It's a never-ending discussion: Draw reins... Should nosotros use them or not?
In Gerhard Kapitzky's book, "The Horse from A to Z", he says that horses with weak, strong or anatomically unsuitable muscles of the back and neck are helped, without force, to stretch frontward and down. This stabilises the arch starting at the back of the horse and ending at the chewing mouth. The slightly stronger activity of the draw reins has to be counteracted past more engagement and collection of the back end. The rider has to use forrard driving aids to achieve this, to prevent the rein aids being more ascendant; driving aids should e'er exist stronger than restraining rein aids.
Draw reins should always be used as little equally possible, only for short periods and only on one side, to carefully support the normal aids of the rein. Every bit shortly as the horse starts stretching forrad and down, the depict reins demand to come off. When draw reins are used on both sides at the same time and with force, the horse will come backside the vertical and avoid collection.
The Austrian magazine "Pferderevue" published an article called 'Torture instrument or a meaningful training aid?' The caput of the horse has to come down – that's the biggest goal for many riders, as soon every bit they become into the saddle. A caput carried "downwardly, deep and circular" ways control and, mistakenly, contact. Without regards to the level of schooling of the horse or the age of the fauna, various methods are used to achieve this goal; draw reins make it actress quick. Photos of horses strapped down with draw reins in riding arenas and competition warm upwardly arenas are very common. The equus caballus world is not united: Are depict reins an underestimated, useful training assist, or is it a cry for help from incompetent riders seeking complete control?
The history of draw reins – When and why were they invented?
Let's start at the beginning. Draw reins were probably invented by William Cavendish, the Duke of Newcastle, in the 17th century. He was not considered the almost sensitive and is often referred to as the spiritual father of "Rollkur". According to period drawings, he used a cavesson. He would pass the draw reins through the rings of the cavesson and use them for lateral bending, with the help of a wall if necessary.
© Abraham van Diepenbeeck
Nosotros don't know if depict reins were exactly the same then as they are today. Today, draw reins consist of a strap nearly 2.75m long, usually attached to the girth between the equus caballus's legs, then through the scrap into the rider'south easily. The rider tin alter the strength with which he acts on the horse'south oral fissure. This sounds quite promising...
But this is where the problem begins; the strength with which the passenger acts on the side rein almost doubles in terms of what is being felt past the horse. A group of scientists at a German University in Bochum discovered this when measuring the force of the reins. Co-ordinate to them, this is the principle of the pulley, which explains why preparation aids virtually double the force applied by the rider. The horse feels the resulting force in the bit, which pulls their head downwards to about the level of the passenger's knee or fifty-fifty lower.
The result? The horse's head and neck are in a position determined past the rider, against the will of the horse. The horse cannot free themselves from this forced position. And do you know what force the passenger'southward mitt tin exert? Even if you don't pull on the reins, each manus tin exert a force equivalent to that of 15kg! And that'southward simply with a simple rein setup – we don't know the strength of draw reins because in that location is no suitable measuring device. Therefore, it's articulate that many riders are non aware of the real effect of draw reins at all, and use them simply because someone recommended them.
And then, the question arises... Is at that place anything good at all about draw reins?
According to the scientists from Bochum, yes in that location is. They say that riders can regulate the intensity of their hand action, and even completely turn off their result. According to the teachings of Wilhelm Müseler, training aids are used to "show the horse the style down". However, even Museler admits that if y'all strength a horse into a sure position with describe reins, it stops being a question of reasonable dressage.
There are two means to put on describe reins (run into the diagrams higher up). The more common way is to attach the depict reins at the lesser of the girth, so they go between the horse'south forepart legs, through the bit rings and into the rider's hands. The less common variation is where the draw reins are attached to the girth, only at the side. The difference is in the direction they act; the deep zipper pulls the horse's nose to its chest, whereas the side zipper pulls the head dorsum and up.
