Article, Improve Your Riding

Western Reins: Four Ways to Hold Your Reins

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Handling your western reins as a beginner can be quite frightening. In particular in Western, coaches and trainers are always telling riders to have loose reins. Much like horse training, riders must begin with and understand the basics, which is essentially the direct rein. After that they can move up to bridged reins where they and the horse can work on using pressure from the bearing rein. One graduated from the bridged rein riders can work towards riding one handed. Which for a finished bridle horse that is the goal.

Basic Principles

A few basic principles about reins to start with. Like any skill with riding, shortening, lengthening and generally handling the reins takes practice. Start with the basics, hands and reins go slightly forward when you want the horse to go forward, reins resist or pull back (for lack of a better term) to stop or back up. Right direct rein means turn right and left rein means turn left.

Direct rein or Crossed reins

Back to the point here, the direct rein is held with one hand on each rein, held much like English reins. Riders should let the tail of the rein cross the neck of the horse so as if the rider drops the rein accidentally it does not fall to the ground and can be safely. Pictured below the direct rein held correctly.

Photo Credit: Snap Show Photography

Bridged Reins

The bridged reins are carried with two hands and the bight (the part in between your hands) should be able to be adjusted proficiently. When starting to use this rein, managing the slack in the bight is probably the most difficult thing. When a rider can manage the bight he/she can move on to working towards teaching the horse the bearing rein.

Photo Credit: Snap Show Photography

Bearing Rein

A bearing rein is when pressure from the rein is a cue to the horse to move away. At this stage, riders would be moving both hands together in effect mimicking riding one handed but while actually using two reins. When the horse can execute all essential movement in this matter, its time to move to one handed.

The rider pictured below is working towards using the bearing rein. The key to successfully using this rein is to not get too ahead of yourself. The rein that is doing the bearing should not become the dominant rein. It should rather support the opening rein on the other side. The rider should be able to coordinate the leg aids in turn to help guide the horse rather than just pulling the horse with the reins.

Photo Credit: Snap Show Photography

One Handed Split Rein or One Handed

There are various types of reins you can ride one handed in including split reins, romal and gaming reins. In the show pen split reins are the majority. Once you and your horse have graduated to riding one handed, you will be riding what professionals call a “Bridle Horse”. A bridle horse is a horse who can ride accurately in a shanked bit one handed.

The majority of the breed associations call for any horse over the age of 6 in the show pen to be ridden in such a way. The photo below shows a rider riding with split reins one handed. Take note this rider is holding their index finger between the right and left rein and the tails of the reins are both on the same side.

Photo Credit: Snap Show Photography

In conclusion, like anything in horses handling your reins starts at the basics. Once a rider has control at one level, move to the next.

Alicia Harper Horse Trainer for Over Fences
Article, Horse Training Tips

How much does it cost to have my horse trained?

This too is also a common question. Horses are usually taken in on training on a monthly basis. A monthly rate is usually advertised by a trainer and is dependent on a number of factors including:

  • the qualifications of the trainer
  • the quality of the facility
  • the current market value
  • price of hay, sawdust, feed and land in your area

Our training here is offered for $1000 a month including board of the horse.

 

The amount of time it takes to train the horse varies based on another number of factors including:

  • current training level of the horse
  • level of horse expected
  • experience of the trainer
  • demeanor of the horse

As you can see there are a number of factors which can affect how much it could cost to get your horse trained. Generally speaking there are three instances we see horses come into training. That is to be broke to ride (the horse has never been ridden before), to address a problem in its training (it doesn’t want to pick up its canter lead) or for additional experience. The latter is usually when I see them, mostly because owners are looking to get their horse some experience in the show ring and/or over fences. Perhaps the horse has never jumped before.

 

Although I have seen them thru the entire process and some horses will remain in training for up to one year. Riders also can send them for 30 days, or until the issue is resolved. The best practice for a rider though is to work with the trainer to which you send the horse so you as a rider can follow the same program. Know that it is normal for an amateur rider to send a horse for training when an issue arises simply because trainers do this all day long, for many years. As a comparison – imagine trying to fix your truck yourself without help. For me its much to complicated – I just send it to a professional – there is no shame is asking for help.