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The outside rein refers to the rein that is opposite to the direction a horse is traveling on a turn.
- In a left-hand turn, the left would be the inside rein, and the right would be the outside rein
- and a right-hand turn, the right would be the inside rein, and the left would be the outside rein.
An outside rein is an important tool in making your communications clear and dictating the shape of a turn and acts as a balancing guide to your horse.
Both the “left rein” and the “right rein” work in a continuous circuit that begins with the driver.
The left hand connects to the left side of the circuit through the left rein. That rein conducts the circuit to the horse through the bit, which is connected to the right rein. The right rein returns to the rider or driver in the right hand, completing the circuit to the left rein through the body.
The use of the outside rein keeps the bit seated correctly in the horse’s mouth through a turn, and allows the bit to communicate to the horse the way it was designed to.