William Fox-Pitt's neck strap

[Risk-Averse_Rider]

So… Wm F-P uses a neck strap.

But WHEN does he use it?

The photos I’ve seen show the neck strap clearly, but I haven’t seen a photo in which he’s actually touching it.

Prozac Pony and I came out of retirement this past weekend at the Summer II Coconino HT, pre-comp division, and after some less-than-successful schooling during the prior week, I used a neck strap for the jumping phases.

And by “used”, I mean that I had my fingers wrapped around that sucker like a crack 'ho clutching her pipe.

Clearly, that’s not Wm F-P’s approach.

Discourse, please, on the use of the neck strap.

Thank you.

[Robby_Johnson]

LOL

That is hysterical! And who knows when he uses it, but I have to say sometimes things like that are really great mental reinforcers. Meaning, their presence continuously reiterates their purpose and reminds us to ride in a way that we don’t have to rely on them. Does that make sense?

WFP is so tall, and very tall from hip to shoulder, so I suspect he is more likely to pitch forward just through the laws of physics. I always found/find the neck strap (or taking a bridge or grabbing mane) very helpful in stabilizing my upper body so I can stay with/slightly behind the horse’s motion.

[mjrtango93]

I believe he has it there just in case he needs an oh sh*t strap. Better to have one and not use it, then need one and not have it.

[asterix]

Once my Rolex “gang” cornered him in a tent where he was signing his book; one of my friends is really tall, and we were having a conversation about eventing for the 6’ + crowd – he said he always has a neck strap, just in case. We were too awestruck, as I recall, to press him on how often he actually used it…:lol:

[eponacowgirl]

I’m 99.9% sure that the only reason he uses a neckstrap is so the poor, long-suffering riding instructors of hormonal pre-teens can have conversations like this.

Me: Come here, I’m going to put this stirrup leather around your horses neck so you can visualize where you put your hands.
Pre-teen: NO!
Me: Uh, yes.
PT: I DON’T WANT IT THERE.
Me: Why not?
PT: Because I don’t need it.
Me: I believe it will help you.
PT: But I hate the way it looks.
Me: Fine, but it will help you.
PT: NO NO NO NO NO NO NO starts to draw in breath to shriek
Me: You know, I jump with a neck strap in lessons. Helps me remember where to put my hands.
PT: I don’t care.
Me: WHY do you have such an issue with this?
PT: BECAUSE.
Me: Listen, you want to go to Rolex one day?
PT: Yes.
Me: Well, thats fine and dandy, but if you don’t learn to release, you won’t make it.
PT: Whatever.
Me: Do you know who William Fox Pitt is?
PT: Yes. He won Rolex this year.
Me: How about Hawley Bennett?
PT: Yeah! She’s from Canada, right?
Me: Sure. Did you know they BOTH used neckstraps AT ROLEX this year? AT. ROLEX.
PT: Oh. Really?
Me: Yes. Now I’m going to put this strap on your horses neck and you’re going to use it.

[subk]

WFP’s horses wear a neck strap every time they are tacked up to jump. It is something that started as a kid with his mom who as he said “has strong ideas about things.” In an interview he said it is useful to grab it to help keep his body forward coming out of the start box. I think it’s is as much as that feeling that he’s not completely “dressed” without one as opposed to something he has any plans of actually using once he’s on course…he hopes.

Here’s the interview that he explains the neck strap: http://www.yourhorse.co.uk/Improve-your-riding/Search-Results/Celebrity-training/William-Fox-Pitt---Preparing-to-go-Cross-Country-Part-2/
In this clip he also says some very interesting things about bits as well!

And yes Hawley Bennett had one on as well at Rolex. On stadium it looked like it was being used as a target for her hands.

I’ve been riding in a neck strap on my young horse for almost the last year and LOVE my neck strap. I use the thinner piece from a standing martingale and find it much easier to use than a clunkly stirrup leather.

[Bobthehorse]

[QUOTE=mjrtango93;4989021]
I believe he has it there just in case he needs an oh sh*t strap. Better to have one and not use it, then need one and not have it.[/QUOTE]

Agreed. I dont think a neckstrap is there to be held onto all the time. Im sure he keeps it on just in case he gets into a really rough spot and feels like he needs it. But for him I doubt that happens often! He probably feels like if he took it off Murphys Law would dictate he would actually need it.

[Right_on_Target]

Bartville sells a nice looking thin neckstrap one for under $10. It is about martingale thickness.
They call it a “jockey strap”.
I find it much easier to grab than a thick stirrup leather.

Eventing, where real women use ‘Jock’ straps!

Hah!

[ShotenStar]

@Right on Target;4989135

Eventing, where real women use ‘Jock’ straps!

Hah!

Snort!! Best line in a long time.

Star

[Bobthehorse]

[QUOTE=subk;4989067]

Here’s the interview that he explains the neck strap: http://www.yourhorse.co.uk/Improve-your-riding/Search-Results/Celebrity-training/William-Fox-Pitt---Preparing-to-go-Cross-Country-Part-2/
In this clip he also says some very interesting things about bits as well![/QUOTE]

Now Im watching all of these. Goodbye morning.

[mjrtango93]

[QUOTE=subk;4989067]
And yes Hawley Bennett had one on as well at Rolex. On stadium it looked like it was being used as a target for her hands.[/QUOTE]

Hawley actually uses it quite a bit for the intended purpose. Ginny has an insanely huge, deer like jump that unfortunately has put Hawley on the floor on more then one occassion. I believe she said Buck had her add the neck strap to help her stay with the mare. Seems to work for her!

