A bearing rein is a rein used in driving to hold a horse’s head in a fixed elevated position, preventing it from lowering its neck during work. It typically connects from the bit — or in some configurations from the bridoon or the noseband — up and back to the saddle pad or the collar of the harness. When correctly fitted and used, it is intended to create a particular head carriage and outline. When misused or over-tightened, it causes significant discomfort and has been one of the most debated pieces of horse equipment in equestrian history.
The bearing rein is primarily a feature of traditional and show driving. It is rarely encountered in modern ridden horsemanship, where the goal of correct headcarriage is achieved through training and the development of the horse’s musculature and balance rather than through mechanical restraint.
Types of Bearing Rein
There are two main configurations used in harness driving.
Overcheck rein: Runs from the bit up between the horse’s ears over a pad on the top of the surcingle or collar and back to the driver’s hands or a fixed point. Keeps the horse’s head elevated and prevents it from leaning into the collar. Common in American harness racing and traditional coaching turnouts.
Side rein (used as a bearing rein): Connects the bit to the saddle or surcingle rings at the side rather than overhead. Limits lateral head movement and keeps the horse’s head from turning outward, particularly useful for pairs or team driving where horses working side by side must maintain consistent positions.
Historical Use and Controversy
The bearing rein was ubiquitous in Victorian carriage driving, where a high, arched head carriage was fashionable and drivers competed to achieve the most elevated neck set. It became notorious for being used to extremes — horses were sometimes held with their heads so high and tightly that they could barely swallow, breathe comfortably, or use their hindquarters effectively. Anna Sewell’s novel Black Beauty, published in 1877, brought widespread public attention to the cruelty of the bearing rein and is credited with helping shift opinion against its most extreme uses.
In modern traditional driving, the bearing rein is still used in some show classes but under far more controlled standards, with welfare guidelines that prohibit the extremes of the Victorian era. The British Horse Society and the FEI both provide guidance on acceptable bitting and rein arrangements in competition driving.
Modern Driving Context
In contemporary carriage driving competition — including combined driving events sanctioned by the FEI — bearing reins are permitted in prescribed formats for specific classes but are strictly regulated. The overcheck rein, when used, must allow the horse sufficient freedom of movement to work correctly through its back and hindquarters. A horse held too tightly cannot develop the impulsion needed for high-level competition work.
Working with a correctly fitted bearing rein in the context it was designed for — traditional showing classes and period turnout competitions — is a legitimate part of the discipline. As with all equine equipment, it is the skill and judgment of the handler that determines whether the tool is used appropriately or harmfully. Related reading: Driving, Draw Reins, and Martingale.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the bearing rein cruel?
The bearing rein itself is not inherently cruel, but its misuse has a well-documented history of causing pain and physical harm. A bearing rein adjusted to allow the horse freedom to carry its head naturally while maintaining a presentable outline in harness is very different from a Victorian bearing rein cranked tight enough to restrict breathing. Modern welfare standards draw a clear distinction between appropriate use in traditional driving contexts and the extreme applications that characterised the nineteenth century. As with any piece of equipment that restricts movement, the key factor is fit and adjustment.
Do modern dressage horses use anything similar to a bearing rein?
Modern ridden dressage uses training methods — not mechanical restraint — to develop the correct head and neck carriage. Auxiliary reins such as draw reins or side reins may be used as training aids on the lunge, but the goal is always to use them as a temporary guide rather than a permanent fix. The FEI and national federations prohibit or strictly regulate training aids in competition, and the use of any aid that restricts natural movement contrary to training scale principles is discouraged in good horsemanship practice.
Where is the bearing rein still used today?
The bearing rein remains in use in traditional showing classes for harness horses and in period turnout competitions that recreate historical driving styles. It is also used in some forms of harness racing, particularly in North America, where the overcheck rein is standard equipment and horses are trained and conditioned to carry the higher head position it creates. Outside these specific contexts, it is not a standard feature of modern equestrian practice.