advice please, side reins

[LadyRascasse]

right on the lunge my girl goes fantastic in side reins really move nicely, on the contact working through her backend etc. however today i decided to get on and walk her round after lunging, took the side reins off got on as she started her normal rountine of leaning on my hands and argueing about where her head should be. soi got off and put the side reins back on (not something i would normally do) and got back on again. she started working really nicely not leaning on my hands or the side reins, tried a little trot and again she was holding herself beautiful not leaning on either reins.

now my question is how do i get her to do this without the use of side riens and why does she do that when you put the side riens on?

 

[Lippyx]

Where do you attach the side reins? Normally you would thread them through the girth straps, which is fine. But if you think about where your hands would be when you ride and where the contact is when the side reins are on, they are completely different!
What about trying to have the side reins towards the top of the saddle, so they are almost in the same postion as your reins if you were riding her?
Have you thought about using a bungee? I got one of these from Ebay for £10 and used it instead of side reins (you can ride with it too) attached it to the D'rings and it was brilliant!

 

[LadyRascasse]

yer i have used a bungie not as good as side reins on her, i have a JW training rein maybe i could try that attaced to the saddle, but that is still using gadgets. i wanna teach her not to rely on the use of gadgets

 

[angela_l_b]

How about a market harborough, which you can use safely when ridden, and the horse gets used to the idea that when you take a contact they move their nose towards the chest rather than leaning on you or fighting with their head up. Obviously it's still a gadget and you have to get rid of it eventually but it's a more elastic contact that you control through your hands rather than just a fixed line between your girth and the bit. I tend to use it for a short time and then take it off.

 

[fornema]

Have you tried rein aids or carl hesters elastic reins? They are supposed to stop the horse leaning as small amount of elastic in it like in side reins

 

[treena]

the trick is to think how the side reins work. are you using plain leather ones or ones with a ring or an elastic insert. if you give your horse something to lean on it will do so. try riding her with a supporting outside rein, and leg. your inside rein needs to be elastic, this doesnt mean pull and let go. try giving little vibrations down the rein while using your inside leg to ride her forward into your outside hand. if you keep the bit moving softly and genly over her tongue you will find that she has nothing to lean on. you may find that she does try and resist this to start with by putting her head in the air, keep persisting, and ride her forwards into your contact. the second she gives and relaxes into the contact, allow the hand forward and still to reward her. this may take time and perserverence but it will pay off in the end. side reins do have there place but dont be fooled into thinking that your mare is always working properly in them. it may look pretty but if she is not working fully from behind into the contact, its a false outline. keep trying and im sure you will get there. good luck