Running reins, a style also sometimes called a German martingale or Market Harborough. Horse is also wearing a tongue-tie, which is not usually standard equipment. A tongue-tie is a piece of equipment used by horseback riders to prevent the horse from getting his tongue over the bit, which would make the animal very difficult to control

Draw reins and running reins are pieces of riding equipment used for training that cause the horse to bring its head down and inward. While a rein is the strap that connects to the bit and is held by the rider, these types of reins add additional leverage to the rider's hands and arms, allowing the rider to force the horse's head into a desired position. Reins are items of Horse tack, used to direct a Horse or other animal used for riding or Driving.

Usage of the term in English riding and Western riding disciplines refers to slightly different designs that nonetheless work on essentially the same leverage principles. English riding is a term used to describe a form of horseback riding that is seen throughout the world WesternClassjpg|thumb|200 px|Modern competitors in western equipment lined up at a horse show class awaiting results]] Western riding is a style of horseback riding which evolved

English Riding

The terms "draw reins" and "running reins" are often used interchangeably in the English disciplines. The terms most often refer to reins which go from the rider's hand, through one bit ring (outside to inside), and attach to the girth. Usually this style is called a "running rein," though the term "draw rein" is also sometimes used. Some styles attach directly to a regular snaffle rein, which limits the degree of force applied, while others slide freely and with little limit to the leverage that can be applied. Another style, also called a "draw rein," runs from the rider's hands, through the bit ring (outside to inside), over the poll, through the other bit ring, and back to the rider's hands, without attaching to the girth. A girth, sometimes called a cinch ( Western US) is a piece of equipment used to keep the Saddle in place on a horse or other animal

In Hunt seat style English riding, these devices originally developed as a two-rein bitting system. Hunt seat is terminology used in the United States and Canada to refer to a style of forward seat riding commonly found at American Horse English riding is a term used to describe a form of horseback riding that is seen throughout the world One set of reins is an ordinary direct snaffle rein, and the other is the running or draw rein. The rider holds these reins in a manner similar to a double bridle, usually with the snaffle rein below the fourth finger and the running or draw rein between the third and fourth fingers, although there are variations on this. A double bridle, also called a full bridle or Weymouth bridle, is a Bridle used with two bits and four Reins. When riding in this fashion, the rider should ride predominantly on the snaffle rein. However, riders and trainers may often be observed using only the running or draw rein, in many cases with the snaffle rein completely absent from the bridle. Riding with draw reins alone is a controversial practice among English riders.

Western Riding

Draw reins in the western riding disciplines are always attached to the rings of the cinch (a western-style girth), usually on each side of a western saddle, run through the bit rings (either inside to outside or vice-versa, there is no firm rule, though the rein moves more smoothly if the inside goes to the girth and the outside to the hand), and then to the hands of the rider. WesternClassjpg|thumb|200 px|Modern competitors in western equipment lined up at a horse show class awaiting results]] Western riding is a style of horseback riding which evolved A girth, sometimes called a cinch ( Western US) is a piece of equipment used to keep the Saddle in place on a horse or other animal Western saddles are used for Western riding and are the Saddles used on working Horses on Cattle Ranches throughout the United States They are rarely used in a two-rein system, usually are used alone or used with the regular bridle reins allowed to lay slack and not held by the rider. While use of the standard draw reins presents only mild controversy in western circles, a controversial use of this rein in western riding is its use on a curb bit, a practice that applies incorrect leverage, is dangerous, and creates an effect that some consider abusive. A curb bit is a type of bit used for riding Horses that uses leverage

Polo

Polo pony wearing a Pelham bit with draw reins and curb reins

Draw reins are common in polo, connected through the "snaffle" ring of a Pelham bit or a gag bit in lieu of a direct rein, to the saddle billets. A pelham is a type of Curb bit used when riding a horse It consists of a mouthpiece a shank a Curb chain, 2 rein rings per side on the shank and one cheekpiece Polo is a team sport played outdoors on Horseback in which the objective is to score goals against an opposing team A pelham is a type of Curb bit used when riding a horse It consists of a mouthpiece a shank a Curb chain, 2 rein rings per side on the shank and one cheekpiece The gag bit is a type of bit for a Horse. With two sets of reins the gag bit gives a rider the ability to use either a standard direct action or a gag action A girth, sometimes called a cinch ( Western US) is a piece of equipment used to keep the Saddle in place on a horse or other animal The draw reins have a direct rein action. A second pair of reins provides leverage. When the rider pulls all four reins (both pairs) together, the draw reins become slack, transferring tension to the other pair of reins, hence to the leverage bit.

