Benefits of rein back?

TheSylv007

TheSylv007

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Just a musing really, I've been told to use rein back on Rose as a way to get her to soften and listen (seems to be working) and I just wondered if anyone else had any ideas on any other benefits? I remember show jumpers seemed to use it as a way of sitting a horse on it's hocks before starting a round, is this still the received wisdom or has it gone out of fashion?

Does it help get their hind legs underneath them or have any benefit on back suppleness?

Just wondering really!
 
I use it quite a bit when I'm doing in hand work and lungeing. Horse isn't really doing under saddle yet, only tiny bits. I use it IH because horse can be a little anxious and if he's learning something new he can get a bit quick, or try to shoot off if he's finding something challenging. If he gets like that, I stop him, rein back a few steps then pat and just wait for a moment while he calms down again, then walk on again once he's more settled. It does calm him down - if he's started to brace his neck a bit (another of his "go to" things if he gets tense), RB gets him to lift his back up again and drop the neck, then he starts breathing again. It really does seem to help him. Once he is warmed up, I usually do quite a few RBs, walk on a few steps, RB, and so on, and he finds the work much easier then.

He can tend to be a little bit rude too, when you are early on in an IH schooling session so I use it to remind him of his manners. Strangely he really seems to enjoy RB! I also use it when lungeing. If he starts to get silly and too fast, I halt, walk in to him and RB then wait a moment (as above) to calm down, and walk on again. It works wonder for him on the lunge, where he can be a bit silly and inattentive. This gets his attention, softens his back and neck again, and slows him down so he works properly. I would definitely say it gets his hind legs underneath him more, yes, and when I do it regularly in hand, he seems to find the lateral steps easier too.
 
Rein back is a fairly advanced movement actually, and needs to be done STRAIGHT otherwise some horses start using it as an evasion. It puts a lot of stress on the hocks and loin so should not be overdone, in the beginning just 2-3 steps and then forwards immediately. It is a really good exercise for horses which get on the forehand, and used as a direct transition with more advanced horses (rein back to trot, rein back to canter).Horses with very straight hocks find it difficult.
 
Its also a very useful movement to have if you go out hacking where there are gates to open & shut.
Turn on the forehand also comes into play when closing said gates.
Its something all of mine learn to do from an early age.
Have a good practice doing both, but do (as Cortez mentions) carry out them both in the right way :)
 
In addition to being good for getting them to engage their hocks, it is also good for building their core strength. I do it with my horse ridden but also in hand as part of in hand work I do with him to work on core strength - work over poles mainly, including rein back over a pole which is quite challenging!
 
Cortez said:
Rein back is a fairly advanced movement actually, and needs to be done STRAIGHT otherwise some horses start using it as an evasion. It puts a lot of stress on the hocks and loin so should not be overdone, in the beginning just 2-3 steps and then forwards immediately. It is a really good exercise for horses which get on the forehand, and used as a direct transition with more advanced horses (rein back to trot, rein back to canter).Horses with very straight hocks find it difficult.
Click to expand...

That is worth rereading. Like all exercises, it's not without risk. Be particularly careful using it with horses with stifle issues, too. If any force is necessary, it's wrong.

It is an essential skill though. Every horse needs to know forward, back, yield shoulders and quarters in both directions, first in hand then under saddle
 
I also tend to use backwards in practical ways. As TS says, back up, move quarters/shoulders away are essential with all mine on voice commands, especially when bringing 2/3 in at once. It is an indicator of lots of training issues, I have an ex racehorse on the yard, who simply plants. She will not back up or move sideways. She is fixed in a trance the minute you put pressure on her, which is a sad indictment of her lack of preparation.

I get my gelding to back up - as Chestnut Cob says, when he is being rude. He backs up and backs down from his attitude.

generally I use back up when I am hanging off the right shoulder reaching for a gate and need horse to help opening it. Horse really needs to go back calmly with me dragging gate after us & in a straight line then.

Slightly not on topic, as not dressage, but I never have an issue with rein back with mine, because it is so commonly in our day to day activity.
 
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