Veterinarian Dr. Robert Stodulka says that a equus caballus whose head is pulled towards its chest with depict reins can never actually be supple over its back. Plus, if the wrong apply of depict reins is combined with a tight noseband so it can atomic number 82 to health bug like ossification in the area of the cervix muscles, and cervical and thoracic ligaments.
The effect of the use of draw reins on showjumping horses is even worse. Veterinary Dr. Kirsten Tönnies explains, on her YouTube channel, which structures in the musculoskeletal arrangement of the horses tin be damaged equally a result; basically, the whole limb – from the deep flexor tendon, to the suspension apparatus of the fetlock, to the distal sesamoid ligament.
Using draw reins 'correctly' – Is information technology even possible?
So, experts concur that if draw reins are used incorrectly, they are not a training assist, more than a torture instrument. But what is the right use of describe reins? Is it even possible?
Veterinarian Dr. Robert Stodulka says, "In principle, we cannot blame the tool, just because it is used incorrectly. The original thought of draw reins was a better bend, contact, suppleness, throughness. If used sensitively past a sensitive rider with a actually sensitive feel in their hands, then they would assistance a horse who tries to come up. The trouble is that many riders retrieve that they are sensitive, but in reality, they don't even feel if their horse works with a supple back, and in improver, don't take an independent seat. In these cases, describe reins actually are knives in the easily of apes, and are really unfair towards the horse. Issues that occur when schooling a equus caballus should never be solved with a straight jacket. The psychological effects of such brutal treatment must not exist underestimated either".
And so, information technology is wrong to ban tools but because some people cannot use them? Maybe instead, riders should enquire themselves why they want to use depict reins: What suggests that they are necessary? Why is the horse going in a certain way? What traumatic experience might they have had? Equally a short-term, corrective measure, the employ might be justifiable, just not as a permanent measure out or to become quicker results. The latter would not piece of work anyway; the schooling of a immature equus caballus must take their nature into account. If yous speed things upwards with describe reins then it will catch upwards with y'all afterward.
Some other big problem is that draw reins go through the rings of the flake. Fifty-fifty the Knuckles of Newcastle – who was not gentle – at least used a cavesson. Some riders utilize a double bridle, weymouth bit or Pelham; such a construction must be considered a violation of the Animate being Welfare Act.
Another who contributed to this topic with her opinion is a member of society Xenophon, trainer Dr. Ulrike Thiel. She is convinced that it is impossible to control the forces from describe reins on the horse's mouth, considering they work in unlike directions and with different strengths. Numerous movements between the girth, chest, horse's caput, bit and riders' hands contribute to this. As a result, the horse constantly receives smaller and larger blows to the mouth. This can be seen very well in videos in slow move. The horse gets told off when trying to discover support and instead gets encouraged to get behind the chip.
Even using draw reins carefully doesn't solve this problem. Co-ordinate to Physician Thiel, the rider would demand an onboard reckoner to always be able to control the draw reins and soften in fourth dimension. But even and so, a real contact can't be achieved, because all forces human action in unlike directions. When asked why she thinks it is that then many riders nonetheless use draw reins, she said, "It'southward all well-nigh command! It is a lot easier to necktie the equus caballus down than to ride them properly. Many riders merely experience safer with a tied downward equus caballus".
But draw reins are non a training aid meant for unsure riders!!! Information technology sounds scary. Nevertheless, this reason for employ appears to be office of everyday life in many stables.
What practice the professionals say most the use of draw reins? Should they exist banned completely?
Someone who knows whether the Duke of Newcastle's invention is suitable for such purposes is dressage rider Gonnelien Rothenberger. European Vice-Champion in 1997 and bronze medalist at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, she trains young riders, including her ain family unit members, Sönke, Sanneke and Semmieke Rothenberger. Gonnelien says, "There is nil wrong with draw reins if you employ them exceptionally, so that you can ride gentler on an experienced horse who is capable of conveying himself in good balance, who tin can collect, but sometimes gets out of control. Only even and so, you should only agree the draw reins gently and but stop the horse from going upwards, never pull his head downwards. And don't apply them on immature horses."
