Thoughts on daisy reins

[shadow jethro]

When I am hacking with Jethro he often tries to get his head down and eat the grass. It's not a problem if I can ride him forward, but when I am in company that isn't always possible. A friend suggests daisy reins and it would be helpful to have views on this. We are having a lot of fun together, and he is generally very co-operative.....

[Debbie]

I've never used them, but I think they would be extremely helpful. I'm sure you would want to get him used to them at home first, and ensure that his neck is still able to be held comfortably. I have a mare that I'm sure would go so much better if I put daisy reins on her

Also, I haven't used it, but I've read about a man who uses a feedbag on his mules when he trail rides. The areas where he rides has lots of poisonous plants along the trail and he reasoned it would be far more pleasant for him to just put the feedbag on, than worry about the mule possibly snatching something that would kill it (the plants are native, so no chance of removing them).

He said not only did it work to prevent the possible poisoning, but the mules were far more forward going and pleasant to ride since they knew it was time to work.

Apparently the bag doesn't interfere with the bit he uses, and it's breatheable, but covers the whole muzzle and is attached to a noseband, so there is no chance of the mule rubbing it off.

I hope the others can give you better replies on the daisy reins, though. ie, reports from those who've used them.

[harveydales]

My only experience with daisy reins is with children on ponies and they do work. Dolly used to do the same when we first got her but we got her out of the habit by using appropriate voice and rein aids. It didn't take long for her to realise it wasn't acceptable. You just need to be one step ahead to nip it in the bud.

[tinkerdorisalison]

Yes I have used them on Tinker when my friends daughter was riding, she was not strong enough to stop Tinker having a crafty snack along the way.
Even now after all these years she will still try it on with me.

[shadow jethro]

Thanks for your suggestions. What I thought about last night is the need to check  his back/saddle, in case that is causing discomfort and he is wanting to stretch down because of that. I  have left a message for the saddler and will get her to look at him. 

[dalesnfellfan]

I had the same problem with Spud when I first started riding him after my accident last year and I wasn't strong enough to stop him putting his head down to eat grass or constantly snack his way along the hedgerows.

I solved it by fitting him with temporary grass reins made from baler twine running from the bit, up through his brow band and then down to the D on the front of the saddle, you just need to make sure they're not so tight he can't stretch but tight enough to stop his head going down completely.

It worked a treat, baler twine looks a bit messy but it works and costs nothing as a temporary measure.

[tinkerdorisalison]

I use baler twine too............

[maggie]

As a coach, I use them a lot with children and beginners. Fastened the way Andrea describes, they are really useful. A length of strong black cord is less obvious than baler twine and easy to carry in your pocket.

When my younger son was learning at about 5 years old, he would hold his reins correctly, but couldn't get into slipping them and taking them back, so Toffee, his (wicked!) little pony at the time, started to put her head down at odd intervals. Christy would then shoot over her neck and land on his head at her feet while she sniggered at him - every blessed time! She had a daisy rein attached, so that she could use her head normally, but not do the fast and sudden 'nose on the floor' movement that unseated her rider. It only took a few days for her to stop, a little longer for Chris to release his vice-like grip on his reins and learn to slip them.

[dalesnfellfan]

Yes Maggie, black cord would be much better, I do admit to feeling quite embarrassed riding round the village with baler twine adorning my pony and people stopping to ask what the string was for. I also felt like a complete novice needing grass reins, but they were what I needed until I got stronger and he realised he could no longer take advantage, it was the only way he took advantage, otherwise he looked after me very carefully but being a greedy Fell he just couldn't resist snacking his way around our rides as it coincided with cow parsley time, his absolute favorite.

[maggie]

It's the way they 'drift' across to the plants at mouth height that lets you know they've planned it!

[shadow jethro]

Good news. Jethro has stopped 'trying it on' with the munching-on-the-move. We have done a few longer hacks in the last week or so and we are getting to know each other better. We have only had a couple of spooky moments. The other morning a woman with an umbrella leapt out of the hedge and all the horses thought that the wolves were back. There was a brief attempt to head for home, but things settled down fairly quickly and we got past her ok. Then today Jethro spotted a walker coming out of the woods before I did and jumped sideways. It certainly woke me up. Overall, he is very sensible and is settling in well. Everyone at the yard loves him.This week's problem is an itchy tail. I am washing it in an aloe Vera based shampoo, then rubbing in sudocrem-though tail is so thick that am not sure It is getting to the root of the problem. Any thoughts?

[harveydales]

Good news! Glad to hear you and Jethro are getting on so well.