draw reins - how tight?

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hannah87

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following on from some other posts - how tight should draw reins be as a general rule to be effective and not detrimental? i have been advised to use them wen lunging my boy - once a week - to encourage him to carry himself correctly - he has a tendancy to be a giraffe - wen im riding him on a hack i dont ride on a contact but encorage him to stretch long and low, and on the flat schooling he is maintaining a nice loose outline now. i have used draw reins on him a couple of times on the lunge - but v loose and making sure he is tracking up etc but not sure how tight they should be to really make him work but without harm?
 
For lunging and the effect you sound to be needing i would invest in a chambon or a De Gouge, these are much better and will not 'break' the neck but will encourage to seek the contact forward which is what it is really about.
A pessoa type devise would also be good, The JW range has one a bit cheaper than the Pessoa and it includes a really good roller.
You dont really sound experienced enough to use 'a running rein' as really it should be fitted to either side of the horse not between the front legs as in a 'draw rein'
Please try the 'alternatives it will be better for you and the horse.
 
im not sure i have reins which have a clip on one side (onto bit) and a buckle which fastens under and around girth strap on the other. the part nearest the bit is elastictated - mayb these are side reins?sorry if im wrong thats wat i mean in OP
 
definatley side reins.
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im not sure i have reins which have a clip on one side (onto bit) and a buckle which fastens under and around girth strap on the other. the part nearest the bit is elastictated - mayb these are side reins?sorry if im wrong thats wat i mean in OP

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Yea you mean side reins - i would get a pessoa to be honest they are fantastic !!!
http://www.johnwhitakerintltd.com/index.asp?sessionx=IWU6IWAnNwJ6JlY6IHqiNwB6IA
 
Sounds like side reins to me - although don't let anyone tell you it's impossible to lunge in draw reins because it's not!
I generally don't use side reins but if I did I wouldn't want them any tighter than you would want your contact were you riding the horse while lungeing. I usually have them looser than that.
 
umm..tbh if you don't know what they are or how tight to put them on I would get an instructor out before you even consider using them!
 
- very sorry for getting the name wrong triplesandh , easy mistake if u have never used either draw reins or side reins b4, fact is i have the rite equipment for wat i was wanting to do - just asking if there was a general rule on how tight they should be as i didnt want to cause harm to my horse - my instructer had advised me to try them. pessoas sound great altho i dont really have the funds to buy one rite at the mo, but will save up for 1 i think
 
IT's not necessarily the name though, if you also don't know how tight they should go I don't believe an internet forum could tell you.
Perhaps you could ask your instructor to demonstrate since you haven't used them before and obviously don't want to do any damage?
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HI,lots of cheaper versions of pessoa's&various training/lunging aids on ebay! I got mine for 30 pounds,works the same way as the pessoa,just no sheepskin sleeve at rear. May be a good idea to get ur instructor/friend to help&advise you tho,as it will need adjusting to fit the horse plus they may throw a wobbler when you 1st use it. Lots of walk/trot trans on lunge could help you& get your neddies attention& more control .Good luck. Bed time!!
 
i find that a pair of side reins fitted normally, inside one shorter, and perhaps another pair long elastic side-reins from the girth to the bit, work better, and avoid the pulley system.
if you've never used them before, lunge at first with just the inside side rein, fairly long... just enough for the horse to feel the contact when he has a light bend, not pulling his head and neck round at all. if the side reins are too short for this, use loops of baler twine on the girth.
my classical dressage trainer starts all his youngsters using just one side rein at first, because it is simple for the horse, and teaches him to seek the inside rein contact from the start, so don't shoot me down in flames, guys!
i agree that you should get your instructor to show you, tbh.
 
I read somewhere that the clips on the side reins should always be able to reach the horse's throat latch when he's standing normally i.e relaxed but with his head up.
 
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