Artifical aids

P

Pidge

Well-Known Member
Joined
29 June 2005
Messages
5,088
Visit site
Ok so I've never been a fan of artifical aids, just how I was taught I suppose! Well have been struggling somewhat on the flat with Pidge, he gets very keen once had a canter, leans on the left etc etc. So had sort of resolved to only do a few dressage this year and concentrate on his jumping which is very good.
Well last night had a lesson as normal but instructor had suggested we fit side reins to his girth and then on to the bit. They were done on the longest setting and when he was in an outline they were nice and loose. So had an absolutely FAB lesson, no leaning, lovely outline and the trot work was fantastic, he was actually using his back end properly and started to lift, kept going at one point despite being knackered as it felt so good
grin.gif
Had one small canter and it was like I was riding a different horse. Instructor has advised me to continue using the side reins fitted like this for his schooling. I'm going to do this as I feel like we could do dressage if he can work like he did last night. The only problem I have is that I feel like I'm cheating somehow. So was after other peoples thoughts on this please?
 
Riding in side reins? To me these are dangerous I think you would acheive more from doing lots of transitions etc to improve his balance and acceptance. I would rather use draw reins to ride in I would never contemplate side reins though
 
I dont particularly like side reins in any capacity as I dont think they do much (aside from encourage the horse to curl through the neck in an incorrect way - generally by being incredibly over bent - and encourage bend through the neck rather than the whole body).

However, I would never ever contemplate riding in them from a safety point of view. You in effect have a tie from the horses mouth to it's girth. Should something happen, be it that the horse trips, spooks badly or so on, at the very best, the side reins are going to snatch at its mouth and give it a damn good tug. At worse, you could end up, imo, with a horse coming over on you.

I hate draw reins with a passion, but at least with those, the rider can ease off and break the connection between head and girth. In side reins, should something happen, you have no chance to break that connection.
 
sorry perhaps description wasn't clear enough - fitted on girth like where the breastplate goes and then straight up the chest o the bit. Similar to draw reins but not controlled by my hands but by the horse direct.
 
hadn't thought of that as have never used any of these before. Instructor didn't want to use draw reins as she wanted Pidge to realise he was pulling against himself not me - sorry difficult to explain.

ETS: am open for alternative suggestions from people who know more about these than me as if these are not good from a safety aspect then I'm not keen on using them.
 
Still incredibly dangerous! Draw reins might be a better alternative- at least then you are in control of them?!
You can have them attached to the same place- and loose like the side reins
smile.gif


Back to original post- I have no problem with artificial/ schooling aids as I think they have their place- I disagree with the need to rely on/ use them to take shortcuts though.

smile.gif
 
Have you tried a stronger bit? I currently do all my flatwork in a pelham and it has made a huge difference as I no longer get hauled all over the place while he is unbalanced in canter. Horse is now building up correct muscles and is learning to carry himself far more effectively than he would in a snaffle. As soon as he can carry himself around the arena without breaking or getting unbalanced he can go back to being schooled in the snaffle. I find him far more effective at dressage comps when he is back in the snaffle.
Everything has its place and if it works for you then great but if you take it off and nothing changes after a couple of weeks then its not worth carrying on.
 
I do lunge in side reins attached halfway down his side as opposed to under his belly.
If I used draw reins (can't believe I've actually said that!) how do you use them? Like a double bridle or just held together as though holding one rein? Do they come in different lengths or is it standard? Do they have an elastic insert like side reins? help please?
 
If your instructor is dead set on you using them, is there no chance you can have lunge lessons for this? And i do understand what you're saying in regards to why she chose sidereins.

The thing is though, you need the horse to work into your hands, which should be considerably higher than the sidereins (regardless of which position they are in). Primary reason for this is that its what creates a true outline (as in up up not down down
smile.gif
) Attaching the side reins to the girth a) pulls the horses head downwards and b) if they then drop loose you have a piece of strapping wafting around quite close to his front legs.

Just dont go tipping both you and horsey upside down!
smile.gif
You could both end up in a mess.
 
Ridint in side reins the way you have described is dangerous if something scares him and he chucks his head up and tries to run he cant, and will get a hefty tug in the gob for his troubles, which could cause all sorts of untold trouble and panic to him. Are there not other training aids which do a similar thing but also arent draw reins? Im not a big fan myself as dont think they ever give a true outline, that you would get after 4028 million transitions, a pain in the bum, but it really will work eventually!
 
about to run out of quota time at work
mad.gif
he hates his pelham as have a rubber one. He is currently in a loose ring or a fulmer kk snaffle (have both). 16.3hh ISH 600kg. What other bits would help to stop him leaning?
 
Sounds like he needs to come up in front and push through more with his bum, making him lighter in front....... transitions again i'd suggest, and lots of them.
 
