Blossom
Pony Pair
Kilmannan Blossom, dales pony
Posts: 361
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Post by Blossom on Dec 31, 2007 1:17:13 GMT
Okay, so if an overcheck rein with bit are used to prevent the horse from getting its head down and possibly getting the bridle snagged in the shafts of a cart.... why is it not permissible to use an overcheck rein in some shows?
I thought the overcheck (bearing) rein and bit were a safety measure?
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Post by gonewiththewind on Dec 31, 2007 9:01:31 GMT
I think bearing rein and overcheck rein are to force the horses head high and not allow it to get it down and stretch comfortably. They are only used on hackneys nowadays and they are expected to go with their head carriage very high
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Post by wally on Dec 31, 2007 10:40:58 GMT
I have seen bearing reins in the show ring on some Welshes, donkey's years ago mind.
I think as GWTW says you need a horse with a high head carriage anyway before they would enhance anything.
Putting them on a pony with a low set neck and head carriage would be cruel.
The whole Hackney driving thing is a mystery to me. What the horses are expected to pull is so light that they can sacrifice efficiency for flashy!
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Blossom
Pony Pair
Kilmannan Blossom, dales pony
Posts: 361
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Post by Blossom on Dec 31, 2007 12:39:54 GMT
So what do people do if the pony reaches round to scratch at its side (say a fly lands) and the bridle snags and gets hung on something? What do you do? Is this when the groom comes in handy??
...and please, I know nothing about driving, so these are honest questions.
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Post by nativedriver on Dec 31, 2007 12:46:09 GMT
Spot on Debbie! The groom can jump off and get to the horses head pretty quickly to stop anything serious happening, reins can often get caught on the shafts if you're not careful
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Post by gonewiththewind on Dec 31, 2007 13:50:14 GMT
I dont think bearing reins were ever meant to stop things getting hooked up, purely to keep horses heads as high as possible to look fashionable.
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Blossom
Pony Pair
Kilmannan Blossom, dales pony
Posts: 361
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Post by Blossom on Dec 31, 2007 17:18:26 GMT
Oh, I thought they were adjustable so you could set the height. Yes, I've read Black Beauty, and I've seen the hollow framed hackneys and harness racing, but I'd thought you really could let the head lower if you'd wanted. I thought it could be low enough not to interfere with the horse's natural headset and still serve the purpose of not letting stuff get tangled. I guess not. ? I didn't realize the reins could get tangled up as well. Gosh this is a hazardous bit of business. Small wonder it takes a ton of training and the right pony or horse to do the job! And I can easily see why the groom would be crucial. Thanks for taking the time to answer all my silly questions everyone
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Post by nativedriver on Dec 31, 2007 20:21:50 GMT
They're not silly questions at all Debbie, there's such a lot to learn with driving and you keep learning every time you take them out!
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Post by rabatsa on Dec 31, 2007 20:53:01 GMT
Bearing reins are sometimes used with coaching teams to help prevent the horses getting too heavy in the hand. They are used on trotters and pacers to (suposedly) get a better line for their wind pipe to help with the breathing when going fast.
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Blossom
Pony Pair
Kilmannan Blossom, dales pony
Posts: 361
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Post by Blossom on Jan 1, 2008 21:38:12 GMT
I see the Amish in our area use the overcheck, but I think someone's already said on here its to prevent the horse from kicking. Also they're using retired Standardbreds. They might not go in a 'correct' frame, but they sure are beautiful to see as they're flying down the road, doing a job they love.
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Post by happyhorsedriver on Jan 1, 2008 22:31:53 GMT
The overcheck is a common feature on American harness it is used as a balancing aid with hackneys, with trotters an pacers it is used as a balancing aid and for keeping the windpipe open while racing. It is also used on smaller breeds in America as well. I drive a part bred standard bred and my youngsters are mainly part bred standardbreds as well they have all been bred for road racing but we will drive and do drive them for Private Driving, we don't use overchecks with them and have not had any problems with their balance My dad use to compete in Harness racing so we have had experience of using a overcheck while racing.
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Post by wally on Jan 2, 2008 10:25:00 GMT
I cannot, for the life of me, see why they need them on these teeny tiny miniatures in the US.
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Blossom
Pony Pair
Kilmannan Blossom, dales pony
Posts: 361
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Post by Blossom on Jan 2, 2008 15:03:54 GMT
Just for curiosity sake, HappyHorseDriver, do you know of any links showing the harnessing of a racing standardbred? I'm wondering what it looks like regarding keeping the windpipe open for racing. LOL, and I can't imagine needing an overcheck for a mini! They're tiny enough I'm not sure all that leather would fit. ;D
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Post by wally on Jan 2, 2008 15:11:18 GMT
Sad thing is they do cram an over check on these tiny minis in the US. It's not done here so much, but it's all too common in the States.
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Post by happyhorsedriver on Jan 2, 2008 17:04:17 GMT
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