draw reins/running reins

[dopeesophee]

controversial topic i know
omg it makes me so angry to see people ride in them, or say they had wished they had put them on when there horse DOESNT track up and is so far from tracking up its ridiculous
aghhh
if it was me i would only use them like a curb rein on a horse that goes forwards from behind properly and can work correctly already, but just needs something to make them a bit lighter in the hand/stop them going on the forehand
i personally prefer the horse to be going forwards before i would put anything on it
i do quite like the lungee bungee, but wouldnt use it on wilma again until she was developed enough and easier to push forwards

sorry rant over

 

[Tiarella]

Well if you havent really ridden in them, then you dont really know the benefits.

I occasionally use them on Doug and they have worked wonders if im perfectly honest. People just think theyre there to pin the horses chin to the neck, this is not the case when ridden in them carefully, and correctly with good hands, theyre a very useful tool.

 

[Elle1085]

I use them all the time you're supposed to push the horse into the hand so they work properly not just hang on to them and pull the head in. I actually use them more for the control side of them tbh but my horse is 14 so it's not going to hurt him. At the sj yard i worked at till about a month ago pretty much every horse wore them to hack out and quite often for flatwork and jumping too. All the horses leave the yard going really well so in the right hands i think they're fine. I don't get why people use them with a pelham though.

just noticed the photo on the right of my sig features said draw reins

 

[emma69]

I understand the merits of draw reins, and will use them from time to time where their use will benefit the horse (generally to help rebuild neck muscles by working in the correct position) but I REALLY struggle to imagine a yard where every horse needs them used for flat work, nevermind hacking, and as for jumping in them - words fail me!

 

[Elle1085]

[ QUOTE ]
I understand the merits of draw reins, and will use them from time to time where their use will benefit the horse (generally to help rebuild neck muscles by working in the correct position) but I REALLY struggle to imagine a yard where every horse needs them used for flat work, nevermind hacking, and as for jumping in them - words fail me!

[/ QUOTE ]

An sj yard and to be fair they are taken off at some point during jumping so they can jump without them and tbh i would never have jumped in them till i worked there but go to any bsja show in the uk and i could almost guarantee you'll see it in the warm up. when i left there were 7 sjers and at some point they had all worn draw reins

 

[jlm09]

i would die if it wasnt for draw reins!
there my seatbelt!
i school, hack and jump in them

lifesavers!

 

[Elle1085]

[ QUOTE ]
i would die if it wasnt for draw reins!
there my seatbelt!
i school, hack and jump in them

lifesavers!

[/ QUOTE ]

Thank god i was beginning to think i was the only one

 

[Ziggy_]

Like most of the people on here, I have no problem with draw reins used correctly, for their intended purpose. I'd use them myself under the guidance of an instructor if said instructor thought they would be beneficial.

However - I hate to see them used incorrectly with the horse looking at its own knees. And if you 'need' them every time you ride, there's something wrong IMO!

 

[dopeesophee]

rach, i know youve had lessons in them so know he would be going forwards

i have no problem if the horse is going forwards, its when the horse isnt
i dont think you need to wear them all the time either; and i dont understand jumping in them either

best mates a sjer, and she uses them; but only if the horse is going forwards, if not then she doesnt use them

i see the benefits but it must be so damaging to a horse if ridden in them incorrectly??

 

[Rouletterose]

I have used draw reins occasionally to hack out a naughty or nappy horse, where I needed extra control on the roads, but always 'just there in case needed'.
I would not school in them, can't see the point, or what it would achieve.

 

[dopeesophee]

i understand hacking outin them in situations like that too
i would hack wilma out in them if i knew she was going to safer and wouldnt fight more against them

 

[chestnut cob]

Just because the SJers do it doesn't make it right.

I have no objection to the use of draw reins and like all gadgets, they can be useful. Not for jumping in though, am gobsmacked at that.

 

[Coffee_Bean]

Gadgets can be useful and definately have their place. I have used draw reins, bungee, pessoa (lunging), side reins (lunging and once ridden LOOSELY) and they all have their benefits when used correctly.

 

[dopeesophee]

im not the only one then

but you wouldnt use them if the horse wasnt going forwards?
this is the problem i have with ANY gadget, the damage it could do if the horse ISNT going forwards from behind

x

 

[Rouletterose]

Me too, poor horse, surely it can't see the fence properly.

 

[emma69]

But why are they needed for jumping in the first place? It doesn't create a good shape over the jump - is it for brakes? Because that is just darn lazy, and does the horse no good whatsoever. I've been to several BSJA comps, and have seen all manner of unnecessary, shortcut gadgets on the horses. I've also had a lot of horses come from dealers yards unable to streach out their necks because they have been permanantly ridden in draw reins. I have NO idea why anyone thinks constant use of them produces a good outline, all they do is give a false 'on the bit' shape, with no proper working through the back. They have to work their other muscles properly as well.

