What are the most common faults judges penalize in neck reining horses at a western show?

Judges in western performance classes that include neck rein evaluation — western horsemanship, western riding, and reining — penalize specific neck reining faults that indicate either training deficiencies or rider errors. The most commonly penalized fault is an over-bent neck — the horse's nose tipping too far in the direction of the turn, beyond the horse's eye. This indicates the rider is using too much direct rein alongside the neck rein, or that the horse has been trained to over-respond to neck contact. A correctly neck reining horse shows minimal neck bend with the entire body following the turn, not just the head. A second major fault is a delayed or dull response to the neck rein — the horse taking several strides to respond or requiring significant rein pressure before turning. This indicates the horse is not confirmed in the cue and that the training is incomplete. Judges look for immediate, light response. Elevated head carriage during neck rein response is also penalized. A horse that raises its head when the rein touches its neck is bracing rather than yielding, which indicates either discomfort, an overly tight rein, or insufficient softness in the neck and poll. Wide, drifting turns where the hindquarters swing out rather than following the turn indicate the horse is only responding to the rein on its nose rather than moving its whole body through the turn — the leg aid deficiency described in the companion question to this one. Finally, inconsistency between the two directions — turning softly left but stiffening right, or vice versa — indicates asymmetrical training and is penalized both as an imprecision and as evidence of a one-sided horse.