Essentials for riding young horses

RachelFerd said:
Definitely neckstrap over mane - you can still grab a neckstrap even if you're half way around the side - the point is that it moves with you. When i see people riding a horse (any horse) without a neckstrap... I feel a sense of impending doom and assume they must be from another planet. That's the result of spending a long time working in racing...
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Having rarely used a neck strap until I started riding my loan horse (who historically has had some very unpleasant spooks), I now feel very insecure without one. I've actually never grabbed it in an emergency but feel more confident having it there. I find a mane more secure and convenient for 'oh sh*t' moments!

I also find it useful on my youngster as an alternative 'stop' aid and for my loan horse if he on the rare moment when he gets tense on a hack, it seems to be a more effective calming measure than grabbing hold of the reins.
 
j1ffy said:
Having rarely used a neck strap until I started riding my loan horse (who historically has had some very unpleasant spooks), I now feel very insecure without one. I've actually never grabbed it in an emergency but feel more confident having it there. I find a mane more secure and convenient for 'oh sh*t' moments!

I also find it useful on my youngster as an alternative 'stop' aid and for my loan horse if he on the rare moment when he gets tense on a hack, it seems to be a more effective calming measure than grabbing hold of the reins.
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Sometimes I do think it might be a bit ridiculous that I still put one on to do a BD dressage test on a horse who is totally quiet (actually ploddy) in both the dressage warm-up and test.... but I just can't not have one ;) You are right also re. using one as a stop aid. I've been sat on a few super explosive feeling racehorses where i've kept myself calm by having a tight hold on the neckstrap but a comparatively loose contact on the reins - thereby not putting all my own tension straight into their mouth...
 
Know it sounds obvious; but my two main "must haves" would be a properly fitting saddle and regular back checks.

So many people just think "the horse will change shape, there's no point in worrying too much about getting the saddle fitter out just yet"; result is the horse gets used to being uncomfortable and in pain even, and this is where bad habits get ingrained.

Regular visits from a reliable saddle fitter, plus regular physio would be my "essentials". Plus rider get checked too! I have a McTimony practitioner who does both of us. Vital IMO! From when my coblet was just-backed up to the present time, we've both had regular attention, as well as having needed to change saddles twice! Even if you are riding treeless, as I do, a properly fitting saddle is vital.
 
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