Draw reins for jumping

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A1fie

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I was at Hickstead today and was watching riders warming up before their round and noticed that a few of them had draw reins on when practising jumping.

I'm just curious to know the reasons why they're used and the benefits of them. Thanks
 
They use them because they think they will help them get a clear round. If they knew anything about a horses anatomy and how it jumps they would realise that holding a horses neck in that position is not conducive to good jumping.

Bl**dy showjumpers and their gadgets! What ever happened to snaffle bridles and patient training?
 
Yeah I did think if you arn't allowed to use them in your round surely there is a reason. I expect there are exceptions to the rule, but there was a lot f holding a horse in!

teddyt : To be fair though not everyone was doing that, I saw a few lovely horses still in just snaffle bridles/simple tack.
 
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To be fair though not everyone was doing that, I saw a few lovely horses still in just snaffle bridles/simple tack.

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Yay! Doesnt happen very often.

I once watched a showjumper walk his horse round waiting for his class. He went round and round for half an hour with the horse totally overbent, whilst he chatted to his friends. He had so many straps on his horse i couldnt even work out exactly what tack he was wearing. The poor horses muscles must have been in agony. Disgraceful
 
i dont see why they need to be used when jumping :S
i understand using them in some circumstances but never for jumping

im of the opinion if you cant work to control a horse in a snaffle there is no point in trying; fair enough try stronger if you really need it, but most horses if schooled correctly should be able to be ridden in a snaffle :P
 
Most of these horses aren't just horses to show jumpers they're machines. Bred to jump and most of them couldn't control them in an ordinary snaffle.
 
i know; that is why i said if it is possible...
wfp said at a clinic, if you cant ride your horse in a snaffle its not worth it, or something along these lines

fair doos, put it in a stronger bit, but if its in a stronger bit or even a snaffle, surely it doesnt need to wear draaw reins to jump practise fences in?

x
 
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i dont see why they need to be used when jumping :S
i understand using them in some circumstances but never for jumping

im of the opinion if you cant work to control a horse in a snaffle there is no point in trying; fair enough try stronger if you really need it, but most horses if schooled correctly should be able to be ridden in a snaffle :P

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I disagree with that statement, pickle is well schooled and has very good manners, however due to his size I sometimes need more than a snaffle. It's all very well saying all horses should be a snaffle, but hauling on a snaffle is much worse than putting something stronger and being able to do small concise aids.
 
Ahhhhh draw reins, something guaranteed to get a healthy rant going
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It reminds me of my favourite post ever on HHO, when someone posted a link to an advert showing someone jumping in draw reins.... everyone was roundly slagging it off until I mentioned that the person advertising was a good friend of mine at my livery yard, you should have seen the back-tracking which went on
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Personally I have no problem with training aids such as draw reins being used IF they are used correctly by experienced people. Which is not to say that SJers are using them correctly or are experienced of course
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remember that the riders jumping at hickstead are NOT novices and are very experienced and know what they are doing.....................................................
 
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remember that the riders jumping at hickstead are NOT novices and are very experienced and know what they are doing.....................................................

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Not everyone, should have seen some small kids jumping there!!!! and they had pelhams/dutch gags bottom ring.
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remember that the riders jumping at hickstead are NOT novices and are very experienced and know what they are doing.....................................................

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Ah in that case, the more gadgets the better then
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remember that the riders jumping at hickstead are NOT novices and are very experienced and know what they are doing.....................................................

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They may know what they are doing but it doesnt mean what they are doing is correct
 
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They may know what they are doing but it doesnt mean what they are doing is correct

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well put
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still think correct schooling and patience is the best way to get the best out of your horse
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but sjers dont want that do they; they want winnings and quickly
 
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They may know what they are doing but it doesnt mean what they are doing is correct

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well put
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still think correct schooling and patience is the best way to get the best out of your horse
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but sjers dont want that do they; they want winnings and quickly

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Major generalisation!
 
go for it...

i like to know im not the only one, even though i did ride mine for a short time in a pelham and a cheltnham gag :S

now prefering my snaffle and schooling

x
 
Oddly enough the distinction I have always found is not that a certain discipline of rider wants good results more quickly - it is professional riders who expect/require quick results when competing in any discipline.

