Help needed with side reins please!

[SNORKEY]

I've started lunging my boy in side reins but he's still sticking his nose up in the air, I shortend them and he still does it. I attach them to his girth straps. He's always been ridden in an outline with no problem so I don't know why he's resisting so much on the lunge. I've read I should have a fists width between the clip and the bit when measuring them, is this correct? Is there anything else I can do?

 

[AengusOg]

Much will depend on your horse's level of fitness, as this will affect the way he is able to carry himself without discomfort or pain.

The side reins are there to encourage the horse to seek the contact of the bit, and should be shortened by increments, over a period of weeks, as he becomes more able to work in something of an outline.

It was always a rough guide to start the horse in reins which equated in length to the distance from the base of his ear to his wither, but that is only a rough guide.

 

[Cortez]

You may have the reins too high, rather than too long. Side reins should be at the level of the point of the horses shoulder (and can go even lower than that). Or you can try Vienna reins; they are very forgiving and have more give and room for the horse to find his balance.

 

[holeymoley]

I always lunge without them on first just to loosen them up and get them going forward. Then put the side reins on. If I just clipped them on right away my boy would probably evade them with his nose in the air too!