Horse & Rider USA – September 2019

Fall 2019 / 103

W

hen it comes to trail riding, certain things

just come in handy—an extra halter and

lead, hobbles, friends to ride with, fl y spray,

snacks, and, of course, neck reining. While it’s

not required, if you teach your horse to neck

rein, it allows you to multitask as you ride,

sweeping branches aside and managing other

trail obstacles, pointing out a nice water feature

with your hand instead of a head nod, or reach-

ing down to pat your horse when he handles the

sudden approach of wildlife drama-free.

It also gives you the opportunity to relax,

resting your reins forward as you move quietly

down the trail until it’s time to pick them up

for a cue. Transitioning to neck reining isn’t

as simple as moving both reins into one hand,

however. It requires that your horse fi rst under-

stand and respond to both direct and indirect

rein cues.

Here, I’ll share the steps you need to take your

horse from two hands to one. I’ll explain the dif-

ference between direct and indirect rein cues,

plus describe the foot positions you’ll need to

complete a series of exercise progressions that’ll

train your horse to be soft and responsive to the

indirect rein cue.

I’ll then provide easy instruction for fi ve drills

you’ll use to help your horse master neck reining.

PREPARE FOR SUCCESS

If you’ve used two reins until now, your horse

understands the direct rein cue, which makes

contact with his mouth on the same side that

you apply pressure. When you pick up your

right rein, for example, the right side of his

mouth feels the slight pressure, and your

horse turns his nose to the right. If this is how

you’ve always steered him, then his body will

follow the cue.

By contrast, the indirect cue places pressure

on your horse’s neck opposite the side you plan

to turn. So if you’re turning to the right, for

example, the pressure of the indirect (left) rein

is against the left side of his neck.

It’s possible that even as you cue him with the

direct (right) rein, you also unknowingly use

the opposing rein—your left—to support the

direct cue. While simply using the indirect rein

is a fi rst step toward teaching your horse to neck

NECK

REIN

BY KEN MCNABB,

WITHALEXIS BENNETT

NECK

REIN

LEVEL UP YOUR TRAIL RIDE

WITH FIVE EXERCISES

THAT TEACH YOUR

HORSE TO NECK REIN.