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Draw reins?

9K views 47 replies 10 participants last post by  JustDressageIt 
#1 ·
Do they ruin your horse? Many people think they do. Many people couldn't live without them. Do you think draw reins help or hurt your horse?
 
#2 ·
Re: <span style=

.Delete. said:
Do they ruin your horse? Many people think they do. Many people couldn't live without them. Do you think draw reins help or hurt your horse?
personally i dont use them but im thinking that people should be getting their horses to keep their head down through suppleness, training etc etc using such aids is a cover up for any issues that the rider may be experiencing with the horse. in a perfect world we wouldnt need any of these 'tools' as perfecting our art should mean getting these responses from our horses without using things to make them do it. but then im a big fan of training to get responses with using any artificial aids instead of using everything in the book to get the same response i could from a little extra work and training

so, in short, i think all they do it help cover up a problem and force the horse to do something
 
#4 ·
.Delete. said:
But then again. I show pleasure rail work. I don't have any problems with my qh, i just use draw reins to teach him to keep his head down and to keep his nose in. Im not using them to "cover up a problem". I use them to teach him head set.
Looking at those pictures you posted, your horse doesn't need any help to teach him to keep his head down or nose in. I hate to stalk you like this! :wink:
 
#6 ·
i use them on my ponies and i love them. I never use them more then 2 times a week though as i find that they can lead to problems with lifting the shoulder as the horse starts to depend on them a little, if they are working for you i say dont fix what isnt broke...... keep on with what you are doing now :lol:
 
#9 ·
Spirithorse said:
I'm with jazzyrider on this one. I would never use draw reins. There are great ways to teach your horse to lower his head or whatever besides throwing on a piece of equipment to MAKE him do it.
why does this fail to suprise me - you have been anti everything that is not "natural horsemanship" that anyone has posted lately. Each to their own but i think that almost everyone is clear on your belief that Pat Parelli is the only person who knows what they are talking about. Don't misunderstand me, I am not having a go at you but draw reins do NOT make a horse lower their head - they pull the nose in. If the horse doesn't submit to the cue - they do nothing! Clearly you do not use such training aids on your horse as quite clearly they are "below" you so if you are not personally familiar with the pros and cons of using this perticular training device I can not see how you have any opinion at all as to the functionality of it.

Maybe instead of saying what not to do - you could suggest what could work as an alternative to draw reins :lol:
 
#10 ·
Yea, I could almost write all the responses here myself.

I have used them. They're the kind of thing you use enough to get your point across and then you discontinue use. If you use them beyond the necessary they can become a bit of a crutch for both riders and horses.

They're not evil by any means. Training devices are frowned on by some people for the wrong reasons. I think the stories of abuse and poor training get amplified in the retelling and it gives some things a bad rep that don't deserve it. I won't lie though, I have seen some kids, especially in 4-H who use them to punish and antagonize their horses and its a sad thing.

Just remember, before you judge, you probably don't know both sides of the story.

And Lane's right. If you want to lower your horses head, you'd probably use a training fork.

BTW, who writes the pop-up descriptions for the orange items?
 
#11 ·
tim said:
And Lane's right. If you want to lower your horses head, you'd probably use a training fork.

BTW, who writes the pop-up descriptions for the orange items?
I was actually going to say that you would use a training fork to lower their head but i was concerned that someone might think that i meant at the same time as draw reins so i decided against it.... it made me laugh when i read that you were thinking the same thing. :P

I too am curious as to who writes the little orange blogs as quite a few of them are not entirely accurate. :shock:
 
#12 ·
I Love Lane said:
Spirithorse said:
I'm with jazzyrider on this one. I would never use draw reins. There are great ways to teach your horse to lower his head or whatever besides throwing on a piece of equipment to MAKE him do it.
why does this fail to suprise me - you have been anti everything that is not "natural horsemanship" that anyone has posted lately. Each to their own but i think that almost everyone is clear on your belief that Pat Parelli is the only person who knows what they are talking about. Don't misunderstand me, I am not having a go at you but draw reins do NOT make a horse lower their head - they pull the nose in. If the horse doesn't submit to the cue - they do nothing! Clearly you do not use such training aids on your horse as quite clearly they are "below" you so if you are not personally familiar with the pros and cons of using this perticular training device I can not see how you have any opinion at all as to the functionality of it.

Maybe instead of saying what not to do - you could suggest what could work as an alternative to draw reins :lol:
:( i dont know if this was aimed at me as well but in my defence i just want to say that i dont think such things are 'below me' i just like to try things without artificial aids...thats all
 
#15 ·
Whats up with natural horsemanship people and constantly screaming I DON'T MAKE MY HORSE DIO STUFF I ASK IT AND BECAUSE IT LOVES ME IT DOES IT. I think that is bull, because if your horse dosen't want to do it, you end up making it do it anyways or else your horse will take complete advantage of you. Im pretty sure you horse starting off dosen't want to put its head down. Eventually you end up making it.
 
