What are bearing reins? Bearing reins were a type of horse tack used in the 1800’s to elevate a carriage horse’s head. These reins were uncomfortable and even painful for horses and were abolished partially in part to the protest raised by Anna Sewell’s novel Black Beauty. <\/p>\n
A form of bearing rein is used today, but is a much more humane device. Today most horse harnesses include a overcheck or sidecheck- which are comparable to a bearing rein but are adjusted more humanely. An overcheck helps a horse maintain their balance and gives a handler more control- An overcheck does not force the horse’s head up painfully, but is usually set at the horse’s optimal natural carriage. Occasionally, a bearing rein type device is still used on horses ridden by children or disabled adults. A loosely adjusted bearing type rein (usually more like a sidecheck) allows a horse to carry their head naturally, but prevents a horse from dropping their neck to graze or snatching reins out of a riders hands- both actions that can cause an insecure or disabled rider to fall and be injured.<\/p>\n
Even though use of the bearing rein was discontinued nearly 100 years ago, the practical applications of bearing reins- applied in more humane manners- are still useful today.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"