Guide to Training Aids with The Saddlery Shop; part 2 of 6

In our latest blog series we are going to take a look at the range of training aids for riding and lunging our horses. There are many products available that may be used to aid the equine training process and whilst no training aid can replace correct riding it can offer a useful tool to be used in certain instances. In our blog series we are set to showcase some of the most popular- all of which available from The Saddlery Shop! Training Aid 2: Draw reins Draw reins (or running reins) are used under saddle to help the horse learn to maintain a light contact with the bit, while freely moving forward and ‘carrying himself’. Dressage trainer Dane Rawlins has said that correctly used draw reins can be a beneficial schooling aid. “They can be a very good influence for a horse that is unsettled in the mouth. I only ever use them with an ordinary snaffle bit and would emphasise that it is vital they are used properly,” he has stated. Draw reins can be useful for encouraging a better head position and rounder frame when riding. The reins pass through the bit rings and attach to the girth under the rider’s legs; or the reins go through the bit rings and then down to the girth between the horse’s forelegs. Some also use them for lungeing, running from the saddle D-rings or roller top rings, through the bit rings and to the girth between the forelegs, but adjustment is difficult. The reins put pressure on the bit and therefore the bars and corners of the mouth, which should be released by the rider once the horse returns to a rounder frame. With the reins fitted between the forelegs, there’s a downward pressure; a higher fitting produces a more upward pressure. Draw reins can be beneficial when used correctly to encourage a consistent outline, encourage acceptance of the contact, help to build the horse's topline and increase suppleness of the back. The Saddlery Shop stocks draw reins in leather and synthetic material from suppliers such as Aerborn, Shires, Mark Todd and HY. Prices start from just £5.99 so why not visit the website www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk and find out more today! Remember to always consult an expert prior to use if you are unsure how to use any equine training aid.