hacking in draw reins...views?

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MandyMoo

MandyMoo

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I occasionally hack Bugsy in draw reins (like once a month) just to sortof 'discipline' him out hacking every now and then, as he tends to get a bit cocky if i hack him a lot....but when i do hack him in draw reins (and i know how to use them properly so no-one jump down my through saying i shouldnt use them if i dont know how etc). when i do hack him in draw reins he is SO well behaved in walk, trot and canter, and he is no way as spooky...without them is another story...

I usually school him tues, wed and thurs (mixture of flatwork and jumping) and then hack him sat and sun (as neither schools are free as its a riding school aswell my yard, so it gets busy at weekends). Bugsy is fed on 1/2 scoop baileys top line conditioning cubes, a handfull of chop and a handfull of speedi-beat...and thats it as he doesnt need ANY extra energy
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he is a live wire!!!

but when hacking, he is SO lively and silly...i mean seriously, without draw reins his head is almost verticle, nostrils flared, jogging, leaping to the side, bouncy rears when i hold him back as he permenantly trying to trot off. today i couldnt even trot him because when i asked for a trot, i actually could NOT hold him (he was in his pelham
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) and he kept breaking into canter, and when i apply some closure with my hands to steady him he goes up... he is alwas like this (not as extreme always, but generally a pain) when hacking without draw reins.

he is just a very sharp horse, in the school he is so laid back, and in the stable etc...just out on hacks...

do you think i should just hack him in draw reins all the time?? as when i do ride him in them, he goes so relaxed and concentrates, so i can actually enjoy my hack!! but without them i just really dont enjoy it atall
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any ideas guys?

**back, teeth, saddle etc ALL checked** - (he has always been very lively to hack, thats why i mainly school him/use draw reins when out)
 
If I had a horse like him pretty sure I'd always hack in draw reins....No point risking it when an easier option is available. If they are used correctly they'll make no difference to him when he is behaving well anyway.
 
Why not have them on all the time when you hack but knotted and waiting on his neck for when you need them? That way if you need them they are there and you will both be safe, and if he is relaxed you can ignore them.
 
I used to occasionally hack in draw reins, usually when he was getting fit again for the event season after the winter as he used to get a bit cocky and generally feeling well. They weren't tight but there if I needed them.
Also my horse went do-lally on baileys top line and he only had a small amount. I know of other horses to do the same so it might be worth swapping to something else like calm and condition? Just an idea
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I hack in draw reins at least 50% of the time (99% of the time with the stallions) - hey are a safety net and don't come into play unless needed
 
I always hack in draw reins and then when thye are settled you can have them looser but when needed you have them
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When mine are competng fit they have so much energy i cannot hold them and i don't like hacking them in more than a snaffle so draw reins it is!
 
i really don't like them, BUT with a horse like that i would probably always hack out in them - safety is more important than anything else when hacking out an utter wally! do you have them loose or do you need a contact on them to keep him sane, just out of interest? is their mere presence enough to keep a lid on him?
wish i'd had a pair on my witch when she did this to me.. *stares glumly at splinted leg*
 
I am riding in draw reins at the moment, but not to get him working correctly but rather so I dont worry about my hands - I am trying to concentrate on my legs and creating better proprioceptors
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If you need draw reins then I would use them, better safe than sorry sometimes
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Better than dying.
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The problem with hacking is there's really no good way to school for it, at least not without having access to absolutely perfect situations and even then . . . There's nothing for it but to go out and if you feel that the horse might be a danger to himself, you, or other people it's your responsibility to take precautions. It may not be the perfect answer but we don't live in a perfect world.
 
my friend who works in racing told me that a very well known trainer has all his horses hacking out in draw reins!
I hack my horse in a market harborough but am thinking of changing it to draw reins as I can drop them when necessary but the MH is in use all the time.
 
I never school in them but often hack in them as they give me a bit more control and on the roads, that's got to be sensible
 
I hack in them on one of mine for safety, they're not tight but they're there if i need them when he has a freakout moment. Have you tried allen and page calm and condition instead of topline cubes? I've known really good results on sharp horses that need a bit of help condition wise
 
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i really don't like them, BUT with a horse like that i would probably always hack out in them - safety is more important than anything else when hacking out an utter wally! do you have them loose or do you need a contact on them to keep him sane, just out of interest? is their mere presence enough to keep a lid on him?
wish i'd had a pair on my witch when she did this to me.. *stares glumly at splinted leg*

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oh i dont ride in them tight atall!! just loosely and he goes really sane once they are just 'there' xx
 
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I never school in them but often hack in them as they give me a bit more control and on the roads, that's got to be sensible

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oh i dont school in them...dont need them in the school...he is soft, balanced and calm and responsive in the school...just on hacks hes a nightmare
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xxx
 
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I used to occasionally hack in draw reins, usually when he was getting fit again for the event season after the winter as he used to get a bit cocky and generally feeling well. They weren't tight but there if I needed them.
Also my horse went do-lally on baileys top line and he only had a small amount. I know of other horses to do the same so it might be worth swapping to something else like calm and condition? Just an idea
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actually, a horse my mum used to have was a bit of a wally and went nicely on calm and condition...might try that actually (obviously introducing it slowly) hmm...possible plan
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xxx
 
i hack out in draw reins on some of the sharp ones, and always on stallions, more as a way of getting their attention when necessary, definitely safety first!
 
