Neck Strap Options

[drkfish]

I would love to know what people use for these vs. a stirrup leather-feels a bit bulky for my small hand and a martingale loop seems too flimsy(?) Has anyone tried a rubber lined single rein?

Any concerns with it sliding down the neck if the head goes down?

I don’t normally use a breastplate (saddle fits well + ultrathinline pad) but I have seen the jumper ones that go across the front of the chest to attach to the girth used with a detachable neck strap-would this neck strap work the same?

Working my young DWB all winter may have been a mistake as he is pure muscle and essentially feels like a freight train on x-c. My eventing instructor loves him but I am looking for some extra security when he gets super excited.
Many thanks,

Karen
beginning eventer

[CookiePony]

Do you have a standing martingale lying around? Just take the piece that attaches the girth to the noseband off and you are left with a perfect neck strap.

[Thames_Pirate]

A belt works well–you can choose one that feels right for you at your local Goodwill.

[joharavhf]

I personally like to have my “oh shit strap” placed a little more forward than the standard martingale or breastplate neckstrap would lie. I like the adjustability and ease of use of the stirrup leather and stirrup leathers are easy to come by. I use a standard brown courbette 1" x 54" leather for mine…BUT there are many leathers out there that you could choose from if you didn’t like the bulkiness of that kind of leather. I have a pair of prestige leathers that are 3/4" wide and the softest things I have ever seen…

Also, if you ever broke a leather out on course you could pull up and fix it…hahahahahahahahaha. Not that that would ever happen (or cross my mind if it DID happen)…but hey, who knows!

[drkfish]

Somewhere I saw a concern regarding the strap coming off the neck and getting caught up between the legs (can’t imagine where I would be at that point!). Wouldn’t the stirrup leather (or leather belt/rein) break in that type of situation?
Karen

[Rhiannon_s_Dream]

Legal for competition???

Are neck straps legal at the USEA horse trials (BN/N level)? I use one in my training and wonder if they are legal. Have been told yes and no at horse trials in the past…

[joharavhf]

Didn’t Karen O’C. use one with Teddy??? If so, I would CERTAINLY hope they’d let us weenies use one if SHE was allowed to use one

[sch1star]

Hmm. From article 113 (Saddlery):

3. CROSS-COUNTRY TEST AND JUMPING TEST.
   a. The type of saddlery is optional with the exception of any form of blinkers, which are forbidden.
   b. Only unrestricted running martingales with rein stops or Irish martingales are allowed. Reins must be free of any loops or hand attachments and must be attached to the bit(s) or directly to the bridle. Exception: u-shaped bit converters may be used so that a bit designed for use with two reins may be controlled with a single rein. Gags or hackamores are allowed. In the interest of safety, the stirrup iron and stirrup leathers must hang free from the bar of the saddle and outside the flap. There must be no other restrictions or attachments of any kind.

Seems to me it could be OK under “optional” or not okay under “no other…attachments of any kind.”

On the one hand I love the idea of the neckstrap in case of rider insecurity, but it does worry me from a safety standpoint - how hard would it be for the horse to catch a foot after a stumble? There’s just something about a loose thick leather loop that doesn’t give me the warm and fuzzies.

Sarah I agree with you about the breastplate having NQR positioning…although man did I learn to find that thing on Pippermint!

[mcm7780]

@joharavhf;4124428

Didn’t Karen O’C. use one with Teddy??? If so, I would CERTAINLY hope they’d let us weenies use one if SHE was allowed to use one

Doesn’t William Fox Pitt use one, too?

[fooler]

Neck straps are legal for the jumping phases.

[HER]

William Fox-Pitt did use one at Rolex. My friend has been using one at BN for the last two years.
I can’t imagine how using something to help save your horses mouth could be bad!

[drkfish]

I have a call into the USEA regarding neck strap use. Will post when I hear back.

Thanks everyone for all of the helpful advice!

Karen

[drkfish]

Per the USEA rep. I spoke with, the neck strap is legal as long as it isn’t attached to the reins; i.e. it shouldn’t be different from a breastplate/martingale in this respect.

I am definitely going to try one for training and competition.

I was thinking of using an extra rein-should be slightly thinner than a stirrup leather yes?
Does anyone know if W. Fox-Pitt’s is attached to his breastcollar?
Couldn’t tell from a photo.

Karen

Karen

[drkfish]

[QUOTE=fooler;4124589]
Neck straps are legal for the jumping phase

Thanks-didn’t see this prior to calling USEA:)

[Thomas_1]

All riders here use neck straps. It’s a good aid to use to help you with balance and to stop you relying on reins or tugging on the horse’s mouth. Here in the UK they’re very widely used for that reason and even top riders will use them as a “just in case” and they’re not considered bad practice or for novices at all.

[QUOTE=drkfish;4124273]
I would love to know what people use for these vs. a stirrup leather-feels a bit bulky for my small hand and a martingale loop seems too flimsy(?) Has anyone tried a rubber lined single rein?[/QUOTE] I use either stirrup leathers or else a martingale strap.

Any concerns with it sliding down the neck if the head goes down?
No. But then I don’t let the horse put his head down to eat when I’m riding and that’s the only time the neck strap is likely to slip right down.

[wildlifer]

I guess I’m just redneck, I make one out of hay string.

[vineyridge]

Here is something that is rather decent looking and isn’t as short as a breastplate. Take your standard stirrup leather and attach it to the front dees on the saddle with some sort of cord. That way you can adjust the distance and it won’t flop all over the place.

[joharavhf]

I haven’t had an issue at all with mine slipping down towards the head at all…It stays pretty stationary too and doesn’t tend to flop around. That said we are talking about jumps under BN height Although talk about getting a leg hung in an accident does scare me. I use a plain leather strap leather (no nylon core), BUT I know from experience that leather doesn’t always break under stress… (My leather halter didn’t break in a freak “panic” but the hardware DID!)

[Petstorejunkie]

kids stirrup leathers. thinner than regular stirrup leathers, shorter (so no extra crap flapping around to contain), adjustable, and cheap as all get out at the used tack shop.

[spacehorse]

[QUOTE=fooler;4124589]
Neck straps are legal for the jumping phases.[/QUOTE]

Neck straps are legal for ALL phases. I use a racing yoke for dressage, and attach martingale as needed.