"Happy Hackers", would you pass judgement on a horse hacking in draw reins?

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KatB

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Just out of interest?! :p *disclaimer* I don't mean "happy hacker" in a derogatory term, I just mean people who keep their horses purely for pleasure and have never dealt with/had them in a competitive/professional capacity :)

I went out hacking on my mare today, who although for me is a of "hobby horse" is definitely a competition horse in temperament and appearance and is kept fit and competing! Currently she is hacked in a rubber loose ring snaffle, a cavesson noseband, and horror of horrors, a pair of drawreins, which are there for self preservation for her and me!

Now I ask as a lady I came across out hacking this morning made a comment which made me wonder how people "judge". My mare was walking actively forward on a contact with her face slightly infront of the vertical, the drawreins were loose (I had hold of them, but literally with them as loose as they can go) so was not in any way being "restricted" by them....

SO what would you think if you saw a horse out hacking in draw reins? :D
 
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Would depend on how they were being used :)

From your description then I wouldn't have a problem. Actually, sad soul that I am, I'd be more interested in whether the rider/horse were wearing high viz :cool:. This is because I nearly wrote off two riders/horses a few days ago. Not good.

If draw reins are being used sympathetically and for the safety of all concerned, then why not?
 
Although I'm not strictly just a happy hacker (although I do occasionally smile when out ;) ) if they were being used as you described then I wouldn't care.

If the rider sat with heavy fixed hands, with a strong contact on the draw reins and the horse didn't seem to be enjoying it and not misbehaving then I wouldn't like it - but I wouldn't say anything.

If draw reins on a strong contact and horse is being a prawn, then I'd think, fair enough - thats why they have draw reins on :)
 
Occasionally, we hack out in elasticated side reins (which I guess are kind of the same...I'm not very "up" on my gadgets!) just to keep them thinking - they are fixed very loose and are undone on the way home so they can have a stretch. It helps one of our mares who is shown to keep working but gives her a different scenario and a change of pace, and just keeps our happy hacker thinking! :) (she can become a bit of a sod when she gets bored)
so no, I wouldn't pass judgement - we don't want to school the horses all the time and I think personally its a great way to keep them working and keep a nice level of control.
K x
 
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Most definatly judge you .... you nasty person , dont you know it is much better for her to be in charge, drop you and go for a gallop on her own :P

I have a mare who I have to hack in draw reins, to stop her playing games and have had a few funny looks when I pass a area that has a lot of happy hackers .... like you said as long as you are not swinging off them then dont see the problem .
 
As a self-confessed tack tw @ t, I wouldn't have a problem in the way you describe, and think the woman was very rude to comment! I have seen horses in draw reins take off with their chins in their chests, but if it works on your girl you're keeping yourselves and everyone else (including nosey woman) safer than you would be otherwise!
 
blazingsaddles said:
Hell, yes! Awful bloody things, not sure how they help controlling a horse, please enlighten.
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Why are they bloody awful things when used in the way I describe? They are no worse than a running martingale, and actually being as so many running martingales are fitted so tight, are actually better than a majority of running martingales fitted by people who don't know any better!!!

They work as I can have more of a contact on nthem when needed, as my mare when sharp will put her head at an angle where I can see her star.... a running martingale has limited effect, whereas draw reins assist in me being able to keep a steady contact and be able to keep riding her forward without "head flips". She would not tolerate a standing martingale as has nerve damage on her nose.
 
Used in the way you have described above I wouldn't have a problem with it... however I have seen someone local to me hack with just draw reins and no normal reins the poor horse had his head almost against his chest they were so tight on him :( That I was absolutely discusted in :(
 
In fact, thinking about it, the Dizz can be an ar$e even with a running martingale, there's no way she would tolerate a standing, so I may whip out a pair m'self and see how she goes in those :D :D :D :eek: :D. The only time she has been worked in them, my instructor was riding and she didn't have to take them up at all, Dizz was instantly a steady head carriage star :D
 
Hollysmum, I have witnessed someone having a jumping lesson with them used in this fashion too... horrid!!

MM, you need to be adept at juggling 2 reins, as the knack is being able to keep them at a consistent length whilst being able to shorten the normal rein contact, so they are never restricting or hauling them in (otherwise you can escalate matters!) but they are just there for guidance :)
 
KatB said:
Hollysmum, I have witnessed someone having a jumping lesson with them used in this fashion too... horrid!!

MM, you need to be adept at juggling 2 reins, as the knack is being able to keep them at a consistent length whilst being able to shorten the normal rein contact, so they are never restricting or hauling them in (otherwise you can escalate matters!) but they are just there for guidance :)
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Ta hun :D. I've used them years ago, and I used to ride LC in two reins with a Pelham. Will try them in the school with my instructor (on the horse, not on the instructor you understand :D) to make sure I remember how to use them properly.

Sorry, feel like I've highjacked post - will go and make a fresh batch of hot chocolate....

p040.gif
 
No way. I have been a happy hacker for ages and rode home a few years back with a lovely lady on her eventer, who was working in an outline constantly and even though we were like chalk and cheese we both remarked on how lovely the other horse was and the benefits of the quiet laid back hack and the attentive ready to go eventer :)

Strokes for folks!
 
