
 
When I say gently I mean to pull up steady, I usually push my hand out over his neck to lift straight up and not back.  Don't be afraid to give a good solid tug, but DON'T rip on his face or mouth.
 
Hopes this helps.

Both my horses would pull down at the bit when I was trotting them creating slack in the reins.  Once my trainer said they were taking advantage of me, I was very light handed and afraid of hurting their mouths, I would not let them do it and the problem stopped.  Sometimes it is attitude.
 
I total agree with getting their head up on the trail, definitely!  A low head is a setup for a buck or something else.

That's basically what I was doing, putting my hands far forward and pulling up on his head until he lifted it, then release as soon as he did.  I have not had a horse do this before, just wondered if anyone else had.  I don't like it at all as it puts him in perfect bucking position should he desire to do so (which he hasn't so far, luckily).  I just think it's weird that his nose is practically skimming the ground.  He also gnashes his teeth when he does it, which is a trait he has when he gets worried or is not quite sure about something.  He's kind of a goofball.

Hi there Cinchy, I'm inclined to agree with everything here, but I just wondered how the horse is putting his head down.  By that I mean is he pinning his ears and sticking his head down to avoid rein pressure or is he casually lowering his head?  If the former, I would definitely correct it.  Have him flex his head around and move his hindquarters away a few steps, then continue doint what you were doing.  If the latter, he's just relaxing and it's a good thing!  He's stretching his topline down and using himself from behind - which is also good!  Just have patience, and ask him politely to come up under you instead of licking the ground

No sign of aggression at all, ears forward, seems relaxed, but his head gets sooooo low (yes, it is like he is licking the ground) lol

Thanks.

Hi,

I too don't see it as necessarily a problem, tho I agree it depends on the situation. When I initially read your post, I pictured the horse just moseying along sniffing the ground, as my boy likes to - he was born semi-wild to a semi-wild Mum & they seem to need to scent the ground to know where they are, etc a lot more than most domestic horses. In that case, I agree with the above, to just disallow it if you don't want him to do this. I prefer to pre-empt it, by having my reins just short enough to block the behaviour, rather than allowing him to do it & then correcting him & pulling at him tho. I think this is more effective and more consistent/clear.

Another option - which I've chosen for my kid's pony, who puts his head down for grass because he has learned they can't stop him, is 'grass reins' - a strap that goes from saddle D, thru top ring of bridle & down to bit/nosepiece, which is slack & does nothing, but is short enough to consistently prevent them putting their head right down.

But reading your second post, it seems he is doing it out of stress &/or a desire for release that he's not getting. Despite you saying he's relaxed, you've also said he gnashes his teeth and recognise this is a stress response.  Perhaps you're asking him to go along with 'contact' that he's not ready for. Perhaps it's the bit he's not ready for, or has never been taught to wear it *comfortably*. IMO it's best to teach a horse to yield to rein pressure without a bit, and it's also best to teach them what to do on a loose rein first. Only once their reliable at those things would I consider a bit &/or riding with 'contact'. Perhaps also it's just a general bit problem or sore mouth or such, or an indication that something else is bothering him. I'd be inclined to slow down training in that case, get him confident & comfortable with each step before moving forward in small increments. Ensure negative reinforcement(removal of pressure, stop hassling) is meaningful & well timed and also use positive reinforcement(rewards, Good Stuff) to motivate him & help him develop a good attitude about everything.

Do you know his background?  Is this something that was encouraged early on?  Just trying to figure out why.  Is he nearsighted?  Trying to find something he dropped? [):]

I too agree with everyone. You might just bump him up carefully until his head is where you want it and then leave it alone.  I would do it little at a time so he doesn't get the idea of putting it to far up.