Bucking and neck straps

[guest24]

Does anyone use a neck strap to help when your horse gets a bit over-enthusiastic shall we say. If so exactly how do you use it. Presumably you don't hold on to it all the time but by the time you've gone to grab it when the "explosion" occurs its too late and you're on the deck.

[beany1]

I always thought that it wouldn't be much use, but last week I stayed on the most huge buck (just) thanks to my martingale strap and handfuls of mane, it seemed to be instinctive to grab it thank goodness

[donna]

You can also get balance straps which is a short strap that clips onto the d rings of your saddle. The advantage of these is that they can't slide down the horses neck, and you can sit up and hold them-don't have to lean forward. Also, they are quite discreet if you are bothered about 'yard cred'!

[Casper]

I echo Donna's sentiments. As she says, with a balance strap you can hold it without having to tip or lean forward like you would have to with a neckstrap - which is obviously the last thing you want to do with a bucking horse!

[numbat]

In fact these come free with nearly every bridle these days - although some people use them as a flash noseband

[percypony]

LOL Numbat!!!!

[Casper]

Will have to dig the flash part of Bobby's noseband out of the bottom of the bin then - what a good idea Numbat!!!

[charlie]

Hi OP- I use an old stirrup leather as a neck strap- as my WB has had mounting issues- where he hollows, runs and sometimes bucks- we have pinned it down to perhaps in teh past- people grabbing onto the reins and hanging off his mouth- so in this situation a neck strap both aids mounting with a loose rein- is there to hold onto if any probs and also there to help stop- as use that and a voice aid to communicate the standstill and not the reins. C

[Karon]

I use a breastplate on my youngsters - the advantage being it's not going to fly up their necks if they do have a mad fit and I can grab it easily. It also helps they have long manes to grab too

[maislow]

I use an sos strap on the D rings for when Maisie does one of her leapy strops & its saved me a few times

[thistle]

I am using a neckstrap on a horse that tends to shorten his neck, come back at you and tend to drop behind the contact. His teeth, back and saddle have all been checked and he does it both bitless and bitted.

He is being ridden in a frenck link with the very lightest contact. During a downward transition you hook the middle finger or each hand into to neckstrap and lift and pull slightly, he then half halts. This worked even when passing the hunt!

To really show off you can knot your reins and ride a whole fairly accurate dressege tese Richard Maxwell style just using the neck strap and body weight.

I reckon if they are good enough for William Fox Pitt then it will do for me.

[lizzieb]

I hold mine at all times!!!!!!!!

I used to use a stirrup leather but now use my breastplate.

I hold mine reins as normal but slip my middle and ring finger under the strap. It should make no difference to your rein control as long as you dont have the strap too short. Having your strap too short will pull you forward also which is quite the opposite of what you want on a bucker.

It has been this and only this that has saved me on several occassions as I have a balance problem relating to my ears.

You will find all those who ride racers hang onto their straps for the reason of bucking and whipping round, whats the point of risking a fall when something as simple as this could prevent it!!! It also helps keep your hands down in the situations.

The only draw back with a neck strap is once you are used to one you will feel naked without it.

I wouldn't be without one and I am afraid if the neck strap is a 'yard cred' no no then those people need to get out in the real world and ride real horses!!

[Lucymj]

i now use a balancing strap as Jack's bucks are thankfully becoming few and far between under normal circumstances.

For years though i used an old stirrup leather- saved my bacon countless times! The big advantage of a neck strap over the balancing strap is that when you grab the neck strap the pressure it applys on the underside of the horses nack, although slight, is often enough to stop them putting their heads down for the big bucks anyway!

I would never sit on any horse i didnt know or trust now without them.......... yeah, they dont look great - but i kinda value my neck to much to care!

[Failed rodeo rider]

Maybe I'm being dim here but I can't quite see how a neckstrap is going to keep you on a horse that bucks badly. I think I'd be more worried about getting my hand caught in it & breaking a wrist/arm/collarbone! I can understand that it gives you something to lean back against but I just can't imagine that being enough to stop me falling off a big horse that pretty much "catapults" a rider out of the saddle. Can anyone explain in little words that an idiot can understand?!

[sjb]

does anyone know where i can buy a balancing strap, sounds just what i am looking for.