check reins

[Robert MoonShadow]

J-L; Yeah, we let them “mow” (rhymes with ‘chow’) while packing, although I don’t usually care, when I had my pack donkeys (but then, only had one I needed to lead, the others just tagged along on their own – and kept up). But these two mules are different: up on my heels to get that tasty morsel up ahead, then yanking my arm out of socket when a 1700 lb. draft/pack mule can’t bear passing up that one d*** weed. My boss (their owner) just accepts it (he’s long-legged & a fast walker) or will yank their draw-halter. I got so I don’t lead them anymore…
I should probably mention that we hike in; we’re not riding when we lead them. We also carry our own gear/bedrolls, so when she yanks my arm, I’ve got a 50-65# pack on, too. You can tell when I’m leading her… her name is “You little #%^^&$ no-good @##$@$%@# Ellie mule, quit that!!”
But packing’s different than pulling a load or implement, that’s why I asked about the check reins. I can see how that’d be a bad habit – to let them get their heads down like that then.
When do you introduce these? Right from the beginning of training or later, after they’ve gotten used to at least the basics? I’m just thinking of the checkreins getting tangled or something if this jack has problems during training. (During the ground-driving stage).
Donn ~ Are these the ‘overchecks’ in your photos? If so, what are the ‘sidechecks”? {Or vice-versa}

[Donn Hewes]

Hi Robert, To be technically, I don’t think mine are either over check or side check. Some one correct me if I am wrong. The over check comes from the center of the bridle to the back saddle. A side check uses two small rings that are part of the bridle, near the throat latch buckle, passing either side of the head, these also would usually go to the back saddle. The point on mine is they are home made from scraps of lines or what ever. They need two conway buckles per animal, and they go on any bridle or bit. Fully adjustable. cheap. easy to use. I would call mine a check rein. Others might use that term to refer to the short part of the team lines. What I call stub lines. Donn

[Donn Hewes]

As far as introducing the check reins. You could do it anytime. I can tell when a horses is checking out a check rein for the first time. Give them a chance to figure out what it’s going to do. the open bridle I started Connie didn’t have one. If it had I would have left it on. Connie will probably get blinders this spring and I will certainly add a check rein at some point. Donn

[Robert MoonShadow]

Donn ~ So what is the decision process in deciding whether to put Connie into a set of blinders? What are the signs or information you use to reach that decision?
and again, thank you very much for your continuing contributions to the knowledge pool here.

[Donn Hewes]

Hi Robert, there is a long thread about a page back that talked about the pros and cons of blinders. I am all in favor of working with out them, but last year I got to about the first of May and then decided my two youngsters were going to do better if I put them on. It makes me sound like I am on both sides of the fence. If a person stops to consider if they want blinders on it tells me they are still curious about what makes the animals tick, and thinking about their relationship with them. In the end you make a decision that you believe will get the work done. The amazing thing about these work animals is that they are so adaptable.

[Robert MoonShadow]

Donn ~ I’ve read that thread on blinders – a couple of times. What I’m wondering though, is what are the indications that a certain horse might be better off with them than without? I’d definitely prefer my animal(s) didn’t have them on, but I’m not going to let MY personal preferences hinder the ANIMAL’S well being, neither. I just don’t know what to look for as indications.

[OldKat]

@Robert MoonShadow 5738 wrote:

Donn ~ I’ve read that thread on blinders – a couple of times. What I’m wondering though, is what are the indications that a certain horse might be better off with them than without? I’d definitely prefer my animal(s) didn’t have them on, but I’m not going to let MY personal preferences hinder the ANIMAL’S well being, neither. I just don’t know what to look for as indications.

Robert, this is an opposite case of what you are asking. Maybe it will help though. One of my mares, Maggie, gets very nervous when she hears something but can’t see it. Almost nothing rattles her, IF she can look at what ever it is that is making the noise. She has always been this way. Even if she is eating her feed from her trough, she wants to stop and walk to the edge of her stall everytime she hears a noise that she can’t identify.

She and the other mare, Rachel, were started in open bridles and then moved to bridles with blinders. While they were in open bridles she never had a problem. Regardless if she was single, hitched with Rachel or hitched with any other horse she was okay with whatever she was asked to do. As soon as the blinders were put on her she started getting nervous and acting up. This was wether she was single or part of a team or even when hitched three abreast. Take off the blinders and she is okay. Put them on and she has problems.

I have tried for nearly a year to get her “acclimated” to the blinders, but with little success. They still make her uptight. What should I do? I don’t know what everyone else will say, but I know what I am going to do … use an open bridle. Maybe that is whimping out on my part, but blinders just seem too stressful for her … so why use them?

[Plowboy]

If that solves the problem hang up her blinder bridle and go open! Sounds like a smart mare that wants to see whats going on. I think that would be a problem going from open to blinders. They are used to seeing whats going on and then you block that out and it freaks them out. As long as she works well open and does everything she is supposed to I wouldn’t hesitate. We are in the experimental stages right now with our two youngest horses in open bridles. The 3yr old has been in one for over a year with good results. Our stud colt has been started in a blinder bridle because we only have one open that I picked up at auction for an experiment. Our friend runs a harness shop and he made a copy last week for the stud colt. In a couple hours he will be driven in it and we’ll see how he adapts. I have a good feeling because nothing else bothers him.

[Robert MoonShadow]

OldKat ~ That does help, actually. It also reinforces my thoughts on going with an open bridle with my donkey – if it’s best for him. Donkeys react differently than horses do to stimulus: it’s in the way they developed. Donkeys are more inclined to ‘stop & study’ a situation than horses, whose instincts are more likely to ‘flight’. Thus, having an open bridle just makes sense to me… it goes along with their instincts a bit more than blinders. That’s because (for me), I want them to be able to make an evaluation of whatever the situation is, and choose to “join in” in my intent. I really like it best to have an animal (or a fellow human worker, for that matter) to work with me, rather than just for me.
My problem is that I don’t know how to tell if blinders are the best choice for an individual – what the signs are from that side of things. Your mare made it pretty obvious from that direction – to remove the blinders, but I wonder how would you be able to tell if to add them?
Once again in life; the more I know – the more I think – the dumber I feel. :confused:

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