Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

I agree with you that on a hotwalker they are worthless.  When I use them while longeing, I put the top loop over the cantle of my saddle, so the horse still has "give".  Sometimes I will put them on (or side reins, depending on what I am trying to accomplish) and will turn the horse loose in the indoor while I clean stalls or whatever (always within hearing distance).  My current horse was trained that way, and he is awesome, balanced and light in the mouth.  I don't do this all the time, nor do I think that every horse benefits from it.  BUT, I do think that draw reins used CORRECTLY as an aid, not as a gimmick, are a worthwhile tool, just as spurs or a whip are.  I used the term "tying off" because I couldn't think of a proper term for what I do with them.. sorry for the confusion.  Ask anyone that has seen my horse.. lol  He is definitely NOT behind the bit..

 

Opal

Katrina O'Neal <recklessheartranch@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Then you should tell those people that what they are doing is not only 
> worthless, but counterproductive.
>
> It isn't my opinion, but a statement of fact that to get a horse to 
> come forward to the bit, it must be driven from behind by either the 
> leg (a person on their back) or lunging. A hotwalker does neither, it 
> just pulls. And it pulls on the head, so that's even worse. Plus any 
> hotwalker I've ever seen raises the head somewhat, so that mean three 
> strikes ~ you're out!
>
> I cannot imagine one thing this method does that helps the horse learn 
> anything. And tying off draw reins? Whether you are "for or against" 
> drawreins, the fact remains they are designed to be a fluid tool, not 
> static. In other words, the horse gets *immediate* relief from the 
> slightest pressure. If you don't have some intelligent hands they can 
> do all kinds of
>  damage. So one can only imagine what no hands can do.
>
> Katrina
>
>
> On May 3, 2005, at 5:12 AM, Opal Perry wrote:
>
> > Actually, I have seen plenty of folks that will "bit" a horse up and 
> > put them on a hot walked, including people doing that with draw 
> > reins.  I am not condoning it, just saying that it does happen.  You 
> > can put draw reins on and attach them to the surcingle or saddle, then 
> > loop them at top and tie them off, which I have done before when 
> > longeing. 
>
>
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