Uses

Running reins and draw reins should only been used when the horse is performing an undesired behavior that cannot be corrected with less extreme equipment, and it is best practice to stop use as soon as the desired response is given.

Running reins (or western-style draw reins) are used by many trainers to teach the horse to give to rein pressure, and most horses respond by bringing the head in and lowering it. They may also provide additional control of heavy-mouthed horses, though it can also become a "crutch" that a rider becomes dependent on using at all times.

English style draw reins that run over the poll have a gag bit-like action. The gag bit is a type of bit for a Horse. With two sets of reins the gag bit gives a rider the ability to use either a standard direct action or a gag action They encourage the horse to raise its head, although they may cause slight pressure on the poll, and are therefore good for certain horses that buck and plunge with the head lowered, attempt to run away by first lowering the head, and for horses that pull, lean on the bit, or have learned to lower the head and stop to unseat the rider

Western style draw reins work similarly to the English style running rein, in that they encourage the horse to bring its head down and in. The poll is a name of the part of an animal's head alternatively referencing a point immediately behind or right between the ears However, they may apply more leverage and because western riders rarely use the regular rein, they offer less relief to the horse. Some trainers even run draw reins between the front legs and attach them to the cinch underneath the belly in order to get the horse to travel with the low and controversial "peanut roller" style headset popular in some western pleasure classes. Western Pleasure is a western style competition at Horse shows that exhibits the manners and suitability of the Horse for appropriate gait cadence However, horses can learn to evade draw reins by overflexing and putting their head practically on their chest, then charging ahead or, conversely, balking and refusing to move forward at all.

Misuses and Dangers

There are many riders who use leverage devices, which also can include not only draw reins and running reins, but also the running martingale, to force the horse into position. A martingale is a term used to describe several different designs of tack that are used on Horses to control head carriage However, this is incorrect usage.

Misuse usually involves the rider pulling the horse's head in to achieve a "headset" rather than getting the animal correctly on the bit. On the bit is an equestrian term used to describe a horse that is submissive to the rider's rein aids, given through the bit Like the equally controversial practice of rollkur, the horse does not flex properly at the poll, but rather flexes improperly at a lower neck vertebrae. Rollkur, now officially known as "hyperflexion of the neck" is a highly controversial training technique used by some Dressage riders today The anatomy of the horse comes with a large number of Horse specific terms This practice often results in a horse that is working in a "headset" or "outline" that, to the inexperienced observer appears acceptable, but the horse has no self-carriage or suppleness and does not properly engage its hindquarters.

These pieces of equipment can have very detrimental effects if they are adjusted tightly, used strongly, or if used for long periods of time. Horses may become hard-mouthed and heavy, and they will begin to travel on the forehand if the rider can not keep sufficient impulsion. Additionally, many horses that are continuously or incorrectly ridden in draw or running reins may never learn to engage the hind quarters and lift their withers for self-carriage, and this habit may permanently damage their training. In extreme cases, horses may develop neck and back pain from being forced to hold an artificial position for long periods of time.

It was this improper flexion that ruined the reputation of their inventor, William Cavendish, 1st Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne ^[1]. William Cavendish 1st Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne KG KB PC (6 December 1592 &ndash 25 December 1676 was an English Polymath and

That being said, competent riders who correctly and tactfully use the draw and running reins can have success in correcting specific problems in horses that require retraining to get rid of bad habits. These are often the riders who use the equipment the least, because they can achieve correct results through good riding instead of gadgets.

References