Using a neckstrap?

[QueenDee_]

Interested to know how many of you use a neck strap, and do you actually use it?

I always put one on my youngster, and will sometimes put one on my others if going hunting or XC. But I find that I rarely actually use it. With my big lad in particular I find that it doesn't really sit in a useful place for grabbing in emergencies, but I'm not sure whether it is a case of 'training' myself to go for it when needed!

 

[Goldenstar]

I use neck strap .
When I was taught to ride it was really the first thing they taught us .
Grabbing the neck strap really is instinctive for me.
I also train all my horse to stop/ slow down if I jerk on the neckstrap quickly three times and say whoa whoa.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I never have, never understood as my theory was if you were falling a neck strap wasn't going to save you.
I do now see though and have more recently used one as my daughter nagged me too with a new horse!
I've used it more to steady myself if needed (big spook you know the type of thing) as horse has a very very soft mouth and I'm being uber careful not to ever jab it!!!

 

[Dr_Horse]

I have one on my youngster and have got in to the habit of when he decides to get a bit sparky hanging on to it

 

[Equi]

I use one when jumping cause I'm terrified and **** but I find I use it too much and loose my contact

 

[AdorableAlice]

We use neckstraps on the babies, much sooner have that grabbed than sock them in the mouth if something happens.

 

[cauda equina]

I put one on the horse much more often than I actually use it.
If it's there and not needed, it's not in the way, but if you haven't got one and suddenly find yourself wanting one you're stumped

 

[Fiona]

I've used one on my TB since she was a rather 'bright' 4yo (she's 15 now lol)

Mine is an old stirrup leather, but a loose breastplate would be fine too..

As an alternative, my 5yo son has a balance strap on the front of his saddle in case he needs to grab something...

Fiona

 

[Goldenstar]

I put one on the horse much more often than I actually use it.
If it's there and not needed, it's not in the way, but if you haven't got one and suddenly find yourself wanting one you're stumped

So true.

 

[LinzyD]

Yes. I had a couple of lessons at the Bartles years ago and was encouraged to use one, and was told that they do it as a matter of course on all their young horses. I was shown how to use it actively and not just as a safety grab. So generally it would be a thin strap like you have on a regular martingale, not a stirrup leather, and the trick was to have it long enough to rest loosely at the wither rather than up the neck. When riding downward transitions at any pace you'd hook the neckstrap with your finger into the hand with the reins and use it to reinforce the request for a downward transition, while remaining light on the mouth. Used regularly like this it helps a horse to learn to respond to a light hand when coming down the gears. And you get used to looping it up and dropping it at will or even riding with it in your hands, so that if you need it for safety reasons you react more quickly. And if you do need to use it in an emergency the horse already knows that a big tug on this means stop please.

I also use the neckstrap technique when schooling any pony for a child so that the pony doesn't become accustomed to an adult's hand; I use the neckstrap and voice to ride the pony forward and always to ask for downward transitions and only use the lightest of contact on the rein. The child is taught to ride with the correct contact and if she/he gets worried all that's needed is a quick tug on the neck strap and the pony slows down/stops.

Hunting I have it a bit further up the neck and if going in to a dodgy looking obstacle I'd grab it with my left hand once the horse has locked on to the fence and use it to brace the downward side - saves the horse's mouth if I want to take a self-preservationist seat!

Much under utilised basic bit of kit imo.

 

[skint1]

I use neck strap .
When I was taught to ride it was really the first thing they taught us .
Grabbing the neck strap really is instinctive for me.
I also train all my horse to stop/ slow down if I jerk on the neckstrap quickly three times and say whoa whoa.

That is a really good idea! I use a neck strap on my horse because I don't want to hang on his mouth in an unbalanced moment, which I seeem to have a lot of lately. I think as well if you're having a nervous moment it can give you that extra feeling of security without involving the horse's mouth in a death grip. In short, I like them!

 

[Damnation]

I prefer loopping a flash strap through the d rings of a saddle - much easier to loop fingers around and grab.

But then I have short arms so leaning forward to grab a neck strap would probably unbalance me if trying to sit to a buck or a spook!

 

[Sprout]

I use a neck strap because with my HMS I can become unbalanced if my knees give way, if my boy spooks etc so the strap helps with my balance and reduces the risk of me pulling on his mouth inadvertently.

 

[PorkChop]

I always ride with a neckstrap, can't say I grab it in an emergency all the time.

I do find it extremely useful when mounting, and I train the horses to slow down when I pull it

 

[doodle]

I used to all ways ride soli in one. Particularly warming up at a show. I would hold neck strap with one hand. Helped me feel more secure without holding into his mouth. A light tug on the neck strap also steadied him without getting into a fight. I then used to always put one on Robin when I first got him. But I never used it and never felt the need to do a friend borrowed it and I have never asked for it back.

 

[Goldenstar]

I prefer loopping a flash strap through the d rings of a saddle - much easier to loop fingers around and grab.

But then I have short arms so leaning forward to grab a neck strap would probably unbalance me if trying to sit to a buck or a spook!

