Dressage yards and side/draw reins

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Nicki85

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I went to a yard today, a 'posh' dressage yard. I saw alot of horses being ridden and I would say 80% were in draw reins or side reins. I've never seen a yard where they are used so much! I was told it was because some/ most of them were high level dressage horses and so needed to be...

I haven't been to that many dressage yards before but the ones I have been i haven't seen that many horses and ponies in side/draw reins before. I was a bit puzzled... is it common practice to use these gadgets on dressage yards? I guess I don't have anything against them but i've never and probably wouldn't use them myself. II've ridden horses that have been schooled in draw reins and always felt they carried themselves a bit odd? Like tucked up and not stretching over their backs properly.

I've ridden at Tallands before and watched them schooling and horses in lessons and none of them where in draw reins.

Guess I'm just a bit puzzled why a whole (or most of) yard would be using draw reins? When are they useful?
 
They have their use when used properly I guess, when they're moving forward from behind etc.

However having said that, I haven't ever seen so many being used at a dressage yard that is 'high status,' or anything. I have seen them used plenty of times at a dodgy dealer who wants a quick sale though ;)
 
Hmmm interesting.... Watching the horses (including a "very high" level horse) they (to me) were not moving through from behind. I actually went to try a horse there to ride once/ twice a week. I was asked if I wanted to ride him in draw reins, i said no.Turned out i couldn't actually control him as he was just charging round like a tank. It's a long time since I have felt out of control on a horse (on the flat ;) ).
 
I work at a dressage yard. Some of the horses get ridden in draw reins sometimes, mainly the young ones or those with a specific problem. The more advanced horses aren't ridden in gadgets because they don't need to be. Certainly think it's a load of rubbish to say that as horses are advanced they need to be riden in gadgets, it suggests the horse was either trained incorrectly or the rider is not very good!
 
Oh dear Nick! That explains why horses shouldn't be in draw reins long term or especially with uneducated riders as they get very hard in the mouth. Then it becomes very difficult to get them to listen to you without a gadget on. It's a viscious circle! Is this place some kind of a riding school?
 
Nope it was a livery yard, a yard owned by dressage rider (don't know much about her tbh just the website said she had competed at grand prix level...)

It was all so odd, I asked the owner to ride him first to check he wasn't a prat, she got on and then said she had to get off cause she hurt her hip? I said ok I'll trust he won't do anythig, charged round the school for ten minutes, I got off said no thanks. She then got the draw reins on him and started riding him with no problems?! It was so strange...
 
wrong, but sadly common....i know a *big name* yard where horses are ridden and even jumped in them (iv nothing against this for a short term problem but every single sodding day????!!!!)............they then go to shows and complain the horse is BTV and wont take its nose out or take a half halt properly.......i cant think why!!!!!!!
 
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