KatB said:
Why are they bloody awful things when used in the way I describe? They are no worse than a running martingale, and actually being as so many running martingales are fitted so tight, are actually better than a majority of running martingales fitted by people who don't know any better!!!

Don't like martingales either. Another piece of restrictive bondage.

They work as I can have more of a contact on nthem when needed, as my mare when sharp will put her head at an angle where I can see her star.... a running martingale has limited effect, whereas draw reins assist in me being able to keep a steady contact and be able to keep riding her forward without "head flips". She would not tolerate a standing martingale as has nerve damage on her nose.
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What do you mean by 'contact'?

Also when she stares at an angle, how about a quick nudge with your opposite leg to get her straight again?
 
I have no problem with them in the circumstances you describe - I rode out last weekend with a very experienced rider friend who was exercising a mare that would otherwise dump you and bu**er off. If she didn't use draw reins she would probably never get to hack out and would be confined to the school.

On the other hand another girl I know regularly uses draw reins on a lovely horse that was beautifully schooled and could have done really well at dressage but she doesn't know how to work a horse on the bit so has stuck draw reins on. She could actually be a really good rider as she has natural seat and balance she just doesn't have the training which I think is a shame. She still does well at jumping and XC though.

I'm not a tack "bigot"
 
Im a glorified happy hacker- wouldnt care, nothing to do with me - chances are I would be the one in the draw reins...

However if I saw someone without "normal" reins and only draw reins. I would possibly give my two pennies worth...
 
Used in the way yours were being used, would not think anything of it. My sister uses them most of the time in place of a running martingale, and they only come into play when horse's head carriage alters too much.

I saw quite a few people hack in them where I used to live. One had a very famous dressage rider's youngsters to bring on. She used them as my sister does. Another person used them on jumping ponies and they were tighter than the actual reins. Hmm.

I asked around at my yard to borrow a pair to try out Kerrilli's lunging, but out of 14 people nobody had any, and I have not seen anybody using them in the year I have lived here, although its only 25 miles away. Perhaps its a regional thing!
 
Blazing Saddles. Sorry but thats bxxxxxks. and if you want to prove your comment I have a 16.2hh hunter your welcome to for the year- and if at the end you can hack/school/jump him without them then you must be the worlds greatest rider
 
go for it!!!! Dont see a problem with them at all LOADS of people use them/have used them/would use them if they felt the need!! If i was hacking by you, and if you were to pass comment in a negative way on my market harborough you may get a response!!! heeehee!!!x
 
smac said:
Blazing Saddles. Sorry but thats bxxxxxks. and if you want to prove your comment I have a 16.2hh hunter your welcome to for the year- and if at the end you can hack/school/jump him without them then you must be the worlds greatest rider
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Which comment are you referring to? I am not the worlds greatest rider by any stretch, would be interested in your description of one. Are you seriously telling me you can only ever ride your horse in draw reins? My sympathies to your horse - and to you.
 
As long as you weren't winching the horse's head in and everyone looked happy, I'd not think much of it. Obviously if the horse was having its head pulled to its chest despite it behaving itself, I'd be a bit more judgey:p

Any tool or bit of tack is only as good as the person using it. I've seen some hideous injuries inflicted by nothing more than a headcollar.
 
blazingsaddles said:
Draw reins have no place in the correct training of a horse.
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I've never had the need to use draw reins but then I would not persevere with an unpredicatable horse that I could only ride in draw reins because I'm not that brave.

Unfortunately 90% of horses are not correctly trained despite the fact that supposed professionals train them. It is also a fact that the majority of average riders struggle with their poorly trained horses at some time or another and also have probably been poorly trained themselves. I count myself as one of those.

I think it's better to use draw reins for an hour twice a week rather than having a horse badly injure someone and probably itself.

I suppose the only alternative is that only people that have spent at least 2 years training at the Cadre Noir ever be allowed to ride a horse. ;)
 
sussexbythesea said:
I've never had the need to use draw reins but then I would not persevere with an unpredicatable horse that I could only ride in draw reins because I'm not that brave.

Unfortunately 90% of horses are not correctly trained despite the fact that supposed professionals train them. It is also a fact that the majority of average riders struggle with their poorly trained horses at some time or another and also have probably been poorly trained themselves. I count myself as one of those.

I think it's better to use draw reins for an hour twice a week rather than having a horse badly injure someone and probably itself.

I suppose the only alternative is that only people that have spent at least 2 years training at the Cadre Noir ever be allowed to ride a horse. ;)
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Ahh, we can but dream...........................:)
 
I would point and laugh at my happy hacking superiority! (well, not really but I have to be good at something!)

I personally do not like draw reins and feel that correct schooling would be a preferable way to go. Although I do mainly hack, I still have lessons with an excellent trainer as I feel a well mannered horse is as important out hacking as in the competitive arena.

ETA: when my horse had his sacroiliac (sp?) problem the vet advised to ride in draw reins which I did for a few weeks and I felt ever so guilty as I don't feel he was happy. Then I met my trainer :)
 
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blazingsaddles said:
Ahh, we can but dream...........................:)
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It is fairly obvious how they work.... horse pulls .....shockhorror..... they are pulling against themself (not your hand and pulling you out the saddle) as its attached to the girth .... When used correctly they can be useful if used wrongly can seriously damage a horse !
 
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