Two-Rein Dos and Don'ts

Use the two-rein setup correctly—at home and in the show pen—to fully transition your horse to the bridle.

- BY AL DUNNING, WITH JENNIFER PAULSON PHOTO BY NICHOLE CHIRICO

→ Traditional stock horse training methods dictate that you go from the snaffle to the hackamore to the two-rein and finally to the bridle. Two-rein classes at National Reined Cow Horse events and stock horse shows highlight this training phase, but many riders choose to skip it, especially if their horse isn't responding great in the hackamore. If you choose to go through the two-rein phase, it's critical that you do it correctly so your horse responds as he should once he's in the bridle. Incorrect implementation of the two-rein can lead to undesirable responses such as head-tossing and mouth-gaping.

Equipment

The two-rein consists of a bosalito with a mecate and a bridle with a romal. The bosalito serves to remove some of the worry a horse might experience when first using a bridle.

Do choose a pencil bosal—called a bosalito. It's smaller in diameter than a traditional hackamore for a slightly smoother signal.