Draw reins...

You Wont Forget Me

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Just had a quick look through one of the other threads regarding draw reins, i dont use them simply because im not confident enough using them, although i have been shown by several instructors now. Anyway i just want to know why everyone is so against using them, youve all got me curious now:D
 
All they do is make the horse put its head in the right place. It doesn't create an outline, an outline comes from behind, through the back allowing the neck to stretch forward and take the head softly onto the vertical.
Draw reins just pull the head into the right place and people think their horse is "on the bit".
 
I have ridden in drawreins since I was a kid (mostly under instruction, and my instructors included more than one FBHS).

I have no problem with them when used properly (I haven't used any myself for a few years now) but the trouble is, these days, is there are so many people out there who lack basic training, yet are obsessed with having their horses 'in an outline'.
 
I have nothing against them if used properly. I have used them before and no the horses head was not strapped in, it was just to have a light contact to help me concentrate on powering the horse forwards. As letting said horse having his head in the clouds and being very spooky just was not an option, So the draw reins were a god send to help keep him with me so to speak. As I say though wasnt even used tight and worked a treat and didnt need them after a few sessions.

Never needed them with any of my other horses but each horse is different and sometimes needs must.
 
I've used them, on a yard where it was the done thing to use them and they were very much part of the standard tack lol ...

Don't use them any more as have improved my own riding and learnt how to ride properly rather than bad showjumper style! (nothing wrong with showjumpers, but the bad ones are bad) :D
 
Well, you've gone and done it now lol! ;)

I have always been pretty 'anti' draw reins, however, I have recently bought and used a pair. After three years of re-schooling my TB goes in a lovely outline but has insisted on poking his nose when asked for a downward transition or halt. I've schooled in them once and hacked once, doing lots of transitions. Job done. Back in the tack box. :D
 
i never used them (and was very anti draw rein) until i bought my TB bit of a rearer when asked for a contact so as a last resort i put them on him used them quite loose but did the trick he had them on for 3 weeks,taken them of and hes an angel, ive never looked back! effective when used properly!
 
I have nothing against them if used properly. I have used them before and no the horses head was not strapped in, it was just to have a light contact to help me concentrate on powering the horse forwards. As letting said horse having his head in the clouds and being very spooky just was not an option, So the draw reins were a god send to help keep him with me so to speak. As I say though wasnt even used tight and worked a treat and didnt need them after a few sessions.

Never needed them with any of my other horses but each horse is different and sometimes needs must.
I use them, again I make sure the horse is working from behind and hasn't got it's hocks in the next county! My cob goes beautifully in them.
 
If you need to use them more than one or two schooling sessions to show your horse what you are asking (regular use) then the result you achieve will be artificial!

If a horse needs draw reins on to go lovely the loveliness is artificial!
To go properly a horse should be working from behind into the contact not being pulled in in front.

That said I know of a very successful dressage rider who regularly uses them, all I can say is in his case his hands be so light they they do not force as he certainly gets the results!
 
I have a pair of draw rein myself. I think it's quite handy. With the boucles on it, it makes a very usefull kind of rope. :D
Most of the time, I use them for roller joering. :cool:

Most seriously, I think one of the danger with them is to make the horse stay behind the bit (And I'm not quite sure that what I mean is understandable in english... )
 
I had nothing against them (although had never used them) until I had to correct a my horse who had only been ridden in them.

He's a 16.2hh Belguim warmbloob who had been bought as a first horse, ended up being too much for owner so had been restricted by every gadget going so he could barely move (and then ridden in spurs to add to the look gggrrrrr)

Almost 12 months on I'm still sorting it out!
 
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