Is Using Draw Reins a Good Technique?

In the western pleasure show world, it is very common to see riders using draw reins or running reins as a teaching aid for their horse. Draw reins are used to increase rein pressure, which usually gives the desired affect of the horse bringing its head down. They also can help control a horse that is "heavy mouthed". The problem with using draw reins to correct both of these problems is that the draw reins become more like a "crutch" and the rider is unable to control the horse without having the draw reins in place.

I do believe in the use of draw reins and have gotten outstanding improvements from them for many of the horses I have trained. The main part of using them is to remember, these are not aloud in the show ring, so dont count on them at all times. Draw reins are normally clipped to the girth hook and then the reins each run through the O rings of a bit to slightly increase the pressure of the bit when pressure is applied to the reins. I never ride my horses that I am training for Western Pleasure for more then 3 months with draw reins everyday. After those 3 months I may occasionally put the draw reins back on to brush up on my horses head set, but I do not use them as a constant aid. As for them helping with a" heavy mouthed" horse I feel draw reins are not the way to deal with that. Draw reins would only be teaching that horse that it needs increased pressure to be controlled. Once the reins come off, and that increased pressure is no longer available, the horse would go right back to its" heavy mouthed" ways. I believe that horses should be taught to be controlled with the least amount of pressure needed.

Ever since it became the style in AQHA to have a horse with a low neckline, many people have become fans of draw reins for a training technique. I also am a fan of draw reins, bit everyone needs to remember one thing, it is a training technique! Continually try to wein your horse off of needing draw reins so that they can easily be ridden, and achieve a low neck line, without having this teaching aid on at all times.

So what do ya'll think. Are you guys fans of draw reins? Have you gotten good results from using draw reins or did your horses head come right back up? What are some other techniques you use to achieve a low neck line? I'd love to hear your opinions!