Neck Reining

[Annie&Dixie]

I would really love to get Dixie better at neck reining. Ever since I've started riding, I have ridden her by moving having the direct rein guiding with contact but also having the opposite rein against her neck to get her used to how it works. There are some points where she'll respond wonderfully to that, but most of the time, she doesn't really know what to do.

She is fully adapt to turning on her hindend and forehand and knows the difference between moving sideways from leg and moving forward but she will often associate moving forward when I add leg while trying to neck rein.

Would love to hear anybody else's ideas or thought! I just don't know how these horses who have awesome neck reining skills get so good at it! :D

[Kaitlyn]

Honestly, I youtube-d it lol because I needed advice on how to do it too and youtube keeps popping in my head and there's a great video by an older guy, eXtensions is in the title (just like that) it's in a few part series of like 5-7 minutes each and the way he explains things makes a lot of sense. I'd look them up for you if my comp wasn't running so S-L-O-W lol but I liked him and it's easier to watch videos and see how it's done than reading how it's done, IMO.

Good luck :)

[Annie&Dixie]

Great, thanks, I'll try to look that up. I like videos and pictures better anyways, I'm a visual learner ;)

ETA - I just found the video, it makes a lot of sense! Thanks!

[vicklynn]

Let me know if you find the video, Im going looking, but it would be great for others who need it too. Like me, to have it posted here.

[vicklynn]

Found it. There is 2 parts
His youtube name is eXHorses

Pt1
YouTube - Training Tips: Neck Reining and Pivoting, part 1, eXtension

Pt 2
YouTube - Training Tips: Neck Reining and Pivoting, part 2, eXtension

[Me'N'Chic]

Hi Annie!
I'll have to check out the youtube video--sounds good. I needed to train CHIC to neck-rein last year because my daughter's friend was going to show her western at our county fair last year.

I started in the round pen and first I laid the rein on her neck and at the same time applied light pressure with that same leg; then if she didn't get it (which she didn't at first!) I then added a direct rein and released as soon as she began to turn the right way. Kinda like I "up-ed" the cues/pressure when she didn't get it at first. I then just kept turning her different directions the same way: 1st neck rein-leg 2nd Added the direct rein. It didn't seemed to take long within a day or two she was beginning to get it and has just gotten better and better. Good Luck!

[natisha]

Neck reining is one of the most boring things to teach but well worth it in the end. The video guy is right always use the neck rein first, loosely. Using it higher up on the neck helps too as this is normally a new feeling for the horse. Turns around cones or other visual aids helps too.