The Pulley Rein (Current Freebie!)

Every rider should learn how to do the pulley rein. It's the ultimate in emergency brake, as if done correctly, it will stop any horse quickly. And it is a great tool to use as a back up aid for riders whose horses get strong.

Here's how to do it:

 

(Photo credit to Sarah K. Andrew)

Shorten your reins, fix one hand on the top of the neck, brace that arm and strongly press your knuckles into the top of the neck, while pulling up and back with the other.

It takes some practice for riders to get good at pressing with one hand while pulling with the other, so this is a skill that needs to be practiced.

If the horse turns his head in the direction of the hand that is pulling, the rider needs to either shorten the rein of the hand that's on the neck, or move that hand closer to the withers.

When done correctly, it will stop the horse quite quickly. And the rider needs to release the pulley rein before the horse has stopped completely. If the rider does not release it as the horse is stopping, it can cause the horse to rear up after halting.

To use this very powerful aid to back up your milder request for your horse to come back to you, go through the process in a very clear organized way.

Say you want your horse to slow down and stop pulling on you, but not stop completely. Ask your horse to come back with mild aids, start to engage the pulley rein, and the instant your horse starts to respond to the pulley rein, go back to your mild aids. Going back to the pulley rein momentarily whenever necessary.

The pulley rein is just another tool in your toolbox of aids, but is a very important skill to have for safety, since it is so powerful it can stop a complete runaway.