Draw reins

[hagazusa]

Several people at my stable use draw reins for both schooling and hacking. Curious to hear your views on this.

(I do not use them myself and don't think they would be a good idea for my particular horse.)

Comments

[12to15steps]

Like any piece of tack, it's only as good or bad as the rider attached to it.

[skitty_kitty]

Ditto, though I dunno why you'd use them if you're just hacking around and not schooling. Although I associate hacking with being outside and just doodling around.

[thelitas]

Thirded. It depends on the horse and depends on how well the rider knows how to use the equipment. For hacking (again, taking it as going out on trails, riding in fields, going around in the arena without a specific training purpose, etc) there's probably no reason to use them.

[skyringer]

Fourthed; I've seen many a good horse ruined by an idiot who doesn't know how to use them properly...

Or flip. That's always fun. -_-

[lyonesse]

i hack out in a forest a lot -- i'd worry a bunch about draw reins getting caught in branches while bushwhacking.

admittedly i don't see using them at all myself, but it is possible i haven't encountered a horse having a problem they'd be useful for solving either.

[quietann]

J has used them *very occasionally* with Skip when he's needed them in his dressage training. But she uses them very, very short term only, and she's an accomplished enough rider that she knows how to use them... and I can't imagine her taking a horse hacking through the woods wearing draw reins. That just seems dumb, with the amount of forest we have.

[alicephilippa]

Draw reins have a place in training but only for limited issues. I've never, nor would I ever, use them out hacking.

[__eloquence__]

I work/ride for an UL event rider and we use draw reins on several of the horses including mine. I ride my horse in draw reins every once in a while as a reminder for both of us. To remind him that he can't flip his head all over the place to get out of working hard and to remind me not to be so handsy. Usually when I have draw reins on I plant my hands on the breastplate and ride entirely off of my seat and leg and the draw reins are just there as a reminder to him if he tries to evade the contact. I keep them loose and as long as he stays balanced and coming forward stretching over his topline he never feels them. But when he gets a little pissy and tries to pitch a fit and get out of working he gets a reminder that that's not allowed. It makes for much more peaceful rides so I don't have to get into it with him. If he falls behind my leg and the head comes up he gets a little extra pressure, I put my leg on, and it's corrected in a split second without an argument. it works really well for me and my horse but I wouldn't say

[hagazusa]

This is a very helpful explanation. Thank you. I learned something. :)

[regentlion]

Agree. I had a trainer put them on my horse and he showed me how to use them.... (this was way back when I was a younger rider) and it made the otherwise troubled horse a lot more bidable probably because my contact was more consistent what with me holding onto the breastplate!

[beybladesabre]

I think I have used them a grand total of twice in the coming 9 years I've had my one gelding. I think they are a great tool if used properly and sparingly. However I see far too many people using them as a short cut and improperly.

A barn near me puts draw reins on ALL their lesson horses, and the "trainers" are a big fan of always riding/training/jumping in draw reins and only taking them off for shows. In fact, at the last show I was at there, there was a few kids doing their hunter rounds in draw reins. My jaw totally hit the floor when they came in the ring. That is not right on any level!!

[zanerbug]

I second this!

I very rarely used them with Zane and never have with Captain, because well, he doesn't need them. Zane on the other hand..needed the reminder every once and a while ;)