Dressage Reins
Wednesday, October 27th, 2010What is the best way to get a horse to frame?
I have a horse that I am training for dressage. I need some tips on how to get her to stay in the frame. Like what are the correct aids and should I use draw reins or not. I had one trainer say I should use draw reins. She will do the frame for a couple of seconds, but how do I get her to stay in the frame?
Time and patience.
Correct training does not need gadgets, and I stick by my opinion that draw reins do not help a horse at all.
I ride a horse at my yard, who has been trained to go into an outline using draw reins, he goes so easily on the forehand and the use of draw reins haven't helped him use himself properly, he tends to move very bunched up - because the draw reins never allowed him to move freely and now he finds it hard to. If he'd not been trained with draw reins, chances are he would have become far more free moving.
Going into an outline takes time, it's not achieved in five minutes. In order for a horse to go into a consistent outline, then they need to have built the muscles to do it - which can't be achieved by gadgets. Also if this horse is in training, chances are she's not balanced enough to stay in the frame and move correctly all the time.
Top dressage horses take years and years to achieve their ability, it does not happen over night.