Draw Reins ?!?

Question

My horse is a 5 year old OTTB, who just started serious training about 5 months ago. He's a great mover, carrys himself well and everything. WHAT do draw reins do and why does my instructor keep pressuring me to use them on my horse ???

Answer 1

If you dont know what they are then you dont know how to use them properly I strongly suggest trying to get your horse to bend at the poll naturaly, draw reins are the lazy way out get your coach to show you without and if she refuses then its time for a new instructor

Answer 2

They are a shortcut used to force the horse into an outline. They run from the girth to the bit and back to your hands.They don't actually attach to the bit they thread through it so they can be pulled tighter. If your horse is going nicely you don't need them - actually I'd be inclined to say nobody needs them. I used to know someone who used them to stop her anglo arab as it had a tendency to bolt. Yes it worked but it was never pretty - one good pull and that horse nearly sat down.

http://www.sustainabledressage.com/tack/...

(scroll down)

Answer 3

short nd simple. draw reins force your horse to carry himself.  

i use draw reins on my 4 year old warmblood hes reacted very possitivly.  They alos help to build teh muscles in his neck so framing him up is easier.

give them a shot.  make sure you know ho to use um tho!

hope this helps!

Answer 4

hi

what draw reins do is when your horse is on the lunge or under saddle it brings his head down with slight pressure

the draw reins should connect  roughly around the area that you knee would be when riding

it clips onto the bit so pretty much you should have the draw reins goin straight to the bit

it also helps you focus on your leg aids instead of trying to make sure your horse is working on the bit

after a few weeks of constant rinding and lunging with the draw reins you will frind you horse a much eaiser ride

ask your instuctor about this im sure they can tell you more but im very fond of draw reins when it comes time to training horses onto the bit and to work round

i hope this helps you out a little bit more

Answer 5

If used properly, and few people know how to use them, they help the horse work in a frame to aid later with collection.  The problem is that most people crank their horses heads down with them, don't apply enough leg pressure to drive the horse forward properly, and all they end up doing is forcing the horse into an unnatural frame and dumping the horse on his forehand.  To use them properly, they should go to the girth, not to the breastplate, and your horse really should be comfortable moving forward off your leg and into the bit.  Bert de Nemethy wrote an excellent book about the proper use of draw reins and other training aids, including cavaletti.  Most of the time, if I remember correctly and it's been a long time since I read the book, he used draw reins while lunging the horse, not so much while riding.  Sorry, but I don't remember the name of the book, just what's in it as I read it so many times when I was training.

Answer 6

EVERYONE has a good answer so far, but I feel I must add that at 5 years old, a horse (especially an OTTB) is in no way shape or form ready or balanced enough to be able to carry himself and a rider in a correct frame.  He is just a kid and he needs a lot more time, conditioning and training to be able to carry himself and a rider correctly.  That is perfectly OK and normal.  Tell your trainer "NO WAY".

Answer 7

they unnaturally force the horse to bend and can do irreparable damage to the horse...I would refuse to use them.

Answer 8

draw reins are a training tool that is used on a high headed horse to bring it more into frame when on the bit or during stopping.some horses tend to toss their head up when the reins are pulled which decreases their visibility directly in front of them and throws their ballance towards the rear like a teeter totter effect.when used properly they can be a valuable tool.

Answer 9

i dont think u sholud use them. theyre these xtra reins that attach 2 the girth, go thru the bit, and come bac up 2 ur hands. they r used 2 bring a horses head down if they hav a high head or a shaking head. i hav 2 use them but i HATE them they r soo annoying and i can nevr shorten/loosen them so theyre "just rite" i wish i didnt hav 2 use them anymore

Answer 10

The draw reins help set his head and teach him where to carry it. Judges will like a nice framed head set.