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 I 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.