What is the ideal head and neck carriage for working western rail and how do you develop it?

The ideal head and neck carriage for working western rail is natural to the individual horse's conformation — meaning judges do not expect every horse to carry its head at the same height or angle, but do expect each horse to carry its head in a position that reflects genuine relaxation, correct balance, and appropriate training for its age and level. Generally, judges expect the head and neck to be carried in a natural, relaxed position that allows free movement through the shoulder. The head should not be carried dramatically above the level of the withers in a way that suggests tension or that restricts the shoulder's swing. Equally, the head should not be tucked below the vertical in a behind-the-bit position, which indicates evasion of the bit and typically accompanies a shortened, restricted stride. The poll — the highest point of the horse's head — should be at or slightly above wither height for most correctly moving working western rail horses. The nose should be at or slightly in front of the vertical. These are natural positions for a horse that is moving forward in a relaxed, collected manner appropriate to the class. Developing correct head and neck carriage is achieved through correct riding rather than through equipment that forces the head into position. A horse ridden forward from behind, with soft consistent contact on a light rein, and allowed to find its own balance within those parameters will naturally develop appropriate head carriage for its conformation and training level. The most common training mistake that produces incorrect head carriage — either high and tense or low and behind — is using rein contact to position the head rather than using forward energy and soft contact to allow the horse to find its own balance.