Neck rein

A horse that has been well trained to neck rein becomes so responsive to legs and seat that it is possible to take the bridle off completely – a move sometime seen in non-competitive exhibitions.

When riding in the Western style, riders hold both reins in the left hand (if they are right-handed).

In western pleasure competition at horse shows, riders are not supposed to ever to take the slack out of the reins when neck-reining, and even cues to slow or stop must be very subtle.

The neck rein in English riding is used in addition to a direct rein and reinforces certain riding aids, particularly turns that require the horse to set back on its haunches, such as turns at high speeds when show jumping in a timed jump-off, or in events such as Dressage when performing a Pirouette.

Many well-trained English horses seem to already know how to neck rein without being formally taught — further proof that the skill is primarily an outcome of encouraging responsiveness to the legs, weight and a light hand.