#17 ·
I use draw reins but only when I feel the need to. (As in not all the time) I think if used properly, there are no more harmful than a bit, crop, saddle, martingale, etc. can and/or should be. Bits don't ruin horse's mouths, rough hands do. Draw reins don't force a horse to do anything that regular reins can't effectively do, its just a little added leverage. I used draw reins when I was training for Western Pleasure.. I used to ride my horse in an English snaffle and warm up using my draw reins and regular snaffle rein. I use the draw rein like a curb rein- only when needed. So when my horse started to lose his headset a bit, I'd use the draw rein.. When he set his head correctly, I relieved the pressure.

Effectively, its no different than using regular reins it just provides a little stronger leverage. As far as natural horsemanship is concerned, I'm not against it persay.. but any type of tack or even human contact isn't "natural" so if you are saying not to use draw reins because they are "unnatural" then why not rid yourself of all tack.

I think another advantage to them, is a horse whose neck is a little stiff or the muscle is underdeveloped, it helps provide a little muscle memory. (If this is the case, then you really shouldn't overdo it, because you don't want it to be a negative experience or to strain the muscles, etc.) Just using them 10 or so minutes a day can help loosen up a stiff horse, and make the rest of the ride less of a struggle.
 
#19 ·
.Delete. said:
drop_your_reins said:
but any type of tack or even human contact isn't "natural" so if you are saying not to use draw reins because they are "unnatural" then why not rid yourself of all tack.
Ahmen
dito but i might spell it Amen :wink:
 
#20 ·
:roll:

LOL I find all your responses funny. I should know better then to post MY OPINIONS on a public forum! Shame on me! :lol:

Actually, I DO have ways to get a horse to pull his nose in and it DOESN'T involve a piece of equipment.

I work the horse on hills to make sure he understands how to use his body and that he "pushes" himself along rather then "pulling" himself along.

Then I put the horse in a snaffle (double jointed) and comb the reins to ask them to stretch and reach for the bit at the walk and trot.

Once that is soft and consistant, I'll then do serpintines and bending exercises to get the horse to bring his head up to a happy medium between way down and up too high. If you get the ingrediants right, it all happens.......dare I say it........very naturally :wink:
 
#21 ·
Spirit horse would you mind sharing with me how many World/National/State champions you have trained using this method???????

Also please tell me how this is going to teach her horse to hold his frame at the Lope or Extended Trot????? I am failing to see how what you have suggested could assisst a horse that already knows how to set his head but find himself to be a little lazy and not really wanting to hold together for as long as her is being required too.....

The method is a very standard and straight foward way of teaching a 2yo to set his head so don't think that i am disagreeing with the technique itself but it is not covering the question at hand now is it.

you say that you cant have an opinion but you are the first one to say that any method that is not sanctioned in a "natural horsemanship" publication must be cruel or unkind and surely you cant think that just because I or any other person thinks that what you may do is not our cup of tea does not mean that we are wrong to use training aids. If they were such horrible things dont you think that animal welfare groups would be all over them and have them banned :evil:
 
#22 ·
Spirithorse said:
snaffle (double jointed)
Ha ha ha.

If your such a "natural" and rant about natural horsemanship. Then why use tack at all? Tack is certainly not natural, neither is training a horse. I think they should call "Natural Horsemanship" something other then "Natural". My horse has a natural headset, he typically keeps his head slightly down, but i use draw reins to improve it. There is noting "Un-natural" about the way he moves or his head. If you want to see un-natural movement/headset go watch a western pleasure class at quarter horse congress. Some of those people hock hobble their horses just so they go slower. To me, now that is wrong.
 
#23 ·
I Love Lane- When did I ever say artificial aids were "cruel" or "unkind?" I never said that, so don't put words in my mouth and don't assume that I think so. I don't think they are cruel and unkind, I just think they are unneccesary. Simple as that. Just because you don't like NH, don't put a spin on my simple opinion just because you know I follow NH.

Delete- Why do I use tack? Simple, I want more refined communication with my horse. I do love bareback riding though :wink: But I do agree with you that some western pleasure horses look sick and there is nothing good about how they move. What some people do to those......now THAT is cruel and unkind, not draw reins :wink:
 
#26 ·
Just like riding in a snaffle and normal reins can only go so far with some horses.

Just because there are different ways to get the message across.. it doesn't make one way more "natural" then the next. If using a bit and reins is "refined" then using draw reins is even more refined- and a little more clear..

My horse has a pretty naturally low headset (not quarter horse low, but low for me in terms of taking a liking to saddleseat) and I rarely use draw reins on him any more.. but every once in a while you'll catch me using draw reins, especially if I want to get the point across or maybe a little more control without using a harsher bit.

I still say that tack is only as harmful as the person using it. A fat snaffle broke two times in the wrong hands will more readily harm a horse than a plan snaffle and draw reins in the right hands.
 
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