i love draw reins

For what purpose do you use them?

Someone once gave me some draw reins...I in turn gave them to my 7 year old daughter.....to use as a skipping rope!...the most useful purpose for them. ;)
I use them because he concentrates more and I can the really focus on his lateral work and canter work.
 
All items of tack / training aids etc can be used badly. The key is to never use a particular item when you are emotional - only when it is the logical choice. And to use it as a means to an end, with a very clear train of thought in your head as to WHY you are using soemthing, HOW you will use it - and most importantly - a clear plan for how you will work to a point where you no longer require it.

Do those of you who claim draw reins are evil also say the same for whips and spurs? I've seen far more people absuing their horses with these than draw reins.....

Echo the same arguement against using a bit other than a snaffle - never mind that using a stronger bit correctly is far kinder than using a snaffle harshly.

Sometimes (and more often than not in my experience) people do actually care about their horses and whilst, yes, in an ideal world we would all have the time, experience and facilities to bring our horses on in such a manner as to never need to use a "gadget" - that just isn't realistic. Whether because you have inherited someone elses problems, or you have a difficult horse that doesn't understand that it is supposed to behave perfectly because it is given the luxury of being ridden in a snaffle with no martingale / draw reins / stick / spurs (pick whichever is your chosen implement of torture). Horses have their own minds and some DO choose to just be a bit naughty - and sometimes a short spell of draw reins / stronger bit / stick / spurs reminds them that in fact you are in charge.

As for those of you who think you are clever for criticizing those doing better than you in the competitive sphere..... maybe a touch of the old green eyed monster? If (you think) you can ride so much better than those out there doing well.... why aren't you? Yes, undoubtedly there are riders who have got there in spite of their lack of ability, but most work hard and produce good work and horses - and quite often have used "gadgets" as a means to an end.

I am very glad that so many of you are such wonderful riders though that you can get on any horse and instantly have it transform into a picture of utter serenity and harmony in a simple snaffle and not need to resort to any gadgets.

I also rather like how so many of you who claim to be the above have used signature pictures containing horses in martingales, or being ridden by you in spurs or carrying a stick. Thats a nice touch to make the mere mortals amongst us feel more at home.
Like!
 
never heard of using side reins on yearlings before, what is the benefit of that?

does aidan o'brien use his his draw reins on yearlings and 2 year olds?

I always break everthing in with side reins on as a matter of course. The breakers I have/had just happen to be yearlings or 2 yr olds. My reasoning is that it's important to have had a contact on the bit and the side reins offer this. Most of the sales prepped yearlings have all be lunged prior to the sales and again will generally be lunged rollered and with side reins.

O'Brien has the "older" horses out over the winter in running reins. So it would be the horses going into their 3rd year and then whatever 4/5 yr olds etc are there.
 
12 pages is impressive

(...pulls up a chair and opens a pack of chocolate hobnobs)


Can we do barefoot versus shoeing next please?

and then horsenality versus traditional?

etc

etc
 
I use draw reins probibily every 8 weeks.
Mare puts her head up, sets her jaw, and RUNS and I can't do a damned thing about it. I use them as a reminder of how to behave ;) I only use them for about 10 mins in the middle of the schooling session (I warm her up with them doing nothing, same with cooling down!). I then loosen them back off once she is "reminded". She never has an overly high tense head carriage and she never goes behind the verticle. I use them to help me maintain a rhythm. If anyone shoots me down for it I challange them to come ride my horse and see what they then think ;)

Oh and pass us the fags if they are still going :D
 
12 pages is impressive

(...pulls up a chair and opens a pack of chocolate hobnobs)


Can we do barefoot versus shoeing next please?

and then horsenality versus traditional?

etc

etc


EXCUSE ME! 16 PAGES :p ;)

For next weeks, "midweek mayhem" i will have a corker for you, maybe my "midweek mayhem" can be a release for us all who are bored stupid!
 
**piles tables chairs and large sturdy objects up for protection and asks....**

"Stuff side reins.....what do you think about Parelli....?"

Runawaaaaaaaaaaaaaay........
 
If someone would lend me a carrot stick, I'll get a photo of me doing that to my cob (maybe on a hack without hi vis?) for next week's midweek mayhem? The forum might implode during the ensuing battle though :D
 
Jftd only if u trot a high speed down road at the same time....i will lend u camera....

Sure, he won't mind - he's done worse in all the years he was owned by some daft teenager - no worries on the camera front, I have a multitude of the damn things, it's just the carrot stick I need a loan of ;)
 
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a quicker route to that million might be, if you can that is, show people a way of riding that, gets the result they are looking for without draw reins and all the other crap
 
I see some of you aren't taking this discussion seriously
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And put those fags out *coughcough*, can't you read the No Smoking signs?
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Blast! I keep missing all the fun ones :eek::rolleyes: And I've probably missed the biscuits by now :(

My only, possibly sensible input is, horse's for courses.

*and on that telling phrase, she wanders out of the thread in search of biccies*
 
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