8 months later ... *PICS*

Persephone said:
It's ok to ride in draw reins but you need to keep the legs on and back end working. If not all you are doing is ratcheting the head in (can be seen by the hands) and making the horse overbent and heavy in front.
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Exactly why he has a massive neck and weak behind.

I think he is a lovely horse (and what a lovely star!) but in the before pics he has his winter woolies and a shaggy mane whereas now his mane is pulled and he has a summer shine - can't really see much else different tbh! He looks happy in the before photos, ok maybe not the second one but I don't think that has anything to do with her condition then.

I just can't get over his heart shaped star, what a novelty :D
 
Thanks for the replies folks.

I'll always accept criticism and people opinions/advice, afterall I only want what's best for him.

I'll speak to my instructor re the draw reins and removing them, as mentioned they appear to be hindering rather then helping us.

Thanks to those who provided helpful and useful advice and feedback :)
 
How nice to see you are taking advice and not getting snotty about it! People normally only comment to improve a situation for you or the horse. Lovely boy, I hope your partnership grows and grows (but without the draw reins lol ;))...
 
I hope you can come up with some other way to help him relax and improve as he is lovely.
Glad you have taken the points given on baord, they are aiming to help you both out and look forward to next update as i love his star and want to see more!!
 
fair play to you for taking the points on board. I really was in the same boat as well, my lad was a head tossing giraffe! But honestly, patience, correct riding and no gadgets were the only way to get my lad to a proper self carriage. And i agonized because a lot of instructors i trusted told me to use draw reins. Im so glad i didn't now, but it took time.

Go with your gut. You know your horse. Some horses just need a bit more time to click the idea of self carriage and using their backs properly. You can feel it in them when they do. I have worked in a lot of yards that used draw reins and its a completely different feel when they are just pulled in.

If you have experience of a schoolmaster working correctly through the back then you know what it should feel like. If you don't (and understandably a lot of horse owners don't, they just know their own horses) well get a lesson on a schoolmaster who works correctly and you'll know if if your horse is working through properly. I'd put money that he isn't, because in that photo he is hollow, pulled in, and the muscle tone between front and hind is extremely uneven.

He is a cracking horse though and has a beautiful face!
 
milesjess said:
My instructor is happy with draw reins and reccomends I used them for a few weeks. She's a professional and I will take her advice thanks :)
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just realised i hadn't even picked up on this point. I'd seriously question any instructor who suggested using draw-reins for a couple of weeks! Not all professionals are valid - some can have bad judgements and weird views.

I have been trained to use draw-reins professionally in breaking and training horses, and i would only use them in very rare cases and definitely not for 'a couple of weeks'. I'd seriously question your instructors ability in that case.
 
Sorry to be negative but draw reins (used either way) really will do the opposite of getting your lovely horse to relax, stretch out and improve his choppy stride.

Instead try lots of transitions, moving him briskly forward from your leg into your hand with a nice soft but supportive contact. Every now and then 'give the contact away' briefly to check he is carrying himself and not sitting on your hand (this often works better on a circle at first).
Honestly, it will help him much better that having his head tied in and his bum in another county (as my instructor used to tell me LOL!)

He looks fab BTW :-)
 
OP - I suggest going with the advice of your instructor and ignoring everyone here trying to tell you that everything you're doing is wrong based on one photo ;)

He clearly looks a lot better - in his coat, in his muscle tone etc.

Draw reins have their place, and can be very useful. I couldn't possibly say based on a single photo whether they are the best thing for you to be using, and I don't think anyone else here can either.
 
wonkey_donkey said:
Sorry to be negative but draw reins (used either way) really will do the opposite of getting your lovely horse to relax, stretch out and improve his choppy stride.

Instead try lots of transitions, moving him briskly forward from your leg into your hand with a nice soft but supportive contact. Every now and then 'give the contact away' briefly to check he is carrying himself and not sitting on your hand (this often works better on a circle at first).
Honestly, it will help him much better that having his head tied in and his bum in another county (as my instructor used to tell me LOL!)

He looks fab BTW :-)
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^ this!....

Ive never used any gadgets except side reins when lunging..... and we are doing fine :)

Nice horse.... just loose the draw reins :)
 
rolsterlady said:
each to their own on draw reins, I personally use them but only occasionally and think they do a good job if used correctly!
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This, although I do agree with the other posters who say that they are not being used properly in this instance.

If you want to lengthen his stride try putting some walk/trot poles out that are just slightly longer than his normal stride, keep you leg on for impulsion and he should stretch over them with his hind leg further underneath him.
Nice horse, I love his star!
 
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