Training horse to direct rein instead of neck rein?

Question

I have a 7 year old mare that was taught to neck rein. I can’t neck rein. I was taught with the English riding tack and prefer Dressage and jumping to the western riding that my mare is used to. I like to have both hands on the reins and have them attached at the top so if you drop them while riding, they don’t end up by the horse’s feet. How can I teach her to direct rein (held in both of the rider's hands, turning the horse's head by tightening the rein on the side of the desired turn) so that both of us feel comfortable when we go riding? (Especially when I want to start competing in local dressage competitions again.)

Answer 1

Not all horses are started with direct reining.  Most are, but you can train a horse to neck rein from the start.  It all goes back to ground work.  Just simple things like turning, and backing from the ground using a bit and reins and a direct rein method.

In the saddle, you do almost the same things you do to get the horse to learn how to neck rein, just in a different, reverse order.  Ask for the direct cue first, if that does not work, ask for the direct cue and then apply the indirect cue.  So if you want to go left, put pressure on the left rein.  If they don't go left right away, put pressure on the left rein, then bring the right rein against the top of the neck as a reinforcement of what you want.  With practice you can use less and less reinforcement cues and get just to the direct reins.

Don't underestimate the importance of your leg cues.  Leg cues are universal regardless of direct or indirect cues from the reins.

Answer 2

I don't think this should be a big problem.  All horses are initially trained by direct rein.  Teaching neck reining comes later.  Just start riding her using the direct rein, she will soon adjust.

Answer 3

Any horse that is taught to neck rein had to start out with knowing how to direct rein. Just go back to the basics! Put her in a ring snaffle, and make her flex and bend her neck towards the stirrup. Start on the ground and hold the rein towards the swells on the saddle. As soon as she "gives" to the rein, release her. Once she willingly lets you pull her nose to the stirrup, get on her and do this exercise, side to side, several times until she puts slack in your rein every time you ask for it. She'll pick it up in no time!

Answer 4

Many western horses still remember the early days of their training when direct reining was used.  Just get the horse used to the contact on the bit that may have been abandoned if the loose rein of western pleasure showing was used.  If the horse responds to rein contact by bringing his head up, release the rein and use the other....just like training a colt.  My very mature horses rein either way with no trouble, since one is so different from the other.  It shouldn't take long to make the change if you keep your hands soft and alternate reins.

Answer 5

just do what you like to do it and you teach the horse how to do it

Answer 6

Start by teaching the mare to bend. Put gentle pressure on her mouth with your rein and when she bends her neck, release. When she gets that, every time she bends, put your leg on her and ask her to move off of it. She should be turning on the forhand.

Answer 7

She will have been trained to direct rein before the neck reining, so that shouldn't be a problem.  However, you will likely have issues getting a western-trained horse to properly accept 'contact' on their mouth and to collect themselves in the manner required by an english riding style.  Direct-reining your horse will be the least of your problems, you'll basically need to totally retrain a western horse if you're planning on jumping or doing dressage with it.