How do you actually use a neck strap, please...?

[Meredith]

That looks interesting, Meredith... So you only have it attached one side so it's a strap rather than a handle...?

yes
A leather dog collar or similar strap, loop it through the ring on one side of the breastplate wither strap and hold it with your rein. I use different fingers for the reins and the collar.
You could attach a single strap if a loop isn’t satisfactory.

 

[blood_magik]

(I didn't mean an actual balloon on a jump. I meant that if the jump is relatively small but the horse might (or might not...) put in a 4ft jump due to being young, inexperienced or too enthusiastic.)

I would have a neck strap as a back up but also aim for a crest release over the fence so you’re using her neck to help you should she balloon (been there - it definitely helped).

ETA - I use an old stirrup leather and make sure it’s long enough that it sits down towards the withers so I can grab it easily without leaning forwards.

 

[splashgirl45]

This is the thing...I don't know when I am going to need to hang on! For last night's session, for 29 minutes and 59 seconds, I didn't need any help with staying on, but for 1 second I did...and I didn't know she was going to spook until pretty much after she'd done it, at which point it was too late!

I suppose that next time I will know that being verrry slightly looky might mean 'big spook coming'...?

I found, after a while, that I knew a fraction of a second when she was going to spook or spin so I could sit it, what also helped was my saddle which had a deep seat, best thing I ever bought but it got stolen in 2018

 

[catembi]

Thank you, Meredith…that makes sense now! Another thing to try!

 

[Barklands]

I am another who usually dislikes a neck strap, I have one on when schooling or breaking unpredictable youngsters as a safety blanket but I’d much rather balance myself by sitting up and using my core than leaning forward and clinging onto something. As a wee one I was taught that balance comes from having an independent seat rather than balancing with the hands so grabbing a neck strap goes against the way I have learnt to ride - I just don’t really think to use it!

Having said that, clinging onto a martingale did save my bacon on a horse I was trying who exploded fly bucking around the school so maybe they are useful after all

 

[melody-maker]

I got one of these - Neck strap with attachments - as my share pony has a bit of a spook on her. I keep it fairly loose, so I can hold onto it if I want to without putting my hands in a bad position. I’ve also found it good as a reminder that if I can’t reach it easily, my reins are probably too short (a recent bad habit that has developed as a result of the spooking!).

 

[Flame_]

This is a really good question. I have one on because my horse always rears if I put a martingale on and occasionally rears even though I don't use them, so I figure some some of strap is responsible. I never hold it, but I do hold the pommel and my reins in one hand most of the time hacking in trot and canter, otherwise I'd come off more when my horse does an epic stop-spook.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

This is such a great question and I'm glad it's not just me not getting it!

Often I find the neck straps sit too far forwards, and I have short arms which would make it worse. Last time I was spooked with, granted it was forwards and in a straight line so a low risk one, my reflex was to get my shoulders back. If the horse did decide to stop suddenly or go sideways I think reaching forward would have made it worse.

Martingale/breastplates attached to the saddle and sitting a bit further back have been incredibly helpful to me out hacking when I have been nervous, to make sure I'm not getting tense with my reins. I just held on with one hand though as that did what I needed it to while still being able to sit up.

 

[JFTDWS]

Having to lean forward to grab a neck strap seems really alien to me - but then I mostly use them on overgrown ponies or when jumping and they’re always in the right place. Maybe I have long arms too

 

[criso]

I don't find a neck strap makes me lean forward and cling. I'm in the position I would be in anyway. For example I'm passing a field where horses are galloping and can't be sure my horse will behave, I'll slip a couple of fingers through and sit back against it.

 

[Steerpike]

Can't say I lean forward to use mine, they have plenty of adjustment so I can have them long enough to hook with a finger but not too long they don't do anything if the horse does spook

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

For context I'm on RS horses so perhaps my experience is just of neck straps not set up in a way I could use them without having to bring my shoulders forwards (and keep them there).

The short arm thing is definitely part of it too!

 

[toppedoff]

I've got such a terrible habit of grabbing onto the neckstrap

 

[Rowreach]

Thank you...that's helpful.

She's not spooky or worried though...in fact she's pretty laid back, until all of a sudden...

Aarrgghh, I should have bought a rocking horse...

I am also going to Do Something about the hind gut as I suspect that there might be something going on there...

I'd be thinking that.

 

[paddy555]

She was 4 on 11th May; owned for 4 weeks tomorrow. 17hh ISH with a dash of warmblood.

I don't blame her for what she did because the noise was REALLY loud & sudden, but I would rather that it didn't become her go-to if she fancies a bit of fun.

There was no time to get unbalanced or otherwise as it was literally one huge spook. I didn't have a chance of staying on & didn't yesterday either! I have been riding my other horse without stirrups to help with my seat, but it's not going to be enough.

definitely no snarking. and my suggestions are a bit different.
I am not a good rider and wouldn't put myself in that position. I tried a neck strap once but it put my hand too far forward. I only use a neck strap as a neck rope without a bridle which is different. If I had to use something I would use a breastplate but I don't like having a neck ring hanging around the horse's neck as I'm sure I would get caught up in it when I fell off. I'm sure I would fall of with what you describe so got to avoid that happening.

the motorbike incident is probably enough to try any horse let alone a youngster.

