Neck reining quesiton?

Question

how do you teach a horse to neck rein? I have only trained english horses I am now working with my first western horse, and she doesn't seem to be getting it

thanks!

Answer 1

Begin by workin with two hands on the reins much like english except with the loose contact you want. Put on the outside rein against her neck (Without pulling too much on the bit) and then gently come with some slight contact with the inside rein. It takes a long time to do it, but don't forget your legs. If you're an english rider you should know the proper way to turn a horse with just the seatbones and legs. I was riding a pony that I trained for dressage and we decided to enter a wester competition. He had never neck reined in his life - so we pretended we could by using my seat bones and leg, then putting on the neck rein softly. In doing this, he did actually learn to neck rein by the end of the day, but you have to have a horse going off your legs first - that's the real way everyone should ride.

Answer 2

Does she plow (two hand) rein really good? if she doesn then with the reins off he head take the reins and cross them to create an X then put then over her head.. this way when you go to neck rein you will pull on the side of the bit in which you want to turn, say u want to go left you will pull the rein over her neck but the rein will also pull on the left side of the bit, so then she will turn left.. after about 3-4 rides she should get a hang of it.. is normally doesnt take me very long to teach a horse to neck rein in this manner...

Answer 3

you won't need to neck rein until you are using a curb bit.

so in order to train a horse a little more about neck reining with the snaffle bit do a lot of FIGURE eights. start at a walk. when you go to turn the circle, move your body and face the other direction (i call it LOOKING WHERE YOU WANT TO GO) when you are looking the way you want to go your hand will naturally press against the horses neck and pull slightly on the bit. (i am supposing that you have english hands since you are an english rider) try the same at a trot and then a canter.

also remember that neck reining is only if your horse isn't going to respond to your body cues. if you always remember to LOOK where you want to go, your horse will read your body language and soon enough you won't have to rely on your reins!

good luck!

Answer 4

I don't know that i believe in teaching a horse to neck rein all in one day.  Either way though here are some thoughts.

It comes with time.  A good rider will use all of their rein and leg aids.  On a green horse, you should use you inside direct rein and then hold in the outside should by applying the neck rein.  If you ride english, you probably already do this - especially in your pattern classes.  That will establish a base and teach them to move off the rein.

Next, rather than putting just one finger between the reins, put the reins in a bridge and then place all 4 fingers on the inside of the reins and your thumb going underneath.  You'll need to have descent contact with your horse's mouth.  They usually turn great like this.  (Don't expect to have 2 feet of droopy rein like the great western pleasure riders right away!).  Set up some obstacles and begin walking around them - make figure 8's, serpentines, and just random patterns so that you're telling the horse where to go - eventually work your way up to the trot.  Once you've mastered that, you can try just putting your pointer finger between the reins.

You can try crossing the reins.  It isn't a quick fix - horses need a couple weeks of consistant riding for this to work.  Remember that your horse is going to depend A LOT on your leg cues when neck reining.  Have fun, be patient - it'll all come together!

Answer 5

My favorite way is to lead the horse you are training with another horse.  Then neck rein her.  If your horse is completely green I would simply attach a lead rope.  This way the horse never learns anything but neck reining and it will come much more naturally to it.   This usually takes 20 to 40 minutes. (20 is my personal record for a little half arab that took to it so well she was reining like nobodies business at the end of 20 minutes after I first hit the saddle.)

If your horse is already broke then just follow the horse.  Then hold the reins in one hand and use the other to help a little, by pulling on the side you want the horse to turn to, when the horse is a little slow at turning.  This usually takes about 30 to 45 minutes.

Another trick that I have used but find it does not work as well as the previous one mentioned, it to cross the reins under the horses neck.  Attaching the right rein to the left side of the bit and vice versa.  Then neck rein like normal and pull a little extra if the horse is slow to turn.  Do this for about an hour or two then switch back.