TACK TALK: TWO-REIN TRANSITION

Brady Weaver offers insight into this important phase of a cow horse’s training.

BY JENNIFER DENSION

The two-rein is a transitional phase in a bridle horse’s training, bridging the gap between hackamore and/or snaffle and spade bit. Executed properly, riding in the two-rein rig allows a horse to move from the hackamore to straight up in the bridle without losing softness and collection.

Utah cow horse trainer Brady Weaver believes that the two-rein is an undervalued part of a cow horse’s training and longevity. In National Reined Cow Horse Association competition, a horse can be shown in both two-rein and bridle classes at the same time, but Weaver prefers to introduce the two-rein rig when a horse is 6 years old and ride with it for a year before going straight up in the bridle.

DISSECTING THE TWO-REIN RIG

The two-rein rig consists of a bosalito, a narrow form of the hackamore, about ⅜ of an inch in diameter. A headstall with a spade bit attached is placed on top of the bosalito.

“I was having trouble with a two-rein horse, and Benny Guitron showed me that the knots connecting the headstall to the bit are made to be on the inside, and they mash into the horse’s face and it’s uncomfortable for the horse,” Weaver explained. “I now flip them to the outside and it keeps the horse working well in the two-rein.”

Weaver also adjusts the bosalito a little higher on the horse’s nose than the hackamore to avoid rubbing on the headstall.

“You want the heel knot close to the horse’s jaw,” he said. “You should be able to fit a finger’s width in there so you’re not putting too much pressure on the horse’s nose but enough that he can feel it. The bosalito should sit squarely on the horse’s nose and apply even pressure. I’ve seen two-rein horses act uncomfortable when you pick up on the reins because there bosalito is too tight and pressure is grating on their cheeks.”

The goal of the two-rein is to gradually start directing your horse solely with subtle signals transmitted from romal reins to the bit. To achieve that, a horseman must ride with two sets of reins: the mecate reins and the romal reins. When he begins riding the horse in the two-rein rig, Weaver controls the horse using the mecate, just as he did in the hackamore. This shouldn’t be new to the horse, and it should neck rein and move in a light, collected frame. Weaver holds his romal rein in his hands but doesn’t start cueing with them until the horse learns to pick it up and pack the spade bit in its mouth comfortably.

“The bit has a cricket your horse can work with its tongue to encourage salivation and relax the neck muscles,” Weaver explained. “Tony Amaral told me he would hang the spade loosely in the horse’s mouth without the reins so the horse would learn to pack it. They would put salt or glycerin on the spoon and mouthpiece and the horse would start licking it and rolling the cricket [with its tongue], which increased salivation [to keep the horse’s mouth moist] and the horse would pick up the bit in its mouth before you ever touched the reins.”

Working The Reins

There are different ways to hold romal reins, but Weaver prefers to place his thumb between the mecate reins and his fingers around or in between the romals.

“I can stick my fingers through the reins if I want or put my hand around it,” he said. “In the two-rein you can have your fingers in between the reins and adjust them with your fingers as needed.”

Weaver practices familiar drills such as riding figure eights in the two-rein, starting with the mecate reins, so the horse can get used to the feel of the bit in its mouth. He gradually advances to signaling the horse lightly with the romal reins on its neck, using the mecate reins as support as necessary and vice versa. His hands work in a smooth, fluid motion on the reins, never pulling or overdoing things. If a horse gaps its mouth or becomes stiff or resistant, Weaver transitions back to using the mecate reins only and, in some cases, goes back to riding with the hackamore to soften the horse, and then he works back up to the two-rein.

It’s all part of keeping the horse light and responsive as it moves into the bridle and throughout its show career and beyond, he says.

Left: Weaver puts his thumb through the mecate reins and can use his fingers to adjust the reins or put his hands around them.

Far left: Benny Guitron taught Weaver to place the ties on the headstall away from the horse’s face so they don’t rub and cause discomfort.