How to Train a Horse With Draw Reins

Use draw reins properly when training your horse.

Draw reins can be a good tool for teaching a horse to engage his hindquarters and move out in a smooth and fluid fashion. When properly used, draw reins can increase the impulsion of the horse's gait, get the horse to round its back and help to smooth out the gaits. However, draw reins should only be used by an experienced rider, since using them improperly can cause resistance and confusion on the part of the horse.

Things You'll Need

• Draw reins
• Saddle
• Snaffle bit
• Bridle

Instructions

1. Make sure the horse has the basic gaits down reasonably well before starting training with draw reins. The horse should walk, trot and canter on a loose rein, stop squarely and back readily before you start any advanced training using draw reins or any other tool.

2. Place the bridle on the horse. Make sure the bit you use is a plain ring snaffle. Never use draw reins with any shanked bit. Remove the regular reins from the bridle.

3. Attach the left hand draw rein to the left side buckle on the girth. Run the rein past the horse's leg and through the ring on the snaffle bit, then flip the rein up over the horse's neck. Be sure that the rein is loose and not pulling on the horse's mouth.

4. Connect the right hand draw rein to the right side buckle on the girth. Bring the rein up past the horse's leg and through the ring on the snaffle. Flip the rein up over the horse's neck so that the reins are crossed. Be sure the reins are not tight.

5. Mount your horse as you normally would. When working with draw reins it is always a good idea to have a trainer or instructor with you. This provides an extra level of safety in case the horse panics or stumbles, and it helps you determine when to relieve the pressure on the reins.

6. Ride with the reins loose, keeping one rein in each hand. Apply light pressure to one rein at a time, and release that pressure as soon as you feel your horse respond. The horse should drop its head, and you should feel the back end begin to engage. Release the pressure as soon as the horse responds, then repeat the process on the other side.

7. Move your horse in a circle and tighten up slightly on the inside rein as you move. Release the pressure as soon as the horse drops its head and tilts its nose in the direction of travel. It is helpful to have your instructor watch you and tell you when to release the pressure, since it can be difficult at the beginning to feel the proper movements.

8. Limit your use of the draw reins to short sessions, and reduce their use as your horse begins to respond with normal reins. Draw reins are a good tool, but they should be used sparingly, and only by a rider with soft hands and a good feel for the horse's movements.

References

• Rod's Western Wear: Draw Reins
• Equisearch: Western Pleasure Training