Neck Reining

Ken McNabb riding a roan horse in a field.
Western Horse Training Tips

Teaching the Neck Rein

Level up your trail ride with FIVE exercises that teach your horse to neck rein.

mounted shooting rein management
Private lesson

Mounted Shooting Rein Management

Mounted shooting rein management skills are required so you can cue correctly and get the proper response from your horse. Targets come fast, even at the beginner level, and gun handling requires quick thinking. This makes mastering rein management at home a key to competitive success. Kenda Lenseigne shares her best tips here.

Instead of rounding the corners, as you would on a circle, make them square throughout the rectangle. As you approach the corner, slightly pick up on your reins and close your outside leg to make a square turn to the next straight line of the rectangle.
Western Horse How-To

Teach the Neck Rein

Neck reining is a good skill for any horse to learn. It helps you feel secure in your horse's control level. It also gives you a free hand to open gates, retrieve an item from your saddlebag, point out a trail hazard, pat your gelding, etc.