I do a lot of training to make sure a young horse doesn't spook. That would be initially on the ground and then ridden in an enclosed area. 4 is very young and only just in a new home. We have lots of things such as plastic feed bags on sticks (flags) which we carry around ridden, washing lines full of clothes we ride under, bottle of stones which we clang around above the horse's head whilst ridden to produce noise, lots of silage plastic preferably in a strong wind, we drag a can around on a rope, play football using the horse's sides as a wall, lots of other things. By the end the horse is used to all spookies and understands that when I tell it to walk past, over, under or through that is what happens.
My horses are only happy hackers but I do need them to cope with everything we could possibly meet. We do lots of that on the road as well (very quiet road) take the wheelie bin for a walk, hide plastic in hedges, take a can for a walk on a string which makes a lot of noise as you drag it along the road, bike training obviously and also motor bikes, tractor training. By the time they have walked between a tractor that is running and a wall they start to get braver. Then we rev the tractor up. Obviously we start with a car before doing this. Open a newspaper on top of them ( I used to use a lot of maps)

This probably won't appeal to many but I have found it produces a more confident horse who has no reason to spook.



That training is along the lines of both TRT method and Karl Greenwood's. Designed to give confidence to the horse and for it to learn to do as it's told under all conditions.
There are lots of videos on youtube showing both of these.

 

[soloequestrian]

I use a variety of techniques! I have used a stirrup leather but with a bit of leather lace tying it loosely to the saddle so it doesn't disappear down the neck. I use a breastplate now and have had two leather straps attached to the metal rings (as above with the one shown) - not sure that actually gave me much more stability than without, it was more for my brain. I usually just have one hand with rein and breast plate and the other as normal - which hand is down is determined by most likely spook direction. I also have the more unusual both reins through both hands technique - one hand on breastplate but with both reins running through (I think one between pinkie and 4th, one between thumb and first but not entirely sure!) and then both reins also go through my other hand which is off the breastplate. This lets you adjust tension on both reins while still holding on!

 

[vickyb]

(I didn't mean an actual balloon on a jump. I meant that if the jump is relatively small but the horse might (or might not...) put in a 4ft jump due to being young, inexperienced or too enthusiastic.)

Actually, tying balloons to your jumps could make for some interesting experiences..
Oh yes, that wonderful sensation of flying through the air (sans horse) as your youngster decides that 4 foot clearance should be just about enough for a 1 foot jump.

 

[khalswitz]

I use an old stirrup leather, long enough that I can move my hands to the right place, and obviously it can go up the neck if I wanted to release over a fence.

I always used them for XC as my last horse was a stopper, and knowing I could get in behind him without fear of being left behind if he went suddenly and big (especially over ditches) was a huge help.

I now use one on my new horse who is taking time to settle in and can spook quite impressively. Means I can keep a loose contact and ride confidently knowing I’ve got extra support.

 

[benz]

I thought the same as you and had never used a neck strap before. I now have one of these and I love it makes me feel more secure and keeps hands in a good position. Very easy to grab if needed as it’s in just the right place. I attach mine to the saddle https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/29102883...dXO26nYxVlWYz8eb0wqy3HbKq0i3|tkp:BFBMqojWk_lj

 

[poiuytrewq]

This is the thing...I don't know when I am going to need to hang on! For last night's session, for 29 minutes and 59 seconds, I didn't need any help with staying on, but for 1 second I did...and I didn't know she was going to spook until pretty much after she'd done it, at which point it was too late!

I suppose that next time I will know that being verrry slightly looky might mean 'big spook coming'...?

That’s the problem isn’t it! The last two falls I had there was no sign at all. I was on and having a lovely time, then I was off, no time or warning to grab any thing

 

[AnShanDan]

I've got an rs tor attached to my saddle, I used to have a breastplate strap to grab until my mare managed to grab that with her teeth trying to bite a fly and got her jaw stuck, on a hack. She totally freaked and threw herself to the ground causing me to have a nasty fall. So, no hacking with a breastplate.

I got an rs tor instead and I can hold it without noticing it now, I mean you hold a stick right? You can also drop it if you don't need it.

 

[Skib]

I leared to ride with the help of a Pippa Funnel video, Training a Young Horse in which she used a neck strap. I never figured out how to use one myself, though I did have a neck strap in my bareback lessons, the thought of which was helpful although it was never used as I would have fallen off leaning forwards to grab it.

 

[KatieDM]

I’m part-loaning a 5-year-old and he is quite unbalanced. We hack out on a variety of ground - through the woods, mud tracks, stoney paths, roads… On the few parts we can canter, it can be uneven and he also tends to avoid puddles. Staying on him at a fast canter when he does that is… difficult indeed. Had one of those rides today where I nearly came off 3 times. Neck strap would certainly have been helpful in those circumstances I think!

