I have been editing a video for my membership group. It demonstrates how I might teach an understanding of the reins to a horse being prepared for starting under saddle. In essence, I start on the ground walking by a horse’s shoulder with the reins held in a riding position. The reins are used to direct the horse much like a rider would from the saddle. I steer left and right, hindquarter yields, forehand yields, leg yields, stop and back up, etc. Pretty much anything I might do with the reins from the saddle on any horse in the first few rides.
But when I was younger and began starting horses, my mentors taught me how to use long reins to teach a response to the reins. I would pass the reins through the rings of a surcingle and attach each rein to the rings of the bit while standing behind the horse. Steering around obstacles and over poles was the main focus of this work for the green horse.
I don’t long rein young, green horses anymore. But since a great many people do use long reins when starting horses, I thought I would explain my reasoning for abandoning them and training with short reins instead.
Let me begin by saying long reining can be beneficial for horses further along in their education. So this is not an anti-long rein rave. These are just my thoughts on the suitability of long reining when starting horses.
LONG REINS
Pros
1. Long reins are excellent for getting horses comfortable with ropes around their bodies and people working behind them.
2. Long reining better prepares a horse for harness work.
Cons
1. Long reins make teaching hindquarter disengagement and forehand yield almost impossible to teach a young horse.
2. If a horse tries to shy, bolt, or panic, long reins can become entangled and often make it difficult to regain control.
3. Long reins are long, and therefore some of the energy a rider applies is absorbed and lost between the hand and the horse’s mouth.
4. If a horse overreacts to the feel of the reins and swings its hindquarters, it can be difficult to straighten and untangle the reins from around the hindquarters. A second trainer standing at the front with a halter and lead rope attached to the horse can minimize this risk.
5. Although teaching horses how to softly gives to the reins requires considerable skill, there is a steeper learning curve to becoming proficient at using them. Many people find them cumbersome to use properly and expertly in the early stages.
SHORT REINS
Pros
1. Short reins make it relatively easy to teach hindquarter disengagement, forehand yields, and basic lateral work.
2. When working with short reins the trainer stands by the shoulder or girth which helps to get the horse used to the bumping and brushing on its side it will experience when carrying a rider.
3. While using short reins the trainer can also prepare a horse to respond to the feel of a rider’s leg by using the stirrup or hand to apply pressure to the ribs to create forwardness.
4. If a horse gets a fright, it is easy to disengage the hindquarters with one rein to regain control.
5. Short reins offer a precise feel and closely mimics the action of the reins when being ridden.
6. Short reins allow a more subtle use of the reins because they are short.
Cons
1. If a horse gets a fright and shies, it could step on the trainer (but this has never actually happened to me).
You might be able to come up with your own pros and cons for choosing to use long reins or short reins. There is no right or wrong approach, but I would be interested to hear your preference and why.
