The system of loops and a pulley could help keep rein tension levels at near zero with the nose at the vertical, researchers found. | Photo: Courtesy Dr. Iris Veen

Training a horse to perform with a flexed neck and his head in a vertical position requires cues and reinforcement. Some riders and trainers achieve this with increased rein tension, which horses might find uncomfortable. But a new training device might help reduce the rein tension necessary to encourage this head and neck position, Dutch researchers say.

The “Concord Leader” device works through a system of loops and a pulley across the horse’s head, chest, mouth, and back and is connected to the reins. When longeing, it could help keep rein tension levels at near zero with the nose at the vertical, said Iris Veen, DVM, of Utrecht University’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.

That’s likely because the loops and pulley provide for a more immediate pressure release when the horse moves into the correct position, she said