The neck rein is one of the most misused and misunderstood aids, and the only way you can correctly advance from a bosal or snaffle to a leverage (curb) bit is by first teaching response to the neck rein. Later in western North American history, the snaffle bit became an intermediate device used in order to speed the process of training on the big US Texas cattle ranches, but North American ranch horses long before that were originally bosal and rope hackamore trained for up to 7 years before finally considered ready to be transitioned into leveraged spade bits for refinement. Before that happened, the horse was already being well trained to the body aids, including being trained to respond to the neck rein for all lateral work.
In order to use a leverage bit on a horse, without combining it with a snaffle bit in a double bridle, the horse first has to be trained to respond to the feel of a neck rein for all lateral movements.
A double bridle as is used in eastern riding allows for the snaffle reins to be used for all independent lateral rein cues delivered to either side of the mouth. Lateral and direct reining cannot happen with a leverage bit with shanks, which is only employed in the double bridle to encourage collection and suspension of gaits, while the snaffle reins are still used for all other rein aids.
A leverage (shanked) bit can't be used with independent direct reining, since the effect of the rein on a shank distorts the position of bit in the mouth when the independent rein is engaged, displacing the bit and confusing the signal.
A leverage bit can only be correctly used with both reins engaged simultaneously on a relaxed rein, and without continuous contact being maintained. Horses reach into contact on the snaffle, but they back off of contact on leverage bits. If a lateral movement is required, then laying of the rein over the neck serves as a body aid signaling the horse to move the shoulders away from the aid.
So, neck reining is a way to cue a horse to move his shoulders away from the pressure of the rein applied against the neck with both reins engaged simultaneously. A neck rein applied to the right side of the neck should be responded to by the horse crossing his right fore in front of his left fore to move his shoulder (forehand) to the left. The neck rein is actually a body aid, and when performed correctly, it doesn't involve any signal to the mouth.
Its easier to do for hardcore ranching and farm work. Think about it. A lot of ranchers need to carry a rope, branding iron, free hand to help move cattle,etc.
Answers & Comments
Verified answer
Neck reining was designed as a way to leave one hand free for things like roping, shooting a gun etc.
The neck rein is one of the most misused and misunderstood aids, and the only way you can correctly advance from a bosal or snaffle to a leverage (curb) bit is by first teaching response to the neck rein. Later in western North American history, the snaffle bit became an intermediate device used in order to speed the process of training on the big US Texas cattle ranches, but North American ranch horses long before that were originally bosal and rope hackamore trained for up to 7 years before finally considered ready to be transitioned into leveraged spade bits for refinement. Before that happened, the horse was already being well trained to the body aids, including being trained to respond to the neck rein for all lateral work.
In order to use a leverage bit on a horse, without combining it with a snaffle bit in a double bridle, the horse first has to be trained to respond to the feel of a neck rein for all lateral movements.
A double bridle as is used in eastern riding allows for the snaffle reins to be used for all independent lateral rein cues delivered to either side of the mouth. Lateral and direct reining cannot happen with a leverage bit with shanks, which is only employed in the double bridle to encourage collection and suspension of gaits, while the snaffle reins are still used for all other rein aids.
A leverage (shanked) bit can't be used with independent direct reining, since the effect of the rein on a shank distorts the position of bit in the mouth when the independent rein is engaged, displacing the bit and confusing the signal.
A leverage bit can only be correctly used with both reins engaged simultaneously on a relaxed rein, and without continuous contact being maintained. Horses reach into contact on the snaffle, but they back off of contact on leverage bits. If a lateral movement is required, then laying of the rein over the neck serves as a body aid signaling the horse to move the shoulders away from the aid.
So, neck reining is a way to cue a horse to move his shoulders away from the pressure of the rein applied against the neck with both reins engaged simultaneously. A neck rein applied to the right side of the neck should be responded to by the horse crossing his right fore in front of his left fore to move his shoulder (forehand) to the left. The neck rein is actually a body aid, and when performed correctly, it doesn't involve any signal to the mouth.
Its easier to do for hardcore ranching and farm work. Think about it. A lot of ranchers need to carry a rope, branding iron, free hand to help move cattle,etc.
It's ALOT easier
its a way too relive shooting
etc and .....other stuff like that its kinda hard too explain srry did my best :?