not ready to neck rein??

Horseczy · 06-19-2008, 07:43 PM

My neice has a 6 year old paint that has had close to 90 days of training. He is back now and she goes to the trainer 2x a week for a lesson. It is getting close to fair and I noticed that my neice still direct reins (in a tom thumb no less!!) I told them that she can't use two hands in the shows at fair and asked why she wasn't neck reining him. I was told that the trainer hasn't taught him yet because he wasn't ready and balenced enough for that. I have never heard of that I would think after 90 days of training he would have been able to do this. I think he should be able to neck rein by now so am I right? I have never heard of a horse that was 6 and with 90 days of training not being ready to neck rein. Any input would be helpful!!

endurgirl · 06-19-2008, 07:54 PM

How started was the horse 3 months ago? I've had a horse here and he was so jumbled up in his head that he wouldn't know how to neck rein in 3 months more than likely. We would take 2 steps forward and 3 steps back and that was riding him at least 5 days a week and some two-a-days.

Also, how educated was the trainer in advancing horses to the next stages?

Horseczy · 06-19-2008, 07:59 PM

He was really well broke walk trot canter leg cues just needed some conditioning and some work with collection. I don't know anything about the trainer but I have heard she is good. He is laid back and a bit lazy but he is a quiet horse and doesn't seem to have any regression issues.

Anxious1 · 06-20-2008, 09:53 AM

I would query the trainer on why he was not taught? Respect before dismissal as there might be a good reason.

I have found that with some horses it just depends on where there head is and how much confusion they have experienced in the past. Sometimes it is better to be proficient in one discipline rather than slightly proficient in many.

Tallpine · 06-20-2008, 07:23 PM

I dunno why one cannot start neck reining from almost the very beginning . Two hands: apply neck rein first and then direct rein. Pretty soon horse feels the neck rein and starts to respond in anticipation.

We did this on my gelding, though after 2 years he is still not perfect. Mostly he responds to weight/leg cues though. But sometimes he just decides that he really would rather go that way instead

rageandglory · 06-20-2008, 07:38 PM

that does sound a bit strange...i would question the trainer, too. and ask for several live demos of the horse's current ablilties and progress. something is NQR methinks tho i appreciate that the trainer is aware and concerned about proper balance. i wonder if trainer is the type to micro-step their training. that isn't always bad, depending on the horse : )

Banat · 06-20-2008, 07:43 PM

90 days isn't necessarily long. That is why the rules have junior horses able to show two-handed until they are 5.

That's 3 years of showing before being finished enough to show one handed (neck reining).
Just because he was 6 doesn't mean he had a clue about staying soft and collected and carrying himself in a balanced manner and using his body well through turns etc... and even if he's far enough along for the trainer to ride one handed doesn't mean your neice can keep him together one handed.
I think it's great your neice is taking lessons and from the sounds of it, riding correctly (balance as a priority over fitting into the fair show schedule).
How many times do we see stiff horses with their noses out, crooked, hollow, and someone cranking on their mouth trying to neck rein? Not that your neice's horse was like that, but it sounds like the trainer believes they have more to learn before presenting a pretty, show-ready picture.
Maybe you could tag along to some lessons and pick the trainer's brain about the methods he/she uses and his/her read on your neice and her horse. I'm sure she would feel honored to have her aunt watch some lessons

dotgotcalm · 06-20-2008, 08:43 PM

90 days isn't an overly long amount of time for a horse to be in full time training and still not be neck reining, IMO. It really just depends on the horse. Since this horse was riding when he went to the trainers I'd suspect that he had some undesireable habits that are taking time to get rid of. It always takes longer to re-train one than it does to start one from scratch.

