[HairOfTheDog]

Does Okie neck rein? Bay really doesn't, or I'd have had ecurbh start out that way out of simplicity.

I am not one that would discourage the impulse to reach for the horn (or sometimes better yet, mane) if they lurch or startle, or if you are feeling unsteady in a situation like posting. If you are unsteady, you'll use ~something~ as that handle, and the only other thing in your hands is the reins. I've been known to grab a handful of mane, right tight at the root, to be steady posting Bay's big huge extended trot on trail. He gets into his steady racing rhythm there where he covers a lot of ground, but if he's going that fast and shies suddenly, I want to have mane. I can also connect with tension level in his neck, and usually sense the instant before he is going to break rhythm.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Not to disagree or anything:), but "true" neck reining is not that simple, because most people, and especially beginners, always over do it and land up actually pulling the reins over way to far which actually cues a horse to go the opposite direction you want them to go. Alot of horses will learn even doing it that way, but it's not right. Once I had neck reining explained to me I've watched people who claimed their horses neck rein and very few people do it right, and the poor horse has just adapted to haveing his head pulled one way when the rider wants them to go the other. I think your better two handing, especially on trail and at the same time work on voice commands for stopping so you don't have to saw away at the horse mouth.

Becky

[CindyDawg]

Okie and I are both supposed to be learning neck reining and I know this sounds bad but neither one of us care too much for it. If I can guide him with my legs and control him with direct reining when I need to I'm happy and if he's not feeling the bit he's happy. I guess we are both a little lazy. My instructor was telling me Sat that I needed to get back on it.

HMM. The mane huh? That would sure make it hard to keep raising the reins. Usually if I have to reach for something its the right side of the saddle by the horn. When he shys he tends to go left regardless. I guess it's just because my trainer over and over emphasized keeping my hand of the horn. I think I've only used it once or twice.