IMHO using side reins like this is exactly the same as using a harbridge - exept a cheaper option! it is no more dangerous than riding in a bungee and depending on the riders hands probably less dangerous than draw reins (i have seen a rider panic, pick up the reins - over tighten the draw reins and cause a horse to go over backwards)

sorry to sound so ademant (sp) and while i agree that side reins used in their 'traditional' position arnt really suitable for riding, when used as described above is just a cheaper alternative to a well marketed and widely used 'training aid'
 
Copper roller snaffle, waterford snaffle or even a bridoon snaffle works well. I would suggest a kimblewick but if he hates a pelham you are perhaps better off with the other things I have mentioned.
 
I agree with lec, i'd try a different bit. Get some serious half halts going also.

Lunging in side reins isnt particularly productive either. What you create is a fixed line between the girth and the horse's mouth. The horse then evades this by curling in... it doesnt stretch forward and take the bit as is correct. Also, if you're of the school that uses the inside rein slightly shorter than the outside, you just create bend through the neck, NOT through the body, which can ultimately create issues with a horse swinging its quarters inwards slightly.

People say side reins are meant to teach the horse to work into a contact that is similar to the riders hand. This isnt true. Side reins dont mimic a riders hand unless said rider keeps a very tight, fixed and basically ungiving hand at an excessivly low position. This can also stifle your horse's natural gait and movement (which, once gone, is damn difficult to ever get back).

Do you know how to long rein out of interest?
 
Forcing a horse into an outline isnt the same as teaching them to maintain their own outline/balance.
If shes strong why not try lunging in a pessoa or similar? This will bring her up in front but also allows the correct muscles to build to actually hold herself without leaning in your hand.

Lots of lateral work will help stop her leaning, leg yield off a circle or quarters in down the long side. Also lots of transitions work. Perhaps try a different bit if very strong?

Unfortunatley side/draw reins are only a quick fix and arent going to actually stop the horse doing it. Needs to learn not to and strengthen muscles up to make it easier.
smile.gif
 
i agree with tierra. I never use side reins, they provide an unnatural outline and can make the horse lean. They also dont encourage the horse to work nicely from behind and can often make them on the forehand. Its also quite dangerous to ride in them imo.....
 
I had a terrible leaner and I put him in a french link instead of a normal snaffle and this seemed to break his ability to lean.

Of course had to back this up with hundreds of transitions in the long run too...

Totally hate draw reins - cause more probs than they fix and only used side reins when lunging.
 
I have ridden with the side reins on like this and would agree that it is similar to a harbridge. Prefer to use draw reins for the fact that you can give if you need to.
 
OMG!! NEVER EVER use side reins to ride in - much much to harsh and quite dangerous. If there is no give, the horse could rear..... I won't go into it.

Draw reins are much better if you need to use something to stop the horse leaning. I use mine a lot and they really help.
 
Rightly or wrongly I've known a very well respected trainer do exactly as Pidge has described with great effect, and is similar to a harbridge. In a school environment, and aslong as horse is relatively well belanced, IMHO is alot better way of encouraging the horse than a relatively novice rider using draw reins incorrectly. Side reins fitted correctly give the horse release when behave as required, draw reins in correct hands don't. Sorry, i dont see the problem.
 
[ QUOTE ]
IMHO using side reins like this is exactly the same as using a harbridge - exept a cheaper option! it is no more dangerous than riding in a bungee and depending on the riders hands probably less dangerous than draw reins (i have seen a rider panic, pick up the reins - over tighten the draw reins and cause a horse to go over backwards)

sorry to sound so ademant (sp) and while i agree that side reins used in their 'traditional' position arnt really suitable for riding, when used as described above is just a cheaper alternative to a well marketed and widely used 'training aid'

[/ QUOTE ]


I agree!! x
 
It still "puts" the horse in an incorrect and UNtrue outline, for a quick fix maybe, but nope I wouldnt use them if I could possibly help it....
 
P_G!! Thanks! A lot of people don't like draw reins but its cos they don't understand how to use them.

I know how to use my draw reins and they only come into action when the horse evades. My trainer uses them a lot as well but he is German - I guess that says it all!!
 
I am not keen on gadgets. My daughters instructor suggested trying a market harborough (think thats how you spell it), you can vary the action and you are in control of it. She used it a lot for the first few weeks and now just uses it occasionaly. The prob with gadgets is often peole put them on and that is that. The horse doesnt learn to use itself, it just learns to avoid the discomfot the gadget induces. If what you are using is short term then great, but ultimately a long term solution is needed. I agree with trying french link to prevent leaning.
 
I can see what you are saying there Millbrook. But do you not think then that its not the gadgets that are wrong, its that people are not being educated to use them effectively??????

There is a good reason why these gadgets are invented - other than money making
grin.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top