Do You Use a Neck Strap?

Lainey Ashker rocked this blingy neck strap during the PRO Bareback Show Jumping Challenge at Fair Hill last October. Photo courtesy of Alec Thayer.

Neck straps have been on my mind recently after spending two days at Sinead Halpin’s barn during the Howdaa Working Student Bootcamp. When we were tacking horses — whether for a simple hack or a jump school — head groom Meg Kep made it clear that each horse always gets a neck strap. Sinead always rides with one — always. Then last week An Eventful Life published this great post with quotes from William Fox-Pitt, who discussed his rationale behind always using a neck strap himself.

“When I was learning to ride my mother always made me wear a neck strap because she felt it wasn’t fair to pull on the horse’s mouth just because you may have lost your balance. We would get into a lot of trouble if she saw us (my sisters and I) ride without one. As I progressed I came to appreciate that a neck strap was a really useful piece of equipment in so many situations. Most of my horses will stop by using a neck strap so on the occasions when those horses spook or go a little faster than I want the neck strap can be used rather than always relying on the rein contact. These days I will rarely get on a horse without a neck strap — it would just feel as if something was missing.” — William Fox-Pitt, from An Eventful Life

That got me thinking — why don’t use a neck strap? I’m just your typical adult amateur. I botch distances just as much as the next person. I ride horses that get spooky and silly on hacks. While I always strive to keep my balance and never hit a horse in the mouth, I’d be a fool to pretend it never happens. An Eventful Life points out that neck straps have long been associated with beginner riders. But when I looked through photos in our EN Media Library, I found many riders who always use a neck strap, like William Fox-Pitt, Caroline Powell, Sinead Halpin and Becky Holder.

I can think of many times in the past where having a neck strap would have prevented me from some truly outrageous “freestyle” moments when jumping. What about you, Eventing Nation? Do you ride with a neck strap? Why or why not? I feel like I’ve had a light-bulb moment and will be riding with a neck strap from now on. Time to go wrangle up a stirrup leather, or buy a blingy belt like Lainey Ashker did before the PRO Bareback Show Jumping Challenge at Fair Hill.

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