[GotaDunQH]

Originally Posted by HappyJoy

Suggestions? Is steering something that will continue to improve with time, or are there special excercises my friend should do with her? Also, I'm not a western person so I don't know much about neck-reining. What is the best way to tune this up for this mare?

Thanks!

As a western person, I really hate the term "neck reining". Any change of direction in movement should come from leg cues instead of just hand. The term neck reining is really a misnomer, as the legs are used to turn and the slight feel of the rein on the neck reinforces the leg cues to turn. If you are using a shanked bit, and relying on JUST hand to turn the horse around...what is happening is....you are putting sole contact on the corner mouth on the OPPOSITE side of the direction you want to go. The hand cue (in conjunction with leg cues) for a "neck rein" SHOULD NEVER CROSS THE NECK. The hand cue is: hand comes up a little and very slightly over (and I mean fractions of inches) in the direction you want to go, so the horse only feels the rein on the neck and not in the mouth, AND USE OF LEGS.

Jennifer

[Quick2Skip01]

Originally Posted by PeggySue

Take her back to the snaffle so when she doesn't respond you can correct her as needed... ditch the tom thumb and find a better balanced and kinder curb bit

I agree- Tom Thumbs are horrid in my opinion even if you are soft with your hands, or ride with no contact.

I personally am a big fan of bits like this :
http://www.sstack.com/shopping/produ...ProductID=1517

It is a low port correction, and is jointed at each point.

So when her steering goes out, you correct.

I generally have a series of steps that I will follow if the horse refuses to steer depending on how far along they are in training.

If the horse refuses to turn with the leg, - I apply more leg (the cue is "hey you move")

If the horse still refuses to turn or isnt turning enough off of more leg pressure, I take my outside rein, if with the combination of outside leg pressure, and outside rein still doesn't work, then its time for the inside rein.

Also wanted to add now that I read GotaDunQH's post- she is right- when referring to the outside rein, you do not take full contact on the mouth, its all in the rein.

Taking contact with my inside rein is my last resort though. (I generally only use these steps with younger horses that are still learning how to move off of my leg)

If this does not work, I make my gelding work harder.

If he doesn't turn if and when I ask- (if its a repetitive thing alright we stop, back, and go back to what we were doing.)

If this mare is as experienced as you say, then you might need to just make her work harder when she refuses to listen and gets mare-ish.

[Red roan rider1]

Originally Posted by GotaDunQH

As a western person, I really hate the term "neck reining". Any change of direction in movement should come from leg cues instead of just hand. The term neck reining is really a misnomer, as the legs are used to turn and the slight feel of the rein on the neck reinforces the leg cues to turn. If you are using a shanked bit, and relying on JUST hand to turn the horse around...what is happening is....you are putting sole contact on the corner mouth on the OPPOSITE side of the direction you want to go. The hand cue (in conjunction with leg cues) for a "neck rein" SHOULD NEVER CROSS THE NECK. The hand cue is: hand comes up a little and very slightly over (and I mean fractions of inches) in the direction you want to go, so the horse only feels the rein on the neck and not in the mouth, AND USE OF LEGS.

Jennifer

ditto this. And ditch the tom thumb!