What is it called?

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moodymare1987

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I know this is probs in the wrong bit of the forum but i was curious to ifind out what this training aid is called. I do know what it is and did know its name ive just forgotten
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I saw it on a horse yesterday, its like a lunge rein and it goes under girth through the bit and the rider holds them with the reins. SOrry for rubbish explanation my mind is totally gone this morning.

If anyone knows the proper name do you rate them or not, just curious to see peoples opinions on them? Obviously like anything can be terrible if used improper.
Any ideas xx
 
Ooh yeah thats what they are, i thought they was but was thinking them of side reins, Silly me. What is your reason of hating them? Im nosey i dont know whether i like them or not ive never used them but i would like to know what people have to say about them.
 
Sound like draw reins, in which case I hate the damn things.

It's easy to see why many people dislike them when you consider what it is they are doing... they attach a line from the horse's girth to his mouth and then to the riders hands, allowing the rider to hike the horse's head inwards. It's not good for the horse to have its head tied into a false position for the sake of, more often than not, vanity of the rider
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As any training aid they need to be used by a competent rider.

You need to make sure you are backing the aid up with your leg and that the horse is still tracking up and using its hind (swinging through its back) Horses can get a bit tight and choppy striding and over bent in draw reins if not used correctly and used lots.

I use them on Mac as he is 17.2hh and it is easier to hold him together in canter. I usually just use them for 10-15mins to warm him up then take them off or he gets a bit over bent. I think they are good if used correctly and in small doses!
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Yeah i am not a lazy rider and do back up with legs etc. I just need to get something to school my big boy well not do the work for me but a bit of help, hes rather long, And i wouldnt do it for the sake of vanity, i am working on him so we are ready for the summer shows, I would only use it as need be, but am weighing up the pors and cons of having one.
 
I would def use them. If you are sure you can back them up with leg and notice if the horse is overbent/not working correctly then they will be ok.

I school Mac in them about 3 times a week (well warm up in them) and he has really come on.

It has helped him to concentrate! if someone used to walk around the corner he would be head up in the air looking at them and now he concentrates on me.

And it has helped strengthen his muscles in canter which makes it easier for me to ride him!
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Thanks for link will have a gander at that now,
Yeah i can tell when a horse is overbent etc, ben is the same he is a nosy one ill give him that, Dont get me wrong i wouldnt overuse them if i had them, but i was looking at the options of a bit of help when schooling, Im not a fan of side reins so dont want to use them, I just want to use something that he could feel not strap him up like some people do if you know what i mean. xx
 
I personally dislike them like the plague (draw reins). I don't think you should force a horse's head into a position, rather encourage it to work in an outline. The pessoa is much better for this as well as effective schooling.
 
yeah i agree i think that site seems to be against draw reins, fair enough people are entitled to their own opinions etc. But if used correctly is it such a bad thing to use them?
 
The author is a classical rider
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They arent going to endorse gadgets as precisely what they believe in is schooling a horse in the most natural manner possible.... doesnt matter what the argument, draw reins will never be that.

Modern methods are often too keen to slap some kind of gadget onto a horse to speed up the whole process or help to make up for rider issues. IMO its refreshing to see the argument from the opposite side of the coin
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I agree also that link seems to just dismiss and criticise most training aids, which is silly. Like someone said before - there effectiveness is totally reliant on the experience and capability of the handler/rider.
 
Yeah ive never used gadgets on my horse. One was a 14.2 pony, little tank i might add, but we mananaged to get her to relax and she worked nicely, snaffle mouth no gadgets. And new horse is in snaffle he is good but going to start some real schooling with him, Im going to longrein etc, he does generally go into an outline, But his canter is big so its hard to keep him together lol.
 
It could be argued that if the rider is that capable, then they dont need to resort to the gadgets in the first place unless they are seeking a quick fix?

Anyway, im playing devil's advocate and will leave this thread alone now
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No, I'm just saying that the experienced rider/handler normally helps the less experienced, because like you say they rarely need gadgets because of effective schooling for their own horses. Also gadgets are not quick fixes, and all horses have problems, gadgets used regularly and in small doses in the right hands can help
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Thanks for clearing that up, i would never use something for a quick fix as im against that myself, I have seen people put double bridles in horses that have snaffle mouths for a quick fix etc. All my horses have been snaffle mouthed, and im in need of something to help me with ben hes 17.2 but he works fine in trot but their is so much of him in canter its hard to keep him totally their, Was asking opinions as i do need something to bring him together but wont be overused. x
 
I only hate them because i've seen them used and abused in the wrong hands all to often! I'm not against gadgets in the right hands, but in the experiences i've had, the right hands don't need them so it's a bit of a catch 22! Personally I like gadgets that have a bit of give in them (elastic), so the horse isn't so forced, however, the only thing I would use on my boy is the pessoa (and I very rarely use that) as he just doesn't react well to being forced - hard work , consistency and a lot of patience gets the best long-term results in my opinion.
 
Personally dont use them - although did many years ago.
Dont like the way that horses end up going. Winston and snoopy had both been put in drawreins prior to me purchasing them and i have two horses who bring their noses close into the chest and they end up wtih this cobra effect rather than using the muscles lower down the neck close to the wither.
You want your horse to be round but you also want them to stretch their neck out as if they would on the lunge say with a pessoa.
Or you end up with a very short necked horse who is still weak behind.
 
See thats what i thought they would do, But is it possible to use one and have them working from behind with sufficient leg rather than a quick fix to get their head down. i agree with what people are saying about them. I dont think i am going to use one, i just saw someone with one on.

I dont force my horses into an outline, it took a long time to get pony working properly as she was used on riding school so had no idea. With ben its going to take a bit longer i think as hes so big and nosey haha.
 
The problem is that a lot of people use draw reins, spurs etc who should not be using them & thereby making it very uncomfortable for the horse. Nothing beats good riding/instruction. If a horse is ridden correctly is comfortable in its tack, it should by rights take the contact happily without the need for draw reins.
 
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