It’s one of the worst things to watch - a rider losing balance and yanking back on the horses mouth with all his/her weight, taking them both over and down. A neck strap makes a world of sense for those moments. 💜

Wise words. I often have a neck strap moment!

Couldn't agree more!! I also use it for half halts or slow downs on ex-race horses - it works wonders! Everything you can do with out pulling with your hands is great.

I agree with having a neck strap. My supervisor would call it the "Oh Shit! strap."

Good old mums! Mine never lets me leave the start box without a neck strap on, something Jill Watson taught her when she was young. For FEI we just attach it to the breastplate with a flash strap by the chest, attaching it to the saddle pulls it back into the wrong place.

I always use neckbands, i learned it as child in riding school and never stopped :) but many people laugh about me because i use them. It is also perfect for breaking young horses to avoid pulling the reins when it just gets tense for a second but the rider immediately has the reflex of pulling his hands up and back. And pulling the neckband actually calms the horse, it will pull against the pressure and thereby let the neck fall down in a healthy position

Horses also listen to the neck strap.

Good piece of safety tack and good for old people to grab

I have always been upfront about having a neck strap, mainly if i get left behind and need that extra rein length and whoosh - but then i think of the horses comfort way before i think of other peoples opinions lol

I’m in my 30s and when I was a kid wearing a bicycle helmet was not considered ‘cool’ and I’m a girl. And occasionally I’d ride a horse bareback without a helmet, but if the yard owner caught me I’d get a hiding (with my Dads’s permission!). When my husband was a boy he said he would have been mocked mercilessly if he wore a helmet. But how times have changed. He’s a triathlete and the number of times his riding helmet has saved his life I lose count. He’s been knocked off his bike 3 times by a car. Now I’d always ride a horse with both a helmet and a neck strap and where necessary a body protector. Anything to give you confidence. But it’s also simple common sense. The less likely you are to fall or the less likely you are to hurt yourself when you do is the way forward. If you don’t have the right gear on and you do fall and are seriously injured, hindsight isn’t going to help you out. Be safe people 👊🏻

I have used them before. It’s really a great tool. Thanks Will for your insight!

Thank you for this video, I am new to the equestrian world and I am always looking for ways to help my daughter ride safe- for both her and the horse.

Totally agree, learned this from Aiden O'Connell many years ago!

Good advice

Neck-strap or mane ! ;). For field-hunting, its absolutely necessary.

Can anyone tell me what u use for the neck strap is it just the stirrup leathers ?