Training english horse to neck rein

250girl · 10-26-2009, 07:33 PM

Hello, I have a 4yr old Clydesdale x Thoroughbred gelding that I broke myself. He goes english nicely, moves off the leg, sidepasses, gives to the bit, turns on the forehand and hindquarters. He's so easy to train he even bows, and sidepasses up to the fence so you can mount. I've shown him english quite a bit, and started some lower jumping courses. Recently I took him to a gymkhana and did barrels, pole bending, flag race, keyhole and we aced it all, he loves it.

But I have a friend that wants to do some team penning at a very small country fair next year. My horse is very easy to train, but for this he needs to be a really good neck reiner and i have no clue how to teach him. Any advice on how to get him to be a very quick and light neck reiner will be greatly appreciated.
I don't expect him to ever be as good as a QH, but I know he can do it.

I can just see it now, my friend on her 14hh Morgan x Arab and me on my 16hh Clydesdale x Thoroughbred, not to mention i'll be doing it in my jumping saddle HAHA. It'll be hilarious. The cowboys and QH people will be laughing so hard. Oh well, it's all for fun.

250girl · 10-27-2009, 04:34 PM

bump. Anybody?

a.mckelvey · 10-27-2009, 04:38 PM

the way I taught my boy was to direct rein slightly but put the opposite rein on his neck kinda hard (so he knows it's there) and use leg cues as well. Then slowly do less direct and do mostly neck and leg, then only leg and neck, the only neck. It only took my boy about a week to learn. I don't know if that is the "proper" way, but it made sense to me and it worked!

Hope it helps!

250girl · 10-28-2009, 10:45 PM

Thank you, I will definitely try that!!

Anyone else? It's sure hard to get a reply around here.

Gutter_Doll · 10-29-2009, 02:12 PM

It's very simple. Like all training, cue first then make it happen, then release.

Lay the outside rein on, NOT hard. Remember, a horse can feel a fly land on him. If you pull hard, you pull that rein, and confuse your horse by pulling his head in two directions.
Lay is the word you want here.
Horse won't react yet, so use your direct rein to take him in the direction.
When he goes in that direction, release, and do it again.

That simple.

allison finch · 10-29-2009, 02:23 PM

All my event horses and jumpers neck rein. That way, if the KA KA hits the fan, you can grab up leather and still go on.

I have started a couple by crossing the rein in an X under the neck and over the head. Then, when you "neck rein" it pulls the opposite rein and starts the turn. It gives a horse, who may not have a clue, the idea. It is unconventional, and many might not like it, but it certainly works for horses not trained to neck rein from the get-go. And, it is so gentle.

LuckyAshley · 10-29-2009, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gutter_Doll

It's very simple. Like all training, cue first then make it happen, then release.

Lay the outside rein on, NOT hard. Remember, a horse can feel a fly land on him. If you pull hard, you pull that rein, and confuse your horse by pulling his head in two directions.
Lay is the word you want here.
Horse won't react yet, so use your direct rein to take him in the direction.
When he goes in that direction, release, and do it again.

That simple.

Couldn't have explained it better myself... I agree with Gutter_Doll.

alquatic · 10-29-2009, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allison finch

All my event horses and jumpers neck rein. That way, if the KA KA hits the fan, you can grab up leather and still go on.

I have started a couple by crossing the rein in an X under the neck and over the head. Then, when you "neck rein" it pulls the opposite rein and starts the turn. It gives a horse, who may not have a clue, the idea. It is unconventional, and many might not like it, but it certainly works for horses not trained to neck rein from the get-go. And, it is so gentle.

This is how I've learned to teach horses to neck rein. Just make sure you remember that your reins are crossed.

SWRerider · 10-29-2009, 04:20 PM

I like to use a roping rein ( a loop like english but shorter) with metal clips to the bit. I like the extra weight in the rein so horse can feel it on his neck, and with a short rein you can use one hand, direct reining as backup til the horse gets the idea.Like the first posters mentioned, a well trained english horse will already be responding to your body position and working off your leg.

10-26-2009, 07:33 PM	#1
250girl Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 23	Training english horse to neck rein Hello, I have a 4yr old Clydesdale x Thoroughbred gelding that I broke myself. He goes english nicely, moves off the leg, sidepasses, gives to the bit, turns on the forehand and hindquarters. He's so easy to train he even bows, and sidepasses up to the fence so you can mount. I've shown him english quite a bit, and started some lower jumping courses. Recently I took him to a gymkhana and did barrels, pole bending, flag race, keyhole and we aced it all, he loves it. But I have a friend that wants to do some team penning at a very small country fair next year. My horse is very easy to train, but for this he needs to be a really good neck reiner and i have no clue how to teach him. Any advice on how to get him to be a very quick and light neck reiner will be greatly appreciated. I don't expect him to ever be as good as a QH, but I know he can do it. I can just see it now, my friend on her 14hh Morgan x Arab and me on my 16hh Clydesdale x Thoroughbred, not to mention i'll be doing it in my jumping saddle HAHA. It'll be hilarious. The cowboys and QH people will be laughing so hard. Oh well, it's all for fun.

10-29-2009, 02:12 PM	#5
Gutter_Doll Senior Member+ Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Central West, Australia. Posts: 1,431 Images: 36	It's very simple. Like all training, cue first then make it happen, then release. Lay the outside rein on, NOT hard. Remember, a horse can feel a fly land on him. If you pull hard, you pull that rein, and confuse your horse by pulling his head in two directions. Lay is the word you want here. Horse won't react yet, so use your direct rein to take him in the direction. When he goes in that direction, release, and do it again. That simple. __________________ photography new site. "Orana Quest" - tricks (bow, lay down, kneel, smile, sit, count, pick up a saddle pad) and in reining training.

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10-27-2009, 04:34 PM	#2
250girl Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 23	bump. Anybody?

10-27-2009, 04:38 PM	#3
a.mckelvey Full Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Athens, GA Posts: 201 Images: 12	the way I taught my boy was to direct rein slightly but put the opposite rein on his neck kinda hard (so he knows it's there) and use leg cues as well. Then slowly do less direct and do mostly neck and leg, then only leg and neck, the only neck. It only took my boy about a week to learn. I don't know if that is the "proper" way, but it made sense to me and it worked! Hope it helps!

10-28-2009, 10:45 PM	#4
250girl Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 23	Thank you, I will definitely try that!! Anyone else? It's sure hard to get a reply around here.

10-29-2009, 02:23 PM	#6
allison finch Full Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 212 Images: 16	All my event horses and jumpers neck rein. That way, if the KA KA hits the fan, you can grab up leather and still go on. I have started a couple by crossing the rein in an X under the neck and over the head. Then, when you "neck rein" it pulls the opposite rein and starts the turn. It gives a horse, who may not have a clue, the idea. It is unconventional, and many might not like it, but it certainly works for horses not trained to neck rein from the get-go. And, it is so gentle.

10-29-2009, 04:20 PM	#9
SWRerider Full Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Rural southeast Arizona Posts: 125	I like to use a roping rein ( a loop like english but shorter) with metal clips to the bit. I like the extra weight in the rein so horse can feel it on his neck, and with a short rein you can use one hand, direct reining as backup til the horse gets the idea.Like the first posters mentioned, a well trained english horse will already be responding to your body position and working off your leg.