This won't stop the horse and that's the advantage of a neck strap ( which need to thin not a stirrrup leather ) if you have trained them to stop when it's pulled they are likely to stop when you get into trouble this has saved me many times .

 

[Dubsie]

I never have, never understood as my theory was if you were falling a neck strap wasn't going to save you.
I do now see though and have more recently used one as my daughter nagged me too with a new horse!
I've used it more to steady myself if needed (big spook you know the type of thing) as horse has a very very soft mouth and I'm being uber careful not to ever jab it!!!

My daughter had a lesson with Mark Smith and he suggested to hold the neck strap with fingers underneath the strap then close over it with palm upwards as it made it more difficult to fall off as the elbow was locked in towards yourself. (does that make sense?)

 

[Damnation]

This won't stop the horse and that's the advantage of a neck strap ( which need to thin not a stirrrup leather ) if you have trained them to stop when it's pulled they are likely to stop when you get into trouble this has saved me many times .

Oh I agree, that would help, but my stumpy little arms are not built for neck straps!!!

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

I couldn't live without my Holy Crap Strap at work! It's the first thing you grab when the horse starts messing about and it's the first thing you let go of when they really are being stupid so you can haul their heads up off the floor!

I don't use one at home. It feels weird riding the tb's in a snaffle without a neck strap but I'm fine without one if I have 2 sets of reins. It doesn't bother me in the slightest riding the wee natives in a snaffle and no holy Crap Strap. I'm a bit weird! It just doesn't 'feel' right on the tb's lol!

 

[Embo]

Yes, I use one regularly. Mostly for jumping/XC or hacking. I use it to balance myself with if I have a wobbly moment so I don't use the rein instead. I use it less and less the more confident I get, but I still have it there just in case. Usually I will hook a finger round it a couple of strides away from a jump if I'm suddenly not feeling very brave!

In the past I have spent enitre sessions where I've not let go of it at all.

It's like a security blanket - I know it won't necessarily 'save' me if things go wrong, but I feel better for having it there, therefore I ride more confidently and am more effective.

 

[M&M&G]

I use one out hacking less to avoid falling but as others hav said, to slow down. I know I would otherwise use my hands too much, it also encourages me to use my seat and weight as I have a tendency to tip forwards when going down gears

 

[tatty_v]

I put one on all the time out of habit (it's looped up with my bridle) but I only really use it out hacking when things get a bit hairy!

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

I use one out hacking less to avoid falling but as others hav said, to slow down. I know I would otherwise use my hands too much, it also encourages me to use my seat and weight as I have a tendency to tip forwards when going down gears

Similar for me. I don't have my own horse yet but enjoy hacking holidays and I get tired after a few hours in the saddle. I don't want to accidentally use my hands to balance so prefer having a neckstrap available.

 

[Emilieu]

For those not using a stirrup leather what are you using please?

 

[Kezzabell2]

My horses neck was always to fat for a neck strap, so I just put a hunting breast plate on him, without the martin gayle attachment, and that was more in the right place that a neck strap would have been!! I feel weird when I ride a horse without anything there now, even if I don't really use it.

 

[turnbuckle]

I'm all for anything which makes me more confident (much needed) and less likely to be decanted, but must admit I've never found the breastplate much use...if I hook round it it going into a fence I either don't give him enough rein or totally drop the rein, reaching for it also generally unbalances me - and I think if I was going to try and sit a real rodeo effort I would rather have a fistful of mane...

But I do like the idea of using it as a request for brakes - will talk to my teacher and see if we can figure out a method for that...

 

[Britestar]

I have my "jesus" handle. Its a leather leadrein stylishly duck taped to the two rings on a breastplate so its sticks up.
I find this much easier to grab in a crisis (another with short arms). I also tuck a finger under it when the horse is a little 'bright' or likely to spook.
Because it stands up, its much easier to grab and has saved me on many occasions. Sometimes I don't even know I've take a hold of it.

 

[FfionWinnie]

Always ride with a neck strap. Saved me and him today when new horse took off before I expected him to (that's the thing when you go from a 14.2 cob to a 17hh warmblood there's a lot less time to inspect the fence!)

 

[JustMe22]

I always have one on my youngster, and used to use one on my more established (but probably naughtier) horse too. I have it fairly long so that it sits just in front of the withers, making it easy to grab if necessary.

I don't grab it if the horse starts throwing big bucks, but it's useful for when they're feeling tense and I don't want to grab on the mouth, and I also used it the other day when my horse was feeling very hot and fresh and I needed to send him forwards into a steady contact - i.e. I needed to stop moving my bloody hands to try and keep the horse under control.

 

[pennandh]

Always use one when astride (unless it's gone walkabout, in which case I just have to make do without), because my dodgy knee sometimes throws my balance out and it's very good for correcting minor wobbles (and saving Mr H's mouth in case of major wobbles).

Side-saddle, I don't usually bother, because I'm liable to stay put unless something really major happens, though I'm not against having one there.