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I never school in them but often hack in them as they give me a bit more control and on the roads, that's got to be sensible

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oh i dont school in them...dont need them in the school...he is soft, balanced and calm and responsive in the school...just on hacks hes a nightmare
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xxx

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sounds exactly like my horse!!
 
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I hack my horse in a market harborough but am thinking of changing it to draw reins as I can drop them when necessary but the MH is in use all the time.



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I use a MH over draw reins as if fitted correctly it shouldn't be in use when the head is correct. Also when doing fast work out the saddle there is no nead to worry about the reins flapping low or trying to sort out all that washing as the neck strap stops the belly line becoming too loose and low.
 
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i really don't like them, BUT with a horse like that i would probably always hack out in them - safety is more important than anything else when hacking out an utter wally! do you have them loose or do you need a contact on them to keep him sane, just out of interest? is their mere presence enough to keep a lid on him?
wish i'd had a pair on my witch when she did this to me.. *stares glumly at splinted leg*

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oh i dont ride in them tight atall!! just loosely and he goes really sane once they are just 'there' xx

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then i'd DEFINITELY have them on every time for hacking out, no question.
 
I use draw reins when hacking my horse alone, he has "Welsh" eyesight ..... and tends to whip round and throw his toys out of the pram when he sees spooky things.
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Bringing the draw reins into play at those moments can be a life saver.
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We compete at Elementary dressage, so its not a schooling issue.
 
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Rollkur ???????????????

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WHAT???!!! im sorry...but draw reins used properly are absolutley NOTHING like rolkur!! in rolkur the horse is in hyperflexion with its nose pressed against its chest and is held there. draw reins encourage a horse to soften...not go behind the verticle. when i use draw reins i use my normal rein for my contact, and hold the draw reins loosely and 'tweak' with them every now and then to encourage him to soften, listen and stay sane!!

if you look at photos of rolkur, they are nothing like draw rein use.
 
thanks everyone. its good to know im not the only one with a loopy hacker!
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i think i will hack him more in draw reins then...safety first!! i actually hacked him this morning in them, just loosely (most of the time just 'held' them in my hands, but didnt really use them, just used my normal rein for contact...and he was as good as gold!! weird how just the draw reins being 'there' make him behave...odd

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thanks for all your replies xxx
 
To be fair though, draw reins are never completely neutral - the weight of the rein, combined with the significant leverage (something like 7:1 depending on how you have them attached) is enough to have a considerable effect. So if your reins weigh 1lb there will be 7lbs pressure on the horse.

Which is not to say they aren't useful, merely to address the point.
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fair enough Tarrsteps
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i do understand that they are never not doing anything...
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but i was just trying to stress to marvie how my use of draw reins is very small and is nothing like rolkur...i didnt like being accused of using such horrific methods
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xxx
 
I always hacked my old horse in draw reins as he was extremely spooky and used to nap and spin even in company. I felt safer on him using them and so it made me more relaxed. Aslong as they are used properly and you keep them loose when hes behaving himself i dont see a problem with them.
 
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my friend who works in racing told me that a very well known trainer has all his horses hacking out in draw reins!
I hack my horse in a market harborough but am thinking of changing it to draw reins as I can drop them when necessary but the MH is in use all the time.

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I'm curious to know which trainer this is?
 
I think the rolkeur comment was a joke?!

Must say tho, once employed, most horses will automatically overbend in draw reins.

Anyway, back to the point, yes I would absolutely use them
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fair enough Tarrsteps
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i do understand that they are never not doing anything...
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but i was just trying to stress to marvie how my use of draw reins is very small and is nothing like rolkur...i didnt like being accused of using such horrific methods
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xxx

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Sorry, it wasn't really specific to you, more the "if you're not touching them, they're not doing anything" argument that always comes up. Again, not denigrating them in certain circumstances, just saying it's a point if anyone is kidding themselves and expecting the horse to go the same with them off as with them on.

I took the "rolkur" comment as a joke minus a winking smiley but perhaps I got that wrong . . ?
 
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