 

[FRESHMAN]

Please tell me why you are gobsmacked that some riders may choose to show jump in draw reins please

 

[dopeesophee]

yea its not suprising some people do really is it?
but its just not the best thing to do

 

[FRESHMAN]

Please tell me why you feel it is not the best thing to do? I presume you have no first hand knowledge of why a rider uses draw reins on a particular horse other than in your opinion the horse is not tracking up.

 

[dopeesophee]

like i said before, no problem with them being used; if used correctly

why would you use them when you are jumping a jump?
noone has answered that question
once i understand why then i may be able to make a judgement??

 

[FRESHMAN]

First off I am more interested as to why some people state that they should not be used for jumping a fence. That was the question. They dont say why they disagree with the practice, but they simply disagree. I could give lots of reasons why someone might use draw reins for jumping but in order to be consise it would help to know why people may say they are gobsmacked to see draw reins whilst jumping. What in particular to you feel is inadvisable for such use?

 

[Rouletterose]

For me, I have always been taught that to jump properly the horse needs to be able to stretch the neck properly to look at the bottom of the fence, also needs freedom of the neck to balance itself. If a very experienced rider has a reason to ride a particular horse in them for jumping then that is up to them.

For me what is totally unacceptable, is the amount of showjumping riders of average ability using them, because they see their peers using them.

I have read the books by Gerd hauschmann re: broken necks in horses due to being ridden in draw reins, and I think he has many many good points and a huge following, again, very experienced riders using them for short periods is different.

 

[FRESHMAN]

No that is not correct. If you are going to make a statement that the use of so & so ie: draw reins whilst jumping is not good & you dont understand WHY anyone would do it, then you should be able to demonstrate why (in your opinion) they are harmful. Otherwise, how can you make the first statement? Personally this post strikes me as one that makes a general comment/remark about something you have no real knowledge or reason to back up.

 

[Skhosu]

I'm curious ell1085, is the horse on theleft a product of draw reins????(in your sig)
The sj yard you were at are getting it very very wrong.
Re: draw reins, including jumping in them.
1)An mistake made with draw reins, increases the risk of a horse fall(when jumping)
2)if you need draw reins for control-it's your riding lacking in general rather than the horses.
3)If you use draw reins all the time I can guarantee you need to re adjust your riding.
I am a firm believer in only good enough riders should use them and they will be good enough not to need them!

 

[FRESHMAN]

Well at least you have given this some thought. However.
1)An mistake made with draw reins, increases the risk of a horse fall(when jumping)
Why is this?
2)if you need draw reins for control-it's your riding lacking in general rather than the horses.
Control may include for the riders safety whilst out hacking. In my book that is acceptable.
I can not imagine anyone that doesnt compete relying on draw reins at any time never mind all the time. Those that do compete can not use them in the ring therefore a pointless excersise if you rely on them.

 

[CorvusCorax]

There was a girl at my old yard who jumped in draw reins. She was a crap rider, her horse could jump the moon, she just sat there...thanks to her draw reins.
Her horse was hugely over-developed in front and his back legs just paddled away doing nothing.
He is NEVER without them and she moved yards when the yard owner/riding instructor suggest she removed them.

 

[lannerch]

I agree totally with skhosu and would question if you need the draw reins for control and safty whether prehaps you are ovehorsed and or the horse lacking basic schooling experiance to make it safe to hack at all, I would be inclined with a horse like that to take it right back in its training even if it meant starting totoally again, as aposed to slapping it in draw reins so it cannot physically misbehave, its like slapping someone in a straight jacket it is a quick fix and does not cure the problem!

A mistake made when jumping with draw reins would increase the horses chance of falling as it would not be able to stretch its neck out and rebalance if it made a mistake so would not be as likely to save itself due to the restriction and hence less likely to remain on its feet!

I too believe only good enough riders should use them and they will be good enough not to need them!

 

[FRESHMAN]

I hear what you say but do not see the relevance. Are you saying she had no control without the draw reins. Why did the YO & Instructor suggest she remove them?

 

[Rouletterose]

If I had my own yard I would have removed her! no horse should always be ridden in draw reins. The thought of the horse 'never being ridden without them' is awful.

 

[FRESHMAN]

So you dont think a horse in draw reins can misbehave if it decides to? When talking control out hacking I was suggesting a horse that maybe young or skitty/nervous wanting to spin, move out sideways & may bolt in circumstances that are beyond the riders control. I dont think we have a perfect world so prefer to be in the real world. In my experience s**t happens.