Wanted - case studies from un-safe neck straps!

[MJC]

Hi, I am writing a feature on balance accessories - neck straps, balance straps, the Rs-tor etc - and am interested to hear from anyone that has had BAD experiences through using them, eg. used a stirrup leather as a neck strap and it broke, or leant forward to grab a neckstrap and it slipped, causing imbalance, etc. I am especially interested to hear from any instructors or high level competitors with any comments about the safety of these products. Hope you can help - my email is dizzychick2@talk21.com, many thanks!

 

[TheMule]

Good god- how much force would you have to exert on a stirrup leather neck strap to get it to break?!

Neck straps are a fantastic help in certain situations, we should be encouraging more people to use them, not discouraging them with horror stories, surely? If you're leaning forward to use them then you're using them wrong.

 

[teddyt]

I agree with themule- if you have to alter your position to use one then it is fitted badly. And if you can manage to break a stirrup leather, either you need to lose weight or learn how to clean and check tack properly!

 

[Rowreach]

Sorry, I think I understand what MJC is getting at, and it is not about putting people off using these things, but maybe using them safely?

I am a big fan of both balance straps and neckstraps and encourage people I teach to use them both (because they are in different places on the horse and therefore used in different situations).

I also use them a lot myself, particularly on young horses, but also on more advanced ones. When I was qualifying pointers I used 3 in various positions up the neck (allowing for all eventualities)

However I would NEVER use a stirrup leather as a neck strap unless it was stabilised in some way (ie by linking it with a breastplate for example) as they are so dangerous when they slip around the neck

An unbalanced rider tipping forward and grabbing a stirrup leather is going to find it no use whatsoever

In answer to the OP I can't give you any case studies, but I can tell you that unstabilised neck straps are bad news.

 

[kerilli]

I'm impressed by anyone who has ever had fast enough reactions to actually grab a neckstrap in extremis... i usually use one but unless i've already got fingers through it, i haven't ever had time to grab it. this includes the last time i rode...
what's so dangerous about using an old stirrup leather, please? i've done this for years.

 

[*hic*]

what's so dangerous about using an old stirrup leather, please? i've done this for years.

Call me cynical, but I suspect nothing - unless you happen to be marketing an alternative . . . . . .


Ok they can spin round BUT that could be seen as a positive. Anyone fancy having their hand trapped on top of the horse's neck whilst it's pissing off at speed with you dangling alongside it with your shoulder dislocating?

 

[*hic*]

And another thing.


At several riding schools I've been to the horses are taught that the neckstrap is an additional aid meaning "Slow up". If the rider pulls hard the ponies are taught to stop. It's great because it works on ponies that have decided not to respond to the bit.

 

[Kat]

The riding school where i have lessons has all the horses in neck straps of somesort. Either they have a martingale and the neckstrap that holds that in place, or a breast plate or a stirrup leather.

Apparently they have to no matter who is riding them for "health and safety".

I've been riding for nearly 30 years now and can count on the fingers of one hand the times I have used a neckstrap. They have all been for riding a specific exercise - hold the neck strap whilst riding down that grid type of thing. To stop you moving your hands too much or interfering with the horses mouth. I have never grabbed one because the horse is bu99ering about, or because I have become unbalanced, I simply wouldn't think of it. I would grab a darn big handful of mane though, and I think this is safer as the mane doesn't move about! I may also grab the pommel for balance.

To be honest I think it would be safer to teach kids to hold the mane when they are learning. It more stable and more likely to be there in the future - sods law says that the day you need it is the day you don't have a neck strap on!