draw reins

[lynx]

hi there,
I was just wondering what peoples views were on draw reins and whether they are worth using as the head groom at the yard I work at has offered to school my horse for me for a couple weeks however she has been riding her in draw reins which my horse is not to happy about.
I haven't really come across them much and so your views would help.
Thanks

 

[kick_On]

my question you would be,
Why does horse need draw reins?? What level of work do you do? and What are you aims with horse?
As IMO draw reins defo have there place but you need to have a focus on why there being used.
I have an eventer when i bring back into work he needs them on to reminder him of working, then after a week of using them we don't need them. If you use them to much they promote the incorrrect development of muscle, ie don't built up bum muscles

 

[Chex]

I would be furious if someone had been been riding my horse in draw reins. I don't like them, see them being used wrongly far more often than I see them used rightly. If your horse is not happy, then don't use them.

 

[Taboo1968]

What is your horse doing to warrant being ridden in draw reins? And what are her reasons for using them?

Draw reins are all very good if used in correct hands! however its better to ride without them instead of resorting to gadgets.

If I've ever need to resort to gadgets I prefer the elastic bungee as there is so much give in them....

 

[I_A_P]

i would say if your horse isnt happy then it really answers your question...i use them on my mare under the advice of an instructor just to remind my horse sometimes as she can get very stubborn, but then she works nicely after using them, so for me they have their purpose, i think they have their place but would be concerned she hasnt tryed not using them first

 

[monica123]

i did use them for a couple of months when i was having problems with my pony - i was only using them as i was instructed to by YO who knows all

but it has worked wonders on my mare - however if your horse does not like them then dont use them

 

[Dutch]

If she had any real talent then she wouldn't need to ride in draw reins, she would work the horse properly and patiently.

Some professionals use them but only for very short periods of time if the horse really is naughty or has no idea about how to work in a round frame. I wouldn't recommend it though, you will probably just get the horse hard in the mouth as a result of it.

 

[monica123]

i used mine first of all becaus eshe was misbehaving - BADLY- and she also needed to learn how to work properly - but i have vtaken them off now and am not going to use hem again - unless he misbehaves badly again
they have made a real difference to her work!

 

[Tierra]

Agree completly with Dutch - why on earth is she using draw reins on your horse?

The fact you're asking this question on here suggests, to me at least, that they arent needed.

Horses will work in an outline through correct training and correct riding. Dragging them into one and holding them there isn't either

 

[PapaFrita]

Draw reins have their place but they do not suit all horses and have to be used judiciously. They certainly won't replace proper schooling. If they haven't improved your horse's way of going (and you say she's unhappy) then either they're not being used correctly or don't suit your horse. Either way, I'd take them off before any damage is done.

 

[annaellie]

I have used draw reins in the past though when teaching depending on how experanced the rider is I would not recomend them as they can cause more problems than good in the wrong hands. If not accompnied by the correct aids the horse may be on an outline but is so heavy on the forehand, so therefore looks pritty to the inexperanced eye but in reality the horse is not working through from the back in the correct outline. It depends on the rider.

 

[claire1976]

I'm afraid I've seen the 'results' of draw reins far too often and most of the time they have been badly abused. A typical example of poorly used draw reins results in an artificial bend from the poll rather than a nice muscled arch through the entire neck. I have managed to get excellent results without the use of draw reins but of course- like anything- it takes longer. Draw reins may seem like an easy answer but in my experience 90% of people are not using them correctly.
As for someone else riding my horse in them without asking I would be absolutely furious.

 

[Rambo]

[ QUOTE ]
If she had any real talent then she wouldn't need to ride in draw reins, she would work the horse properly and patiently.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ermmmm.....quite frankly bollox !

Draw reins have their uses, and a lot of very good riders will use them from time to time. Not every problem can be fixed with 'proper riding' and not all horses have read the book on perfect ways of going

I agree that in the wrong hands they can be very detrimental, but please don't insunate that all maladie can be fixed with 'proper' riding

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

I don't like Draw Reins & believe they are for a quick & not a very good fix. They drag a horse into an artificial outline. The horse doesn't carry itself correctly it just shortens it' neck.

It takes time & work to get a horse to carry himself correctly, too many people want everything sorted out immediately ...quick fixes seldom last.

 

[claire1976]

Here here Toby_Z, absolutely true.

 

[not_with_it]

I think the fact that you are questioning them answers your question. Does she have a reason for riding in them or does she just do it for the sake of it.

Everyone that is against them I have to disagree. They are extremley useful when riding difficult horses. I ride my horse in them, I have my reasons, and they have done no harm to her or any of the other horses I have ridden in them.

 

[PoppyPony]

My horse's previous owner used them on him, but I found a change of bit helped so much more in that he was less resistant to my aids.

I rode in them once and found them to be so severe it's doubtful that I would use them again.