[lyndieventer]

[QUOTE=eponacowgirl]
[I]I’m 99.9% sure that the only reason he uses a neckstrap is so the poor, long-suffering riding instructors of hormonal pre-teens can have conversations like this.

Me: Come here, I’m going to put this stirrup leather around your horses neck so you can visualize where you put your hands.
Pre-teen: NO!
Me: Uh, yes.
PT: I DON’T WANT IT THERE.
Me: Why not?
PT: Because I don’t need it.[/I]

Laugh…snort…hey, all of us didn’t think we needed it when we were pre-teen punks, but at 32 I really don’t care HOW it looks…I need a neck strap! :winkgrin:

[RiverBendPol]

I always used to wear a hunting breastplate as an ‘O $h*t strap’ but it is really down too close to the saddle and crotch to help me keep my balance over the top of my horse. I’m a mile high from hip to shoulder so keeping that part of me balanced is always tricky. I have found the stirrup leather further up my horses’ necks is more helpful than the breastplate was in cases of extremity. I almost never touch it but I love having it there ‘just in case’.

You guys who use it to show you where to put your hands over the fence, doesn’t it choke your horse if it is so far up his neck? Mine sits about 1/2 way between his wither and where I want my hands over the top of the jump.

[Blugal]

I have found it most useful for horses that are spinning and leaping around. Of course, it is great for over-jumping horses; and I have had the conversation with teens, as posted above, many times. In fact I have on a few occasions wished I’d brought a cover picture of WFP so I could prove my point!

[eventer_mi]

@eponacowgirl;4989032

I’m 99.9% sure that the only reason he uses a neckstrap is so the poor, long-suffering riding instructors of hormonal pre-teens can have conversations like this.

Me: Come here, I’m going to put this stirrup leather around your horses neck so you can visualize where you put your hands.
Pre-teen: NO!
Me: Uh, yes.
PT: I DON’T WANT IT THERE.
Me: Why not?
PT: Because I don’t need it.
Me: I believe it will help you.
PT: But I hate the way it looks.
Me: Fine, but it will help you.
PT: NO NO NO NO NO NO NO starts to draw in breath to shriek
Me: You know, I jump with a neck strap in lessons. Helps me remember where to put my hands.
PT: I don’t care.
Me: WHY do you have such an issue with this?
PT: BECAUSE.
Me: Listen, you want to go to Rolex one day?
PT: Yes.
Me: Well, thats fine and dandy, but if you don’t learn to release, you won’t make it.
PT: Whatever.
Me: Do you know who William Fox Pitt is?
PT: Yes. He won Rolex this year.
Me: How about Hawley Bennett?
PT: Yeah! She’s from Canada, right?
Me: Sure. Did you know they BOTH used neckstraps AT ROLEX this year? AT. ROLEX.
PT: Oh. Really?
Me: Yes. Now I’m going to put this strap on your horses neck and you’re going to use it.

ROFLMAO!!! :lol:

[wabadou]

[QUOTE=eponacowgirl;4989032]
I’m 99.9% sure that the only reason he uses a neckstrap is so the poor, long-suffering riding instructors of hormonal pre-teens can have conversations like this.

Me: Come here, I’m going to put this stirrup leather around your horses neck so you can visualize where you put your hands.
Pre-teen: NO!
Me: Uh, yes.
PT: I DON’T WANT IT THERE.
Me: Why not?
PT: Because I don’t need it.
Me: I believe it will help you.
PT: But I hate the way it looks.
Me: Fine, but it will help you.
PT: NO NO NO NO NO NO NO starts to draw in breath to shriek
Me: You know, I jump with a neck strap in lessons. Helps me remember where to put my hands.
PT: I don’t care.
Me: WHY do you have such an issue with this?
PT: BECAUSE.
Me: Listen, you want to go to Rolex one day?
PT: Yes.
Me: Well, thats fine and dandy, but if you don’t learn to release, you won’t make it.
PT: Whatever.
Me: Do you know who William Fox Pitt is?
PT: Yes. He won Rolex this year.
Me: How about Hawley Bennett?
PT: Yeah! She’s from Canada, right?
Me: Sure. Did you know they BOTH used neckstraps AT ROLEX this year? AT. ROLEX.
PT: Oh. Really?
Me: Yes. Now I’m going to put this strap on your horses neck and you’re going to use it.[/QUOTE]

OMG, how do you know my kids???!:eek:

[vineyridge]

For those who do use stirrup leather neck straps, how do you keep it place? I’ve used baling twine, but it is not pretty.

Would love some other options that are considerably more elegant.

[Blugal]

For everyday riding, I just slip it over the neck and it stays in place as long as I don’t let my horse eat

For shows or occasions when it must stay up (e.g. naughty pony that puts its head down), I just take hair on either side of the strap, braid the hair together over the strap, put an elastic in and it’s all done.

[subk]

[QUOTE=Right on Target;4989135]
Bartville sells a nice looking thin neckstrap one for under $10. It is about martingale thickness.
They call it a “jockey strap”.
I find it much easier to grab than a thick stirrup leather.

Eventing, where real women use ‘Jock’ straps!

Hah![/QUOTE]
Is Bartville the Amish/Menonite tack place that doesn’t do internet? How do I order one…or two? My neck strap is black and got chewed on this weekend at LAZ’s schooling show (yes, I used it for a dressage class! ) I got it for $15 from Stubben at Rolex. For $10 I could get TWO–one black and one brown, then won’t I be co-ordinated?

[JER]

I’ve used a neck strap on occasion but I prefer to grab mane.

Does anyone recall that ‘Thrills and Spills’ clip of WFP where he lands VERY hard in front of the saddle after a fence and then gallops downhill while stuck on the withers in a rather painful position?

It’s incidents like this that make a neck strap appealing.