I had a really interesting time the other day going with a friend to her dressage lessons with a very well known top dressage rider. Whilst in no way did he advocate the use of training aids as a first course of action, he did acknowledge that they had their time and place for use with certain horses.
 
yes it is a generalisation but alot of sjers want the horses to be winning young horse classes etc early

best mate showjumps ponies, and i know international showjumpers.. the one at the yards mum is all about winning.
 
actually that is very true, alot of top riders want results quickly

i agree with that trainer
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not completely against any training aid but... they have there place
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Haha not this again, showjumpers jump in draw reins
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big deal why do people get so riled up about other peoples horses that they know nothing about.

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Most of these horses aren't just horses to show jumpers they're machines. Bred to jump and most of them couldn't control them in an ordinary snaffle.

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I kind of agree with this, to jump at a high level horses tend to need an extra spark which can also make them more difficult to control at times, they are incredibly powerful and that power has to be contained somehow. However ime alot of the horses probably are ridden in a snaffle at home, not many eventers xc in a snaffle so its hardly fair to critisise sjers on that.

There are many reasons why people would warm up in draw reins, shows can have very buzzy atmospheres and warm ups get very hectic, if riders feel they need extra control to have a safe and calm warm up then they'll do what they need to. tbh they're unlikely to be using the draw reins for any schooling purposes cos it's a bit late to be doing it right before the class but some horses benefit from a reminder before they go in the ring. If you watch carefully you'll see much worse things going on than draw reins!
 
My opinion is that i would always try a snaffle first, with patient and correct training. But if a horse needs a stronger bit then that is acceptable and preferable to being hauled on in a milder bit. HOWEVER, far too many people use gadgets/stronger bits as a substitute for patient training, to the detriment of the horse. This is what i object to strongly. I also cant stand it when people use such strong bits/gadgts with no understanding of how they should be used appropriately. e.g. dutch gags on the bottom ring. They are not designed to be used this way and they cause alot of pressure for the horse. This is force not a partnership.

Yes, use a stronger bit when absolutely necessary but not as a short cut or due to a lack of knowledge.
 
agree with this...
ive always gone back to a snaffle and taken time with mine.. and shes better for it

v. controversial topic
imo if the rider is good enough and can sit well they should be able cope with the extra buzz of a show with out needing to resort to a training aid; and i always thought they were banned in the showring??
 
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My opinion is that i would always try a snaffle first, with patient and correct training. But if a horse needs a stronger bit then that is acceptable and preferable to being hauled on in a milder bit. HOWEVER, far too many people use gadgets/stronger bits as a substitute for patient training, to the detriment of the horse. This is what i object to strongly. I also cant stand it when people use such strong bits/gadgts with no understanding of how they should be used appropriately. e.g. dutch gags on the bottom ring. They are not designed to be used this way and they cause alot of pressure for the horse. This is force not a partnership.

Yes, use a stronger bit when absolutely necessary but not as a short cut or due to a lack of knowledge.

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I agree with that i've seen alot of young horses for reschooling after being overbitted and my ex boss who's a pro sjer always prefered a horse to be in a snaffle but in reality alot of them need a bit more.

I do really hate seeing juniors hanging on to poor little ponies with bits as big as their heads and spurs on the end of their wildly flapping legs
 
They are banned in the show ring but if a horse has them on in the warm up it acts as a reminder, so they behave themselves when they go in.

I can understand why people get riled about these things & prefer a more natural form of schooling, but if you sit on some of these horses you will understand why they are sometimes used.

I don't see an issue with it personally, as long as the rider has good hands.
 
Ellen whitaker has been known to use draw reins warming up so are you saying she's not a good enough rider to be there?

They're not allowed in the ring and juniors aren't allowed them anywhere on the showground
 
no i never said the people using them arent a good enough rider, i said in my opinion if they are good riders they should be able to sort the horse out without them

and i understand completely why they are used. i would probably use them occasionally if i didnt have a mum thats completely against them; the only problem i have with draw reins is them being used to jump in and if the horse isnt moving forwards, and is over bent and not working from behind

ok thanks for clearing the confusion i had with whether they are allowed on the showground or not
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