Swiss Federation to ban draw reins

[eahotson]

In showjumping.Aparently the ignorant public misunderstand when they see them used and helpfully post 2 pictures.One shows the correct use of draw reins, one the incorrect.I must say the incorrect is the more commonly seen used.They also make the point that there are people in the Olympic who circles would like to see horse sports banned at Olumpic level, one of the reasons being that elite sport, they feel, is incompatible with animal welfare.The Swiss feel that if horse sport doesn't clean up its act a total ban may follow.Report published on Facebook by Epona tv.

 

[BobbyMondeo]

do you have a link to the article?

 

[crabbymare]

link to the swiss one but you will need to translate it http://www.fnch.ch/de/Pferd/Aktuell...des-und-fuer-den-Schutz-des-Pferdesports.html

 

[wkiwi]

Aparently the ignorant public misunderstand when they see them used and helpfully post 2 pictures.

I wouldn't call myself 'ignorant public', and I only showjumped up to 1.35m level, but I would fully support a ban. Having seen them grossly misused by some riders at Hickstead showjumping in the warm up area I think they shouldn't have a place at competitions. One horse had a nasty fall which I am sure were due to the running reins (it couldn't move its head out to maintain its balance when things went wrong) and others were definitely uncomfortable with noses pulled into their chests.
Yes a good rider can use them properly and effectively, but there are many riders good and bad that don't and I believe that there are definitely some countries trying to get horse sports dropped from the Olympics so why give them another excuse to use.

 

[marotelle]

Good; frankly most of the riders I see warming up their horses with draw rains ought to be stopped, as said before, they do have a place in training, but only used sparingly and by
capable riders.Certainly not in a warmup arena as a short cut; this is what creates a bad image of our sport and rightly so.

 

[sheep]

I think the Swiss article sums up nicely why they have decided to ban them - for the wellbeing and protection of the horses, and to protect the image of the sport. Of course it isn't so black and white as to say draw reins are always bad, but good to see a federation taking a firm stance on the issue.