Drawreins?

Buzz1

Buzz1

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Was asked to ride in them today by new instructor, was always something i was against but bit confused now your opinions please??
 
They're not always evil, and not always good.

Reggie was ridden in them when he'd got the basics of walk/trot/canter (he's an ex-hurdler, so not a baby) because he was inverting and crabbing round. Draw reins meant the (very experienced) rider could sort out his general lack of straightness- they weren't used to make him round, but to keep him from impersonating a banana. He's occasionally hacked in them when he's being arrogant, and even more occasionally schooled in them when he's being a twerp.

WHY does your instructor want you to use them is the most important question I think. If it's because your horse won't go on the bit, then I don't think it's a good method unless you're on a older, experienced horse who's just setting their neck and refusing. If you're on a baby, then I'd be fairly anti the idea. And if you're nervous/ never used them before I'd also be wary as they can be quite damaging...
 
No he is 13ish and works on the bit most of the time, he had a paddy today when new instructor rode him (doesn't like being told what to do or be riden by strangers, mum is a softy and asks nicely lol) he rode him with them (V experianced rider) when I got on him he was stil in a strop and not listening so instructor put draw reins on so we could acheive something. Horse/me was being a bit of a fairy about other things that we managed to solve. Instructor v good rider but feel that if i cant get "it" without training aids then that is more to do with me than horse and i need to work on my technique rather than using artificial aids? dont get me wrong he was much better when I used them but felt as though i am cheating both myself and the horse?
Instructor very good but not sure if the right one for me or am i judgeing to quick through lack of knowledge of drawreins and their benifits?
 
I'd be prepared for this to turn into an argument - draw reins are a touchy subject on this forum!

If the horse is being a tit and know exactly what it should be doing then yes I would use them. You spend more time improving the horse and the horse learns that it can throw a wobbly all he wants, but he is still going to end up working. Also it saves you spending £££'s on lessons with no progress because your horse is being a git! Usually en up using them for a few sessions and then the horse will settle and they can come back off.
As the other poster already said they are great for use on an established horse who knows what it is doing, but should never be used on a baby! My little cob goes beautifully in them and if I want to tidy up his lateral or canter work then he goes in them.

Personally I actually like draw reins!
 
I'm currently using them to try to build up my horses back end and because he finds cantering in an outline difficult. when we are schooling he knows exactly what I'm asking him for the minute they go on and I rarely have to pick up a contact with them.
does that make sense? I have a contact with my reins but the draw reins are loose.
they come off after about half an hour and then we work on our outline.
 
I personally have nothing against them so long as you are an experienced rider and as you said your instructor (or you if the horse is doing something they can aid) thinks its the right thing to do! I used to ocassionally school and hack my cob in them as he did banana impressions and was only broken at 11yrs old (by at the time a very inexperienced but quiet rider - me!). I started using draw reins when he was about 13 and it made a huge differenece :)
 
I'm not a fan of them at all. Whilst like any gadget I'm sure in the right hands they are fine but they are not something I would ever use. Seen one too many horse strapped down with them and feel that the horse cannot express physical discomfort or anything else in those circumstances.
 
ISHmad said:
I'm not a fan of them at all. Whilst like any gadget I'm sure in the right hands they are fine but they are not something I would ever use. Seen one too many horse strapped down with them and feel that the horse cannot express physical discomfort or anything else in those circumstances.
Click to expand...

^^ exactly how I feel. I've seen far too many horses damaged by the misuse of draw reins to like them :-/
 
I am a vote for !

Like another poster has said I very rarely use them however they are very handy when she is hooting about like a t*t ! to get her to cocentrate rather than tuning herself upside down they tend to be very very loose when she is in a correct outline and come off when I am happy I have her attention and she is willing to work. I never force my horse into a shape I just don't like being head butted !!


but yes some people do use them to force thier heads in - if when they are working correctly the drawrein is slack I see no problems, though I have seen folk ride with sagging contact on their riens so that the only tension is from the draw rein, this stinks of inexperiance and is not nice to see! In your situation I would use them, dont forget you can alway feed them through your hands and use them part time - ie just because they are on doesn't mean they are being used !!!! :-)
 
Horses for courses. I have some, I have used them when needed in the past and I do like the comments about using them on horses behaving "like a tit"!. They have been helpful in trying to get a message across on some, been a complete no no on others. The only other thing (which is a particular bug bear of mine) is if you are using draw reins or asking the horse to do anything which it is not muscled/fit to do, you must MUST treat your schooling session as you would a gym session - so, little and often to allow muscles that are not used to working in a certain way time to fitten up, allow the muscles to stretch. Just remember when you have over done it and how sore you are the following day..
 
Thanks for all the advice, I will have a few more lessons with new instructor to see how we get on. I will leave the draw reins to these sessions if needed until I know I am using them properly :)
 
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