Like people, no two horses are the same but similar problems can occur across equestrian disciplines. Racehorse trainer Timothy O’Keeffe has a number of point-to-point wins under his belt and has competed in races and showjumped in Australia, but despite his experience, the behaviour of one particular horse left him scratching his head.

From a sheep and cattle farm with racing facilities in east Cork, Timothy was struggling to control his five year-old thoroughbred and with nothing suitable on the market, he decided to create an equestrain training aid.

With an idea and mediocre expectations, Timothy purchased a few pieces of equipment and created the very first ReinRite, a training aid that helps to calm the horse when riding and supports them in building the correct muscle.

ReinRites pictured at Timothy's farm in East Cork.

Unconsciously, Timothy was taking the first step in his business venture, which would see him achieving a legendary status in the equestrian industry.

“I came up with the idea of ReinRite with a mare called Emilyano, she was completely out of control. I couldn’t ride her anymore as her head was too high and she was running away and sweating all the time. I wanted to get a training aid, but I didn’t like any on the market, so I went to a boat shop, bought the equipment and put the first ReinRite together.

“The first time I put ReinRite on (the horse) she completely relaxed, her head was slightly lower and she didn’t sweat up or run away; and she had a nice easy rhythm and balance. I couldn’t believe it.

“I took it off the next day and she ran away again. I went back to the training aid and she relaxed immediately. I knew then that there was something special about ReinRite.The mare built up muscle all over her body, on her top line and hind quarters from using ReinRite.

Joseph O’Brien

“I had a haylage business called Champion Haylage. I was going to Fethard one day and I was passing Ballydoyle (racehorse training establishment) and thought: ‘No one believes me about ReinRite, but this is the place that will make it’.

“I stopped at the gate and asked security if there was any way I could contact them (Aidan and Joseph O’Brien), that I had a product that works very well. They took my number and then I received a call from Ballydoyle.

Joseph O'Brien pictured at Ballydole using ReinRite.

“I went up the next morning with two (ReinRites). Three days later, Joseph rang me asking if I had anymore. He said: ‘We’ve used all the others (training aids), we find this is the best, we really like it.’ To me, that was like winning the lottery.

“I would talk with Joseph and Aidan quite a bit now, and from using ReinRite, Joseph said the horses are more relaxed, more developed and more successful.

“I also travelled to the Netherlands and met showjumper Conor Drain’s main owner, Conny Viscaal. She invited me to her yard and we did videos and pictures of Conor using ReinRite on one of the horses; that was the start of the showjumping side of things.

“Spanish rider Eduardo Alvarez Aznar recently posted a chart on his Facebook of the top 30 Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) riders in the world and there are seven who I know use ReinRite.

Building the business

“The business was launched two years ago and there are three different versions (of ReinRite). One for racehorses and one for sport horses including showjumpers and eventers – the leather is a bit shorter, and then there is a pony one, which is a little bit shorter again.

“There is one elastic coming from the girth up, it attaches onto a wheel and then there is another elastic going through on to each side of the bit and when you turn left and right, the elastic goes through the wheel. It seems to suit a horse.

“Henrietta Knight (thoroughbred trainer), she wants to write about it in a book, she feels that it is a revolution in training. She said it is like a ‘soother for a child’, and that she has never seen two-year-olds so developed because their heads are in the right outline.

Production

“I make them myself on the farm. The leather comes from England, the elastic comes from Italy and the other components come from England as well. I have to expand so I’m converting one of the sheds and will try to employ some local people and see how we go.

“My accountant Ger Motherway has been so positive from the start about ReinRite.

Conor Swail pictued at Palm Beach, Florida, using ReinRite on his horse.

“Tony Hanley Horse Supplements is selling ReinRite in Florida, it was the talk of Florida and I had to go over. Nearly everyone I met used ReinRite. People would say: ‘Oh my gosh this is the guy that makes ReinRite!’ It was amazing to hear that.

“Tony wants to put ReinRite in shops around New York, Kentucky, California and Canada, and supplement company Teun van Riel wants to put it in shops all over Europe.

“Many Irish people are in Florida and it’s amazing to meet those that left Ireland many years ago, they’re so proud that a good product has come out of Ireland.” CL

For further information, visit www.reinrite.com

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