06-19-2008, 07:43 PM	#1
Horseczy Full Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 186 Images: 1	not ready to neck rein?? My neice has a 6 year old paint that has had close to 90 days of training. He is back now and she goes to the trainer 2x a week for a lesson. It is getting close to fair and I noticed that my neice still direct reins (in a tom thumb no less!!) I told them that she can't use two hands in the shows at fair and asked why she wasn't neck reining him. I was told that the trainer hasn't taught him yet because he wasn't ready and balenced enough for that. I have never heard of that I would think after 90 days of training he would have been able to do this. I think he should be able to neck rein by now so am I right? I have never heard of a horse that was 6 and with 90 days of training not being ready to neck rein. Any input would be helpful!!

06-19-2008, 07:54 PM	#2
endurgirl Senior Member+ Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Georgia Posts: 2,398 Images: 227 Blog Entries: 5	How started was the horse 3 months ago? I've had a horse here and he was so jumbled up in his head that he wouldn't know how to neck rein in 3 months more than likely. We would take 2 steps forward and 3 steps back and that was riding him at least 5 days a week and some two-a-days. Also, how educated was the trainer in advancing horses to the next stages? __________________ I squatted with my spurs on!!! I got snowballed....and they throw like a girl!!!!

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06-19-2008, 07:59 PM	#3
Horseczy Full Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 186 Images: 1	He was really well broke walk trot canter leg cues just needed some conditioning and some work with collection. I don't know anything about the trainer but I have heard she is good. He is laid back and a bit lazy but he is a quiet horse and doesn't seem to have any regression issues.

06-20-2008, 09:53 AM	#4
Anxious1 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: West Central MN Posts: 534 Images: 1	I would query the trainer on why he was not taught? Respect before dismissal as there might be a good reason. I have found that with some horses it just depends on where there head is and how much confusion they have experienced in the past. Sometimes it is better to be proficient in one discipline rather than slightly proficient in many.

06-20-2008, 07:23 PM	#5
Tallpine Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Montana Posts: 319 Images: 2	I dunno why one cannot start neck reining from almost the very beginning . Two hands: apply neck rein first and then direct rein. Pretty soon horse feels the neck rein and starts to respond in anticipation. We did this on my gelding, though after 2 years he is still not perfect. Mostly he responds to weight/leg cues though. But sometimes he just decides that he really would rather go that way instead

06-20-2008, 07:38 PM	#6
rageandglory Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: the other seat in that handbasket Posts: 1,639	that does sound a bit strange...i would question the trainer, too. and ask for several live demos of the horse's current ablilties and progress. something is NQR methinks tho i appreciate that the trainer is aware and concerned about proper balance. i wonder if trainer is the type to micro-step their training. that isn't always bad, depending on the horse : )

06-20-2008, 07:43 PM	#7
Banat Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,098 Images: 22	90 days isn't necessarily long. That is why the rules have junior horses able to show two-handed until they are 5. That's 3 years of showing before being finished enough to show one handed (neck reining). Just because he was 6 doesn't mean he had a clue about staying soft and collected and carrying himself in a balanced manner and using his body well through turns etc... and even if he's far enough along for the trainer to ride one handed doesn't mean your neice can keep him together one handed. I think it's great your neice is taking lessons and from the sounds of it, riding correctly (balance as a priority over fitting into the fair show schedule). How many times do we see stiff horses with their noses out, crooked, hollow, and someone cranking on their mouth trying to neck rein? Not that your neice's horse was like that, but it sounds like the trainer believes they have more to learn before presenting a pretty, show-ready picture. Maybe you could tag along to some lessons and pick the trainer's brain about the methods he/she uses and his/her read on your neice and her horse. I'm sure she would feel honored to have her aunt watch some lessons

06-20-2008, 08:43 PM	#8
dotgotcalm Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 555 Images: 4	90 days isn't an overly long amount of time for a horse to be in full time training and still not be neck reining, IMO. It really just depends on the horse. Since this horse was riding when he went to the trainers I'd suspect that he had some undesireable habits that are taking time to get rid of. It always takes longer to re-train one than it does to start one from scratch.