Do any of you use a neck strap when you’re out on cross country? where did you get it or how did you build one?
I use an old stirrup leather. slip some rubber bands and/or old hair elastics to hold down the “excess” strap. Works great and I like that it’s independent of the saddle in case of some real mishaps.
I see people using C4 belts, since those can easily be cut to size and come in alllllll the colors.
I use a belt as a neck strap any time I jump. I did have one break on me once though - my horse launched us into outer space going over a ditch one time and i grabbed on so hard the buckle snapped off. Other than that I find it works well, when I don’t have one on a horse I’m jumping I feel like I’m missing something.
Great ok, thank you so much for your replies-really appreciate it.
I was going to use a C4 belt until I heard too many stories of them breaking. They are a clothing accessory, not designed for as much stress as a person yanking on it. I got a leather “jockey strap” from an Amish Ebayer. About $14.Looks like the Nunn Finer one. I use a key fob similar to this so it doesn’t slide down my horse’s neck if we graze or watch others when schooling.
https://www.statelinetack.com/item/t…BoCzkAQAvD_BwE
The metal ring is on the strap and I use the snap end on my martigale’s ring
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I use a stirrup leather with hair ties like someone mentioned above. I just saw that some company is making one ($30) that has a d-ring in it already so that mane can be braided into it. I know the FEI has banned “unattached” neckstraps, but I don’t know if the USEF has adopted that change.
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I use a stirrup leather and tuck the excess strap through the buckle. I foxhunt with one. Always!
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Adrienne Iorio gets some really cool ones made by the Amish and sells them. They buckle onto the saddle and have an extra loop that functions as an extra grab handle. I think they’re great.
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C4 belt is just about one of the dumbest things you could pick.
might as well get some lace ribbon from Michael’s and use that.
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I used to use an old stirrup leather but much prefer the thinner neck straps. Nunn finer makes Is my favorite but I’ve also got a Dover circuit one and a synthetic one from big d tack. All were around $15.
Cheapo option for me : I braid 3 strands of hay-bale twine (the natural fibre, not the plastic stuff), and knot it together at an appropriate length. I also run a short strap from my saddle D ring (only on one side) and knot that around the neck strap to stop it slipping down the neck if I drop it.
This is absolutely genius. I have been looking for a solution to this problem for so long, and you just solved it for me in one link. They look really nice, too. Huge thank you!
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I had my C4 belt’s buckle pop apart while riding and I was wearing it as a belt. I don’t understand wanting to use it as a neck strap.
I have used an old standing martingale neck strap or I was gifted a royal blue one from Nunn Finer. The stirrup leather would be too thick for my taste. For the martingale you can just add holes to get it short enough or use a pony sized one.
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Thanks Marigold!! I thought it was a pretty good repurpose, if I do say so myself 
I think the fob is only $9.95 at Smartpak.
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Stirrup leather.
I use the Nunn Finer ones because I like the width. I use elastic headbands (one for each side) and thread those to the upper rings of the breastplate so it doesn’t slip down the neck. I also attach the bottom of the neckstrap to the center ring of the breastplate (where you would add a martingale attachment) and hold it in place with Velcro cable ties. if I’m using a running martingale attachment, I place it in front of where the neckstrap is fastened.
velcro cable ties
elastic headbands
[IMG2=JSON]{“alt”:“Goody Women’s Ouchless Thin Hair Flat Narrow Headwrap, Black, 6 Count”,“data-align”:“none”,“data-size”:“full”,“height”:“262”,“width”:“92”,“src”:"https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71B-NIvOI5L.AC_UL320.jpg)
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I use …and have for 50 years…a race horse “yoke”. I never get on a horse without one. Same concept, but you are attached to the girth…not the horse’s throat/neck. $19.95 from Big D supply. I prefer the biothane ones. Unbreakable and waterproof! Also available in leather.
Just remember that they’re not allowed without being attached to something else at the FEI levels, on the off chance that you’re a Prelim level rider and do have a CCI in your future
.
Em
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An old rein can be converted into a neck strap - use one with the buckle end, cut off the hook stud on the other end, trim/taper the leather to fit into the buckle, punch holes as needed. Our hands tend to recognize the feel of our reins and it makes grabbing it more intuitive, I think. I prefer a thinner neck strap ($20 or so online) to a stirrup leather for that reason.
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