 

[little_critter]

If you use an old fashioned neck strap that’s not fitted too tight then you can just hold that in the same hand as one of the reins and it moves with your hand. Anything connected to the saddle if too far back IMO

Agree. I use an old rein as a neck strap (buckle done up through the billet hole then electrical tape taping everything secure)
It’s thin enough and flexible enough to hold along with a rein and you can still ride pretty much normally.

 

[catembi]

Update...I rode yesterday & used my pommel grab strap in my outside hand the whole time, a la advanced dressage lady in that YouTube video that I did a link to. I felt that it enabled me to sit up and pull myself deeper into the saddle and I felt a lot more confident. I did the exact same thing that I was doing when I fell off, i.e. cantering past the pile of jump wings, she went to have a look and I was able to sit down & ride through it. We had one or two mini spooks and I think it helped her because I didn't move in the saddle.

Today it was windy & from her demeanour I thought that she was going to be flighty so I lunged first. I know that endless circles aren't good for babies, but me getting dumped off isn't good for her or my confidence. So we lunged, up and down the school, going past spooky things, then I rode at the end. I felt so much more confident with my grab strap & de-escalated a few more spooky moments. Am I wet for lungeing first? Don't know, but my horse got exercised, no-one died, no-one fell off and it felt like a step forward rather than a step back.

I was already pondering the neck strap in Benz's link. Might be worth a go as ideally I need my hanging-on hand to be further in front of the pommel than currently, then I could maybe use some of my collection of pommel straps to clip the neck strap to the D rings for added security...?

This has been a really interesting discussion & I've learned a lot, so thank you everyone!

 

[KatieDM]

Update...I rode yesterday & used my pommel grab strap in my outside hand the whole time, a la advanced dressage lady in that YouTube video that I did a link to. I felt that it enabled me to sit up and pull myself deeper into the saddle and I felt a lot more confident. I did the exact same thing that I was doing when I fell off, i.e. cantering past the pile of jump wings, she went to have a look and I was able to sit down & ride through it. We had one or two mini spooks and I think it helped her because I didn't move in the saddle.

Today it was windy & from her demeanour I thought that she was going to be flighty so I lunged first. I know that endless circles aren't good for babies, but me getting dumped off isn't good for her or my confidence. So we lunged, up and down the school, going past spooky things, then I rode at the end. I felt so much more confident with my grab strap & de-escalated a few more spooky moments. Am I wet for lungeing first? Don't know, but my horse got exercised, no-one died, no-one fell off and it felt like a step forward rather than a step back.

I was already pondering the neck strap in Benz's link. Might be worth a go as ideally I need my hanging-on hand to be further in front of the pommel than currently, then I could maybe use some of my collection of pommel straps to clip the neck strap to the D rings for added security...?

This has been a really interesting discussion & I've learned a lot, so thank you everyone!

I was looking at the Shires Velociti Gara neck strap which has a handle on top of the strap for your hand, as well as two straps to connect to the D rings. Looks like it might fit the bill?

 

[ponynutz]

Agree with others - a stirrup leather will move up the neck with you and you can hold onto it and reins all at the same time.

 

[ThreeFurs]

I have one of these, but without the connectors to the saddle. Correct Connect, or Flexible Fit ['double neck strap'] or the Shires Velocitie GAR. So your hands stay 'in the box' where they would normally be. But I would have my hands in rein holding position, ie thumbs on top, with strap held on one side with a finger usually outside hand. Can do all your normal rein aids - mostly, and it also helps with a more still connection.

 

[Spirit7]

Probably stupid question of the year, but never mind...

As per title, how do you actually use a neck strap?

Scenario 1 - approaching a jump & unsure what the horse is going to go, e.g. balloon etc. If you're holding onto a neck strap with one hand, how do you steer? And then how do you give with your hands over the jump?
Scenario 2 - schooling a spooky horse, but one which might or equally might not spook, and if they do, it's going to be hard. If you are hanging onto the neck strap for the whole half hour/45 minutes, how do you steer?
Scenario 3 - hacking out the above horse. If you hang onto the neck strap for the whole ride, don't you only have one hand free to steer?

I have the 'oh sh*t' style of pommel strap on my saddles, but when the sh*t actually DOES hit the fan, I'm too busy trying to deal with it to grab the strap. And even if I DID remember to grab the strap, I would then only have one hand to deal with the sh*t...?

What am I missing? For example, Salute Equestrian has a strap with very good reviews, https://saluteequestrian.com/pages/why-click-connect but I still don't understand how having one hand fixed in place can help with effective riding!

Someone please educate me! Thank you!

I use an old stirrup leather quite loose on my just 4 year old. He’s super sharp but does listen. I use it to make sure my hands stay low (so as a guide) and if things are getting sticky I hook my little fingers under the strap to fix my hand a little and ride him into it firmly. He has a high carriage and is fairly compact.
I taught him to stop off the neck strap from trot and walk and it has worked like a dream as more of an emergency brake or balance strap
I don’t think I would use it to hang on to in the event of a drama I either sit it or come off!!! Photo as I love him

 

[millitiger]

Could you fasten a flash strap onto the neck strap?

That would give you something easier to reach, without leaning forwards, flexible to your position and thin enough to keep in your hand at all time.