Mrs Rothenberger does non back up the ban of draw reins. "Where would it finish?" she says, "Then the utilise of the double bridle or whip volition be banned and that'due south wrong. Instead, stewards should exist trained to explain to the public how riders train in warm upwardly arenas."
What does Elisabeth Max-Theurer, president of the Austrian Equestrian Federation, think near this? "I don't think the use of depict reins makes a lot of sense; they have been banned at dressage competitions for virtually 20 years. I can imagine that we will follow the example of the Swiss and ban them in the warmup arenas also. What is non good for dressage horses for physiological reasons, applies to evidence jumpers besides. If someone uses them, then information technology should just be in exceptional cases for short corrections, and they definitely only belong in the easily of experts."
Co-ordinate to some riders and trainers, draw reins are used for horses whose torso build makes it difficult for them to maintain a 'normal' posture; horses with a strong lower neckline, hard mouth, etc. When learning new exercises, some horses tend to push upwards. Correctly used, depict reins tin can exist a good training aid when learning. A big problem is when riders utilise draw reins but don't use plenty forward driving aids. Then horses have the tendency to become backside the flake and fall onto the forehand. So, only riders who know how to bulldoze frontward should employ them.
At that place are some who think that correctly used depict reins are a bully training assist. Banning them just because they are often used incorrectly would exist like banning cars, simply because there are so many car accidents.
A lot of riders say that it is ameliorate to employ draw reins than to permit the horse carry its head upwards and not utilize its back.
Susanna Kleindienst-Passweg, trainer of the Austrian Equestrian Federation, says, "I exercise not accept a clear opinion on this question. In general, I am non a fan of draw reins, of form. However, I tin capeesh the argument of many professional show jumpers that, for example, with strong stallions information technology is better if they are ridden with a gentle and at-home paw for a brusque time in draw reins, than having to apply very potent aids. As it is always in discussions like this, it depends how draw reins are used. Are they held tight and force the horse into a certain position or are they loose and only used for a brusk time when necessary? A horse should never exist forced into a fixed position. Good riding is essential – and draw reins cannot replace good riding. And this should be consistently checked in warm up arenas."
Renate Voglsang, dressage rider and trainer, says, "Draw reins are a hot topic; their use is always a problem. It's also a confession of one's own weaknesses, considering a skilful rider should not need to use them. Notwithstanding, professional riders are often confronted with horses who already have "history", and that can lead to unsafe situations. That'due south when I recall draw reins have their place and I will use them. Because they have such a big influence on the horse, they requite safety. Mostly, I observe that I don't really need them in the end – at least that's my experience, and I ride a lot of different horses."
All experts agreed on two things: Draw reins exercise non belong in inexperienced easily and they must not pull the horse's head into a fixed position. A lot of experts don't similar to see describe reins at all, even in the hands of a professional.
Ingrid Klimke doesn't approve of draw reins; she would dearest them to be banned. Klimke says they strengthen muscles which nosotros don't want to strengthen – on the underside of the neck, instead of the height of the neck. She had a few horses that had previously been ridden in draw reins and always found it hard to piece of work with them. Her father, Dr. Reiner Klimke, didn't like draw reins either. Instead, he recommended good riding.
The book "If horses could scream" mentions the ban of draw reins; "These reins are the reason for the bit existence used as well hard and just by nature piece of work backwards. Many bug, like soured horses, resistance, lameness and more, are a result of backward riding and the utilise of depict reins, which cause a lot of tension in the horse. A large number of horses that end up at the vet aren't primarily ill, only their bug are the result of bad riding."
*Illustrations courtesy of Julia Kinloch*
The writer of this article, Mariana Broucher, is a BHS accredited coach who originally qualified as an teacher and judge in Germany and The Czech republic. She is also a qualified Bowen practitioner and has over xx years feel of education internationally. To find out more most her and her piece of work, please visit her website , or read more of her informative manufactures via her Horsemart Writer Page .
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