Horse & Rider USA – September 2019

104 // HorseandRider.comand

rein, he’ll still need more support to

develop full recognition of and respon-

siveness to the indirect rein pressure.

He also needs to be responsive to your

leg cues, which you’ll use to reinforce

the neck rein. Three leg positions allow

you to control your horse’s body as you

teach him to neck rein through a pro-

gression of exercises.

Position one places your leg in front

of the cinch; this position controls your

horse’s shoulders. Position two places

your foot in the center of his body in

your natural riding position; this posi-

tion moves your horse’s ribcage. Position

three places your foot back toward

your back cinch, where it controls your

horse’s hind end.

Now, let’s learn the exercises.

EXERCISE 1: CIRCLE UP

The goal of this exercise is to ensure

your horse follows his nose and un-

derstands the direct cue, and that he

becomes familiar with position-one

leg pressure. Use it as you begin to

introduce the indirect cue or as a di-

rect-indirect rein refresher each time

you ride. Hold the reins in both hands,

making sure you have enough space

between your hands to move them

independently as you cue.

Walk your horse in a circle in either

direction, asking him to follow his nose

by making contact with your inside

(direct) rein. Reinforce the small circles

and direct-rein cue with light leg pres-

sure with the outside leg in position

one. Allow your outside (indirect) rein

to rest on your horse’s neck, familiar-

izing him with the sensation without

asking him to respond.

EXERCISE 2: ON THE FENCE

This exercise begins to teach your horse

to move his shoulders away from your

leg, using an on-the-fence drill. While

this is easiest in the arena, if you ride

only in open country, you can substitute

a sturdy barrier (such as a line of thick

bushes, a snow guard, or non-barbed

catt le fencing) for the arena fence.

To begin, stand or walk your horse TO

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Turning into a fence or barrier

teaches your horse to move his

shoulders away from your leg, a

companion cue that helps him

learn how to neck rein.

Complete this circle exercise

before a trail ride as a

neck-reining refresher while

he’s learning or in the arena

to introduce him to leg pres-

sure with the direct cue.

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