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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / The use of a rein tension device to compare different traini...
Equine veterinary journal2018; 50(6); 825-830; doi: 10.1111/evj.12831

The use of a rein tension device to compare different training methods for neck flexion in base-level trained Warmblood horses at the walk.

Abstract: Debate surrounds the use of high rein tension for obtaining different head and neck positions in the training of sport horses on account of possible welfare issues. Objective: To compare auxiliary rein tension in two methods (Draw Reins and Concord Leader) for obtaining a standardised head and neck position on a hard and a soft surface. Methods: Intervention study. Methods: Left and right rein tensions were measured in 11 base-level trained client-owned sport horses (mean age ± s.d.; 10 ± 3.2 years) exercised in-hand with, in a random order, conventional draw reins or the newly developed Concord Leader in a standardised head and neck position. Rein tension was measured using a calibrated device operating at 10 Hz during six runs of 15 s in a straight line for each training method on both a hard and a soft surface. A linear mixed model and grouped logistic regression analysis were applied to compare the two methods (P<0.05). Results: The odds of a tension of 0 N were lower with draw reins than with the Concord Leader. The rein tension (mean sum of the force applied, in N) of the draw reins was 13.8 times higher than that of the Concord Leader. Conclusions: This study was performed on horses exercised in-hand; however, these auxiliary aids are normally used when lungeing. Possible redirection of rein tension towards the poll was not measured. Conclusions: We showed that when using the Concord Leader a similar head and neck position is achieved with a much lower rein tension than with the draw reins and, more importantly, with a much greater likelihood of 0 N. It is unnecessary to use high auxiliary rein tension to obtain a standard, flexed head and neck position.
© 2018 The Authors. Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2018-04-06 PubMed ID: 29517811PubMed Central: PMC6174990DOI: 10.1111/evj.12831Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research article focuses on comparing the use of different training methods, namely Draw Reins and Concord Leader, in neck flexion for Warmblood horses. It examines the rein tension applied in both methods and asserts that a standard head and neck position can be established with less tension using the Concord Leader compared to traditional draw reins.

Research Purpose and Methodology

  • The study was designed to gauge the auxiliary rein tension in two distinct neck flexion training methods: Draw Reins and Concord Leader. This is of significant interest due to potential welfare concerns associated with high rein tension during the training of sport horses.
  • A total of 11 base-level trained sport horses were involved in the study. The rein tension was evaluated in a random order using the two methods. The horses were exercised in-hand and tested on both hard and soft surfaces.
  • Rein tension was measured using a calibrated device at ten Hertz frequency during six runs of fifteen seconds, each on a straight line, for both training methods.
  • Analysis was performed using a linear mixed model and grouped logistic regression to compare the two training methods. Statistical significance was considered at P<0.05.

Research Results

  • The results show that the chances of having a zero-newton tension were lower when using Draw Reins compared to the Concord Leader.
  • The average tension with Draw Reins was 13.8 times greater than with the Concord Leader.
  • While the study was primarily performed on horses exercised in-hand, it was noted that these aids are usually used when lungeing. The redirection of rein tension towards the poll was not measured in this study.

Conclusions

  • The study concludes that a similar head and neck position can be achieved in horses with significantly lower rein tension using the Concord Leader method as opposed to traditional draw reins. This suggests a lesser likelihood of causing discomfort or potential harm to the horse.
  • The research infers that there is no necessity to employ high auxiliary rein tension to get a standard, flexed head and neck position in the sport horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Veen I, Killian D, Vlaminck L, Vernooij JCM, Back W. (2018). The use of a rein tension device to compare different training methods for neck flexion in base-level trained Warmblood horses at the walk. Equine Vet J, 50(6), 825-830. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12831

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 50
Issue: 6
Pages: 825-830

Researcher Affiliations

Veen, I
  • Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Killian, D
  • Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Vlaminck, L
  • Department of Surgery and Anaesthesiology of Domestic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Vernooij, J C M
  • Department of Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Back, W
  • Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
  • Department of Surgery and Anaesthesiology of Domestic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.

MeSH Terms

  • Animal Welfare
  • Animals
  • Confidence Intervals
  • Female
  • Functional Laterality / physiology
  • Head / physiology
  • Horses / physiology
  • Linear Models
  • Male
  • Neck / physiology
  • Odds Ratio
  • Physical Conditioning, Animal / instrumentation
  • Physical Conditioning, Animal / methods
  • Walking / physiology

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Citations

This article has been cited 6 times.
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