About: Draw Reins

    There are mixed feelings about draw reins. Many think they are abusive and others think that when used correctly are an effective training tool. I can see both sides to this coin, just like many things in the wrong hands almost anything can be used poorly. The negative and positive about draw reins is that they are easily adjusted. To make them tighter you just shorten the draw rein in your hand. This is convenient over tools that you would have to dismount to adjust. When used correctly draw reins are a helpful tool to get a horse to use their back and accept contact with the bridle. Below are the steps to use draw reins, a correct working example and an incorrect example.

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Draw reins attach to the girth, slide through the bit and buckle back like reins. 

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   The reins slide through the bit going from inside to outside.

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   Many draw reins have the girth slide directly through them. This does not allow for easy removal if you plan to only use them for part of your ride. If you have a ring on your girth you can get draw reins with clips that can easily be taken on and off.

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This horse is being correctly ridden in draw reins. The front of the horse's face is flat, or it could go with the nose farther out in front. When a horse gets to the desired position, the draw reins should relax their pressure so the horse gets a reward and knows this is where it should stay.

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This is the incorrect way to use draw reins. The reins are so tight the horse's nose is being drawn to its chest. This does not encourage balanced movement from the horse and is considered abusive. This is why many don't like draw reins, because they are adjustable you can tighten them too much.