How to teach a horse to obey the reins

Video: Lesson 4: How to Teach your horse to follow rein pressure and move away from leg pressure.

Content

Steps
Part 1 of 3: Learning to Control Neck Touch
Part 2 of 3: Avoiding Common Mistakes
Part 3 of 3: Improving Dressage
Tips
Cautions

In equestrian riding, “neck touch control” is a way of controlling the horse by giving direction by touching one side of the neck with the reins. One of the advantages of this steering method is that the rider can steer the horse using only one hand. This skill is also required for certain types of riding, such as riding with a mouthpiece. While neck touch control is not a difficult skill, it does require some prior training and knowledge from the rider in order for the training to be successful.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Learning to Control Neck Touch

1 Pre-teach the horse basic skills. Ideally, submission to the neck-touch with the reins should not be the first skill you teach your horse. The horse should already be trained in some skills - submission to the touch with the reins of the neck is the last of the basic skills and allows you to better control the horse. Skills that you must first train your horse:
- Riding straight and stopping on the spot
- Obedience to the reins
- Hip control
- Shoulder control
- Stop at the bottom
2 Training. Start by getting your horse ready to ride. Saddle the horse and attach the reins to the soft bit. You can use solid or split reins. They should be long enough to be held by the horse's neck with one hand. For severed reins, the usual length is seven and a half feet.
- Do not use a mouthpiece head harness, training can be painful for the horse. Some riders prefer to switch to a mouthpiece headband after the horse has mastered this skill.
3 Start with an easy step. Go to a safe place and ask your horse to walk straight or in a wide circle. Make sure you have enough space on all sides.
4 Turn the horse around with the reins. When you are ready, force the horse to turn using the reins. In other words, gently point the horse's nose in the direction you want to turn by pulling on the reins from that side.
- For example, if you want the horse to turn to the left, pull on the left rein so that the horse's nose turns slightly to the left. The body must follow the head.
5 Place the other rein on the horse's neck at the same time. This is the key point. When you force the horse to turn, place the outer rein (the one on the opposite side of the one you are turning into) over the horse's neck. For example, when turning left, place the reins on the right side of your neck.
- Your goal is to combine the fact of the turn with the feeling of the reins on the horse's neck so that in the end the touch of the reins is enough for the horse to turn. Therefore, you must be decisive. Don't act rough or violent, but “make sure” the horse can feel the reins around his neck.
6 Use your body to force the horse to turn. While you force the horse to turn the reins, use the leg muscles and body weight to control the balance point. Press lightly with the shin of your outside leg (on the opposite side of the pivot direction) just behind the girth. At the same time, look in the direction of the turn and carefully shift your body weight to steer the horse into the turn.
7 Repeat the workout. The horse will not learn the skill immediately, so you will probably have to repeat the above process until the horse understands what is required of it. For fidelity, it is better to train obedience to the occasion in different conditions. Vary your regular exercise according to the instructions:
- Try to turn both to the right and to the left.
- Make sharp and smooth turns.
- Train at different speeds (for example, stride, trot, and loop).
- Train in different places.
8 Test the horse's ability to pivot when handling a non-main rein (touching the neck). When you think the horse has trained, test its skill. Hold the reins behind the horse's neck with one hand. Tell the horse to turn by placing the reins on one side of the neck (instead of pulling the reins and turning the horse's nose). Once done, push the horse with your foot on the same side and shift your weight towards the turn. If the training is successful, the horse will turn away from the reins thrown around the neck.
- Remember that you are guiding your horse by placing the reins on the opposite side of the turn. In other words, to turn left, you must place the reins on the right side of your neck (and vice versa).

Part 2 of 3: Avoiding Common Mistakes

1 Correct technical errors as early as possible. For experienced riders, handling a horse in this manner may seem familiar. But for a beginner, it can seem like a deceivingly difficult task. Since mistakes in horse handling during the training phase can cause the animal to expect the same mistakes when riding, correct mistakes as early as possible. Next, we will discuss some common mistakes and how to avoid them.
2 Do not apply extra pressure when steering the horse with the reins. If you are guiding the horse by placing the reins on the neck and cannot get the horse to turn, do not push harder to turn the horse's head in the desired direction. Since you are holding the reins with one hand, this will cause the horse's head to turn in the wrong direction. Instead, switch to two-handed control and pull on the inside rein to force the horse to turn its head.
3 Don't let random arm movements guide your horse. It is easy to forget that, from the horse's point of view, any small movement of the rider can be interpreted as a guide to the turn. Try to keep your hands still while riding, especially if you control the horse by touching its neck.
4 Don't underestimate the importance of weight transfer. The horse senses even the smallest changes in your body weight. Make sure you look in the right direction at every turn - this will make you subconsciously shift your weight. If you find it difficult to get a response from your horse, you can guide it by consciously shifting your body weight and applying leg pressure as described in the previous section.

Part 3 of 3: Improving Dressage

1 Be consistent. As with any animal training, consistency is key. Once you have started teaching the horse to obey the touch of the reins to the neck, continue training, each time using the appropriate techniques described above. Do not make drastic changes in the approach to training - remember that the horse will never understand your logic and the reasons for the change, he is more likely to be confused by conflicting instructions. Repeated mismatch can even lead to the horse adopting "bad" habits.
- Remember, consistency in training is as good for you as the horse is. If you plan to ride your horse, you want to make sure it responds predictably to your directions, and the only way to do this is to be consistent in your training.
2 Be patient. Compared to other teams, this control is quite easy (it is easy to teach and learn). Most horses learn the trick in 6-10 sessions. At the same time, all horses are different and it is not uncommon for an animal to master a skill longer. Be patient and persistent and you will end up easily controlling your horse by touching the reins.
3 Don't be afraid to contact a professional. If you are unsure of your ability to train your horse in a technique, fear not - help is always available. Consider asking a horse professional (trainer, breeder, rancher, etc.) to help you train your horse. While these options can be costly, it is a good investment if it helps you ride safely in the future.
- To find a trainer nearby, try the "Find a Trainer" online service provided by the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) at http://aqha.com/findatrainer.

Tips

Keep your workouts short but productive so your horse doesn't get bored. After finishing your workout, reward your horse with affection, verbal praise, and (optionally) a treat.
Once you and your horse are comfortable with the technique, consider mastering bridle-free riding using a rope.
Usually, riders use a non-dominant hand to control the horse so that the main hand is free for lasso, shooting, and so on.