I have no experience what so ever! But I love western and want to learn.
Unfortunately there are almost no western riding schools near me, they're all too far.. :( So I cant learn from an instructor, I have to teach myself and depend on you guys to give me advice!

I just have pictures, videos and books to learn from!
But please do give me advice if you have any!
Most of the time i'm just guessing what to do, and since my pony is a dressage pony and doesnt know western, its not easy for us.

I tried this yesterday, using "neck rein"! :)
It went ok.. Not good, but not entirely bad, I think? xD
Hope someone will take a look and give me some advice..!

I tried again today, and I filmed it but its all blurry for some reason, so I wont bother uploading.. But it went loads better today! I tried riding in the big riding house and although he sped up, I was able to slow him down by making circles, on a loose rein! :) It went better than yesterday, so thats good.. :p

THE VIDEO:

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"When I bestride him, I soar, I am a hawk: he trots the air; the earth sings when he touches it; the basest horn of his hoof is more musical than the pipe of Hermes." -Shakespeare

one suggestion?
use your legs more to teach your horse to neckrein. It doesn't look like you are using your legs at all to steer your horse. Reins are a second steering aid....legs should be your first.

Neck reining isn't about dragging the rein across the neck--most of the time, you're pulling backwards and on the opposite rein!
Remember to put the rein out in front of you, then lay it across the neck just enough so that the horse can feel it. DON'T pull it backwards or exaggerate the motion.
Also, when you want your horse to go to the right, and the horse turns his body but not his face, take the direct rein and pull his head in the direction of travel. Soon he'll do it without you pulling and guiding him.

Neck reining isn't all about the reins, but a good 'bridled' horse can function just off of the reins just as much as they can function being ridden just off of the legs. It's when you put the two together that you get something really special. ;)

I was going to make a suggestion similar to Sonny's. Feet go forward, not back, when you wish to stop. Keeping feet forward means go backwards. Letting your feet go backwards like that makes you less stable and you can fall off much more easily.

I'd also suggest that you get really good at direct reining western before going to neck reining. Our trainer describes neck reining this way....You only need to use your pinkie to stop.

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Laura
Mom to the two best kids in the world!

I agree with SonnyWimps definately use some leg if your horse is trained for that.

I will say that your horse did pretty good for the first couple of times. I`m going to assume that you are an english rider and while I`ve never ridden english I`m thinking that your horse is trained to be ridden with a shorter rein so for you to be riding with a looser rein I thought you guys did pretty good.

Another thing is to hold your hands lower.

All in all I`d say that you guys did pretty good for having never done western.

Can you copy and paste the link for some reason I can't watch vids in a post..

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Tiffanny Fehr
Fehr Ground Ranch
Quality AQHA/FQHA Horses
www.fehrgroundranch.com

Thanks alot!
Well if I have to use my legs, then wow, things are so much easier!! x)

What is direct reining though..? If its turning the horse using the rein and legs ("pulling" on rein/bit to turn the horse) then I've comleted that step..!

In the video I'm not using my legs at all except for going backwards, because thats what he's used to (he's used to either pulling on both reins, and he goes backwards, or putting your feet more back and squeezing equally)

I'll post another video and improve those things! :)

How about my seating..? Are my stirrups long enough or too long? Should I be leaning more back or forwards or stay vertical like in english riding?

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"When I bestride him, I soar, I am a hawk: he trots the air; the earth sings when he touches it; the basest horn of his hoof is more musical than the pipe of Hermes." -Shakespeare

Sure! :)

http:// www . youtube. com /watch?v=_AtGWrAKYdA

( delete the spaces )

For high quality add &fmt=18 to the end of the link!

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"When I bestride him, I soar, I am a hawk: he trots the air; the earth sings when he touches it; the basest horn of his hoof is more musical than the pipe of Hermes." -Shakespeare

Here are a couple more ideas:
*Sit further back on your bottom. Tilt your pelvis so you sit back more on the, well, part of your rear end with padding. This will help your back stay straighter.
*Look where you're going, not at down or at the horse.
*Shorten the reins for direct reining. I'd keep your arms down, like almost where your pockets would be.
*Pinkies towards the muzzle. This allows a stronger grip on the rein.
*Legs and back should be almost in a straight line.
*Toes up, heels down.
*Feet forward for stop. My daughter reminds me that this helps you stay in the saddle.

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Laura
Mom to the two best kids in the world!

Thank you, that's perfect!
Cant wait to try it out tomorrow, its a lot more fun when you know how to do it right, than trying to guess it.. xD

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"When I bestride him, I soar, I am a hawk: he trots the air; the earth sings when he touches it; the basest horn of his hoof is more musical than the pipe of Hermes." -Shakespeare