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  Discussion on Draw reins questions
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New Member:
Jteis

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 10, 2002 - 6:00 pm:

I've noticed there is a lot of debate about the use of draw reins. This is news to me. I bought my first horse in Dec. 2001 and my trainer has had him in draw reins pretty much the entire time, including training over jumps. He is also ridden in a tie down. Is there any medical evidence that this will mess up my horse? What is Dr. O's opinion?
Board Administrator
Username: Admin

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 11, 2002 - 10:18 am:

No there are no medical reasons to not use these techniques as long as they are applied using common sense.
DrO
Member:
Willie

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 11, 2002 - 11:51 am:

It really depends on why you're using them, and how you use them. If you are using them to correct a poorly ridden or badly unbalanced horse, or one who's developed a powerful "resistance" muscle along the underside of the neck, who stiffens his jaw and flings his head into the air every time you ask for any bit contact, they can be useful when used tactfully, to remind him that softening the jaw and accepting secure, comfortable, consistent support from the rider's hands is a good thing. If you're simply putting them on every horse as an easy way to get that pretty curve in the neck, then you're using them as a crutch and a shortcut. Horses that are over-ridden in draw reins often learn to avoid the reins by getting behind the bit, losing impulsion, curling the neck into a little ball, and/or tucking the chin on the chest. All the forward energy, which should be directed from the hind legs toward and into the contact with the bit, gets driven down toward the ground instead. And instead of developing good muscles over the topline (top of the neck, in front of the withers, along the top of the back and especially over the croup and haunches), a horse that's ridden a lot in draw reins can "fake it" by simply curling the neck a little and looking pretty -- but the hind legs may still be trailing way out behind, with no engagement.

Much of the controversy over draw reins stems from the simple fact that it's way too easy to force the horse into a "frame" by pulling back on the bit rather than pushing forward into the bit.

And because of the leverage that can be applied, draw reins can also be easily overused or incorrectly used. Although I've used draw reins occasionally on a thick-necked, heavy-jawed horse to make it easier for the rider to develop some control and roundness, I would never use them over fences. A horse absolutely must have freedom of head and neck over a jump, or he cannot create the stretch and bascule that he must have to jump safely. With draw reins, it's way to easy for the rider to make a mistake and scare the horse or cause a crash.
Member:
Presario

Posted on Thursday, Sep 12, 2002 - 10:19 pm:

So what happens when your horse is ridden without draw reins? Does he revert to his head sticking up? If so, I daresay he's not been trained very well. JMHO I also take it by "tie down" you mean a martingale? IMHO, draw reins are for sporadic reminders to the horse where his head should be, not a constant aid to take the place of proper training.
Member:
Imogen

Posted on Friday, Sep 13, 2002 - 1:59 am:

Another technique often used instead of draw reins if the problem is a horse that flings up or tosses up the head is a standing martingale.

(Jordana, thank you, I have always wondered what a "tie down" was. I suppose we ought to start a glossary of North American/European terms for the same thing...)

A standing martingale attaches to the noseband and physically prevents the head going up without the effects which Sarah describes that can occur with draw reins of going behind the bit since it does not attach to the bit.

Again, it's not used over jumps (well, not often and only low ones) and is a temporary measure to get the horse over a severe resistance problem.

A lot of showjumpers use draw reins most of the time. I don't like to see that "false" overbent outline in horses but it does rather depend on what your aims are and what the horse's problem is...?

All the best

Imogen
Member:
Fpony

Posted on Friday, Sep 13, 2002 - 9:04 am:

If the horse is tossing his head around alot, couldn't that be a sign that something isn't right for that horse? For example: riders hands are hurting his mouth, he's not able to relax his back thus showing his discomfort by tossing his head (he's not supple enough or fit enough to do what is asked or perhaps the riders seat position is hurting him?) I could see using draw reins to help the horse understand when you are lunging him as long as they are set properly with the goal of eliminating them once he gets the idea.
Just my thoughts-Kim
Member:
Mrenee

Posted on Friday, Feb 7, 2003 - 10:44 am:

I am so not a big fan of "aids". The problem is when the aid is taken away, so is the "result" you achieved with the aid. My daughter rides hunter/jumper, and this summer she she worked for me and I helped her train her new TB. She knows now how to train a horse to be in whatever frame she wants, whatever head position etc...Her other show horse which is kept at the her trainers is 15, and if you take the aids off, he is untrained. And think of the money you save on not buying martingales, draw reins...!
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