[spyro1]

Question on draw reins and positioning. I have seen many trainers, (WP) attach the draw reins on the outside of the horse's legs, rather than between them. When I questioned this, I was told that it puts pressure on different area of the bars of the mouth, and encourages the horse to drop at the withers, instead of breaking at the poll. What are your thoughts on this??

[kddoublink]

woopsie, I think I'm dumb and thought side reigns were the same thing a draw reigns. I looked in the Dover Catalog and was like "oh, the things I use are side reigns which look a lot different from draw reigns." So yea, I use Side reigns, not draw reigns. Woopise. But in the dover catalog, there listed under lunging equiptment, but I use them when I ride. The draw reigns, look to me like they are used allmost like a martingale. Seems like they all do the same thing though. so, ridegrrl do what do you think of side reigns? lol

[ridegrrl]

Originally Posted by kddoublink

I'll try to post a pic of the side reigns and then you can take a look ridegrrl and see what you think. You have great advice! My mare kinda knows what there ment for too, all you have to do it put them on, really loose and she knows she should have her head! I had a lesson yesterday, and hooked them from the side of the girth over to the bit. I didn't want to try something else, waste my 35$ lesson on fixing them. But I am going to try underneath next time. I did a lot of no stirrup trot and canter so thats another place where they work really well keeping her off her for-hand and she gets really collected. We work on half haults like theres no tomarrow! Massaging the reigns. Stopping, getting collected, anything else that might help her stay collected.

I think this post should be named "Draw Reigns" lol

It would be good if you could post a pic. And thanks!

When you say you hook them from the side of the girth to the bit, it does sound like you're using side reins rather than draws- you're using a rein that snaps to the bit and to the girth, and you don't even hold it, right? That would be a side rein... is it elasticized? Many of them are. It is generally used on the lungeline, I use them when lunging sometimes, so the horse will "teach himself" to give to the bit, and that avoids my having to do as much with my hands when I get on him. As long as your mare is pretty reliable, that shouldn't be a problem (if she was likely to freak out for whatever reason, having side reins on solid might end up creating a fight). If you show her, obviously you won't be able to use them in the ring, so hopefully she won't need them on too long. It would be great to see that pic!

Originally Posted by spyro1

Question on draw reins and positioning. I have seen many trainers, (WP) attach the draw reins on the outside of the horse's legs, rather than between them. When I questioned this, I was told that it puts pressure on different area of the bars of the mouth, and encourages the horse to drop at the withers, instead of breaking at the poll. What are your thoughts on this??

Snapping the draws to the outside of the legs does two things. It means that the motion of the shoulder swings into the draw rein, so the rhythmic gait of the horse helps encourage him to drop his head. It also widens the direction the pressure on the mouth is coming from. If you think of the reins (normal or draw) as a funnel that directs the horse's head, when you snap draw reins on the outside, the funnel gets wider and harder for the horse to evade. It's a little "tougher" a way to use them, since there's less opportunity for the horse to get away from them.

[kddoublink]

Thats what they look like, I'll try to take a pic sometime soon. I can't believe I was sayin they were draw reins. haha, but there side rines used for lunging primarly, but I use them while having a lesson.

[ridegrrl]

Yep, side reins with a rubber ring for some give. Not common, but it could work!

[kddoublink]

Hey, I'm pritty creative. Where is the best place to hook them from, underneath and up or from the side. I always worry about rubbing.

[ridegrrl]

I'd go from the side of the girth. That's what you're doing now right?

[kddoublink]

Yep Yep, I've seen them connected so many different ways. One connected undner the girth, between the horses legs and connects to the bits by a 3 way hook which is used for lunging. looks like that. I've seent two connected between the legs and connecting to the bit, but I have been puting mine on the outside of the girth (near my leg) and up to the bit.

[CanadianWrangler]

Just to add a little more to this thread:

Side Reins have less 'centering' force applied to the bit, as it allows the pull exerted on the reins not to pull into the horses chest. This gives lateral neck flexion and aviods exaggerated tilting of the horses head during turns. By tilting I am referring to the horse leaning his/her Ears out into the turn but holding thier nose/mouth in towards thier chest to avoid bit 'centering' pressure that is found against Draw reins mounted between the front legs.

Side mounting adds to the "leg action" of the reins on the bit as Ridegrrl stated. This action allows the rider to develope a good 'feel' of the reins and motion of the horses shoulders through their seat. With the leg action working with your hands is it does allow ease of lightly 'bumping' the bit to get the rein cues to the mouth of the horse as the horse helps to cue itself to set its head. But is not necessarily something you want to use alot. This gives the rider an artificial handset, as well as the horse an "artificial headset" that will need to be reviewed with direct rein pressure.

Communication to the bit through "leg action" can and should be achieved with direct reins and a good feel for reins and seat. The riders own hands can apply the same "leg action" by feeling through their seat when the horses shoulder is up and that leg is impacting the ground. At this moment is the same time you want to apply a rein pressure 'bump' to the rein on the same side as it keeps the horse from pushing faster with that leg, and increasing speed. This causes better collection, and less time riding to achieve your headset goal.

Also the side girth position does apply different pressure on the bit as chest mounted reins. Side mounting applies less 'scissor' action on a jointed mouthpiece applying less pressure on the tongue and lower jaw of the horse. Center/draw mounting increases this 'scissor' action as it pulls the sides of the bit together more, and increases pressure on the tongue and lower jaw.

Center mounting is better for getting the horse to set its poll position in straight manuevers, and increasing the riders rein pressure for head tossing or hard to stop horses.

Martingales (whether Running, German, or Training fork style) mount between the front legs as draw reins do to ensure that the reins remain in alignment with the neck and out of the horse and riders legs. But also leave you an artificial feel of headset.

I can definately recommend that if you are going to use these training aids to make sure you understand what can, will, and may happen with each device. Each different aid has advantages and draw backs, but also learning those points will better help you determine which aid to use. There is no replacement for a proper feel with direct reins, consistent use of cues, and time in the saddle.

[gingersnaps2002]

Ok,I might seem dumb,but how can you tell if the horse is really using his hindquarters?How do you get the horse to tuck the hindquarters under and round the back to drop the head? Thanks