What are the pros and cons of using draw reins?
Q: I bought a cute project horse that I hope to show someday in both English and western classes. He’s a little high-headed and my friends keep telling me to use draw reins to get his head down. They all use draw reins, but I don’t know that much about them. What are the pros and cons of draw reins? A: The pros and cons of draw reins are endlessly debated on equestrian chat forums and anyplace else riders congregate. Since you are unfamiliar with draw reins, here is some straightforward information. Draw reins are artificial training aids, meaning they go beyond natural aids such as a pressure from a rider’s leg. They exert pressure on the horse’s mouth, via the bit, essentially “drawing” the horse’s head into position. Theoretically, when the horse achieves the desired headset, pressure from the draw reins is released. Eventually the horse learns where to put its head in order to escape that pressure. Riders who support the use of draw reins cite several pros. They believe that draw r
