Draw Reins, Cruel Or Useful?

[MelanieBubbles]

People at my yard use draw reins on a few horses, but isnt there two ways to use them?

Well the method they use at my yard, is putting them from the bit under the girth, Iv heard this is the most severe method?

What are your views?

Signed-
The Village Idiot

 

[Bossanova]

Like any training aid, in sympathetic hands, on the right horse, in the right circumstances, they have their uses.
If used strongly, with a strong bit, in temper or on the wrong horse then they probably arent cruel but they are a harsh aid.

 

[M_G]

Depends how they are used.. I have nothing against draw reins in the correct hands

 

[marinitagsd]

Can help if used correctly.
x

 

[Apercrumbie]

Useful if used correctly. They worked wonders on my friends horse although I dont think I would ever use them.

 

[SirenaXVI]

Nothing wrong with draw reins unless the wrong person is using them

 

[saskia295]

Here we go... I'll get the popcorn....

 

[GinaB]

Useful in the correct hands.

 

[dopeesophee]

if used correctly any training aid is useful... if not used correctly draw reins can have some damaging effects...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draw_reins

 

[Ludi-doodi]

[ QUOTE ]
Here we go... I'll get the popcorn....

[/ QUOTE ]

^^^^^ what she says!!!

If someone can then post about whether freelanders can tow, then the day will be complete

 

[eventing09]

I hate them , i also hate side reins.
If you realise once you take them off the head moves straight back up. The horse wont learn from you but from artificial aids.
Thats the way i see it any way.

 

[MelanieBubbles]

I Was Purely Asking A Question.

Thanks For The Useful Repilies, Unlike Some... :\

Because We're Gonna Vote At My Yard On Tuesday Wether To Let The Horses Have Their Head,

We Have Debates On Hacks, So I Wanted To Argue My Piece In Mid Gallop :L

x

 

[FFF]

^^^ Can you not talk Liike This Please? Sorry, it is really annoying to read

My reply is: Good in the right hands but I dont like to see people using them

 

[only_me]

http://www.sustainabledressage.com/tack/gadgets.php#drawreins

Draw reins are very very effective in the right hands, in not so good hands they are destructive.

imo i prefer market harbouroghs as there severity isnt dependant on how good your hands on.
But then again, hacking with draw reins can be very benificial to try and keep a horse's focus on you rather than the plastic bag in the hedge

 

[MelanieBubbles]

Sorry for using chav grammer and Talkiing Liike Thiis :L

New new years resulition me thinks.

thanks for all the opinions,

[only_me] youve got me in stiches .. the other day we where hacking up the fell and a stag popped out from the woods we had about 8 horses galloping up the fell including me.
You get plastic bags we get stags.

x

 

[Natch]

I have used them once under supervision of my instructor and he did go better both in them and afterwards. Useful to teach a horse - not useful if they are going to be used very often IMO.

 

[Kate260881]

They are draw reins if they go hand, bit, between legs. Then are running reins if they go hand, bit, girth (by you foot).

Neither should really be used as actually reins but more as a tool to pick and and drop as and when needed. And as said, reins/bits etc are only as harsh as the person using them.

 

[lannerch]

99% of uses cruel

1% of uses useful

 

[arwenplusone]

[ QUOTE ]
99% of uses cruel

1% of uses useful

[/ QUOTE ]

and your source for these statistics is?

 

[millimoo]

Our neighbour is busy wrecking their young horse using them..... both hacking and schooling. They haven't twigged why at competition he's not doing very well - try not engaged behind etc.
Sadly the daughter has watched 'proffessionals' schooling horses this way and thinks she's an expert??!?! she is the same with low side reins whilst lunging - I threw her out of our Arena for having her pony's nose nearly touching his chest (livid was an understatement on both parties, but she still hasn't learnt).
I think they have a purpose very short term if used properly, but good training is the way forward

 

[lannerch]

observation, experiance and life.

The 1% of useful imo is described in a nut shell by sjef janseen in this article http://www.horsemagazine.com/CLINIC/J/NEWSJEF/NewSjef.htm

Scrolll down to where he is asked whether he ever uses draw reins

 

[soph21]

I think its personal preference, and obviously got to be used correctly, Ive tried riding Bear with draw reins, he wasn't happy and neither was I. I couldn't get to grips with them, and I was constantly making sure they weren't to tight or slack!

 

[MelanieBubbles]

The horses at my yard arnt totally overbent and they are allowed to stretch at the end

I think competition/event horses arnt having enough time to just be a horse nowadays.

Winning isnt everything...

 

[justjumpit]

Personally they are useful, but only in the right hands.

 

[Eriskayowner]

[ QUOTE ]
I Was Purely Asking A Question.

Thanks For The Useful Repilies, Unlike Some... :\

Because We're Gonna Vote At My Yard On Tuesday Wether To Let The Horses Have Their Head,

We Have Debates On Hacks, So I Wanted To Argue My Piece In Mid Gallop :L

x

[/ QUOTE ]

I thought you weren't allowed to canter at your riding school? Mid-gallop on a hack doesn't quite fit with your other stories?

 

[moodymare1987]

I think if used correctly then they are usefull.

 

[emma69]

The purpose of side reins, draw reins etc isn't to teach the horse to carry itself in a set position, it is to build the muscles necessary for the horse to work correctly. If you throw a horse around on a lunge you aren't going to acheive much more than basic exercise, certainly won't help from a muscling standpoint.

OP I think draw reins are useful, but terrible in the wrong hands. I hate watching people use them as an excuse for poor riding, several people I know have used them for control when hacking out - that is not what they are intended for, and can prove disasterous in some of the circumstances - if you come off with draw reins, there is a chance the horse can catch a leg in them, even knots come undone. If someone needs the extra control of another set of reins, I would suggest they ride in a pelham.