The INS and OUTS of Neck Reining
by Lindsay GriceRiding a horse
with one hand adds an extra level of “power steering” to
a western training program; however, teaching a horse to
neck rein can be a bit of a mystery for many riders.
As an english rider entering the western world years
ago, I felt awkward riding with one hand. I’d train at
home with two hands and hope that I’d be able to pull it
off with one hand when I entered the ring.
Why bother teaching my horse to neck rein, anyway? The
action of a curb bit enables a rider to use subtler rein
aids and to ride with lighter contact than using a
direct rein with a snaffle bit. A curb bit is basically
any bit that has longer shanks and a curb strap. Think
of how much easier it is to pull out a nail with a
hammer claw or a crowbar – that’s called leverage, and
that’s how curbs work.
Because the leverage action amplifies the rider’s hand,
it takes less movement to achieve a lighter response for
adjusting the pace, steering or collecting. This
is especially important when showing in pattern classes
such as horsemanship,
reining, western riding and trail, which require
absolute precision. And in most
western horse show associations, horses are required to
be shown with one hand starting in their sixth year.
When do I start?
Horses in my program are ridden with one hand when
they’re ready to show in pattern classes (usually by
their fourth year) in which they’ll need more of a
“handle” for circles, serpentines and advanced
manoeuvres.
A question I’m often asked is whether the answer to a
dull or resistant horse is
“more bit.” Increasing the bit on a horse who hasn’t
mastered the skills is like
using a megaphone to yell a foreign language to someone
so they’ll get the message. Louder doesn’t help!
Be sure that before changing to a more advanced bit,
your horse understands how to give to pressure in every
way. Will he flex to your hand without opening his mouth
or crossing his jaw in the snaffle? Does he back up
softly, and slow down or shorten his stride without
resistance? Does he move sideways from your light leg
aids at all gaits? Stronger bits are not a shortcut to
teaching these skills; however,a more advanced bit in
the sensitive hands of an experienced rider can be a
useful tool.
How to I get started?
I introduce any new bit to a horse from the ground
before climbing aboard. By
backing the horse and flexing his head from one side to
the other, he discovers
that yielding to it results in freedom from me every
time – I immediately put some slack in the rein as soon
as he gives. You may need an instructor to watch so you
get the timing right.
Once he understands, follow the same routine from the
saddle (see photos for correct hand position using one
or two hands). When he figures out how this new bit
works and responds softly to pressure in his mouth, I’ll
begin asking him to give to pressure on the side of his
neck.
To teach your horse to neck rein, he needs to learn that
every time he feels the
rein press across his neck and he moves his neck away
from it, he finds instant relief – the rein goes slack.
I may need to reach over with my free hand and use a
direct rein to turn his head away from outside pressure
on the neck. Eventually, I won’t have to use this direct
rein pressure any more.
My goal is to have my horse steer with the lightness of
one who responds to the
pressure almost as if it’s hot on his neck. This will
take hundreds of repetitions on both sides.
Like any skill, master this at a walk and jog before
going to a lope. It may take up to 10 sessions before
the press on the neck becomes a light touch – only then
do I begin loping.
It is important to remember that your neck rein only
controls the head and neck of the horse, while your leg
directs the rest of his parts. He should learn that
you will often steer his neck and head one direction
while moving the ribs and
hips in another – to arc on a circle, for example.
The satisfaction of having “power steering” on your
horse is hard to beat. Try to
ride only with one hand every time you choose a curb
bit. That’s what I did years ago, and now I ride as well
with one hand as with two.