Neck Reining

Teaching your horse to neck rein is not as complicated as most people think, but it does take time, effort and consistency. We must let the horse know what we want him to do and work with him consistently enough that he will respond EVERY time we ask him. The response must become second nature (automatic) to the horse. And it becomes second nature by lots of repetition and consistency.

This is best done with a snaffle bit, but any bit will work if you remember not to use too much force with your hands. Use two hands on the reins and try to keep your hands about a foot apart. We start the training by sitting comfortably in the center of the saddle. Now squeeze your legs lightly and with your direct rein (left) begin to pull the horse's head to gently to the left. As soon as his head begins to move to the left, press the indirect rein (right) gently on the horse's neck. Let him walk a few steps to the left and then stop him. Now, reverse the exercise and do it to the right. Squeeze legs, direct rein to the right, press indirect rein on neck, walk a few steps and stop. Repeat this exercise about 10 times in each direction and repeat everyday for about a week. By this time the horse should be pretty accustomed to the feel of the reins and have an inkling of what you want.

If you are confused about direct and indirect reins, remember that the direct rein is the one you directly pull his mouth with and the indirect rein is the one you press on his neck. Remember to use only as much pressure as you need to get the job done since the idea is to get the results with as light a cue as possible. Try lightly, then harder if you don't get results. And always go back to lighter as soon as the horse understands what you want.

The next exercise we call "squares". Start by walking in a straight line. Now make a 90 degree turn to the left while you walk by pulling the direct rein to the left, and then the indirect rein. Instead of stopping, keep walking forward for 8 or 10 steps and make another left turn the same way as the first. Walk 8 or ten steps and make a third turn, then a forth. You should have now walked a "square" with 4 turns and be back to about where you began. Next, reverse the exercise and make a square to the right. Make 3 or 4 squares in each direction and repeat everyday for a week or so.

When you pull the horse or press the indirect rein, if the horse doesn't respond, bump him with your outside leg/foot. This should get him to follow the pressure of the reins. At this stage, everything should be slow and easy so as to let the horse know what you want without getting upset.

When you are comfortable that the horse is doing squares well at the walk, begin doing the exercise at the trot. This is where your horse will really learn neck reining. Do the squares exercise at the trot for a few weeks until the horse feels like he is following the reins easily and without any stress. Once he is comfortable with the squares at the trot, begin to mix it up. Walk a line and turn left, turn left again, then turn right, and right again. Mix the turns up anyway you want. The idea here is to get the horse to pay attention to you and not anticipate the turns but actually turn whenever you give the cues for either direction. Keep doing these exercises everyday for a few more weeks.

When everything is going smoothly at the trot, try the squares at a slow lope. Of course you repeat until the horse is consistent and comfortable doing the exercise.

I know this is a lot of repetition, but that is how your get the job done and make the horse consistently follow your cues. You can also mix up the exercises as your horse learns. Work a few minutes at the trot, then at the walk, then lope off and do a few squares at the lope.

After your horse is comfortable with the squares exercise at the three gaits, begin riding some with one hand. He might not be quite so sure with one hand riding, but he will get used to it quickly. If he seems really bad with one hand, go back to two hands and do the exercises more. And remember that if your horse does not respond well enough to the reins, give him a bump with your foot. He will get the message.

The real keys to success are repetition and consistency. (same keys for most things we want to teach our horse). If you keep at it, you will be happy with the results. If you try this exercise (or any of our other lessons), we would appreciate it if you would write to us to let us know how the training went. We are beginning to compile some success stories to publish on the website.

Once again, we at Hideaway Quarter Horses wish you and your horse all good things. And remember…….be good to your horse!
 

Article courtesy of:
John & Kristy Milchick
Hideaway Quarter Horses
http://www.hideawayhorses.com
http://www.slidem.com