Introducing side reins

Cop-Pop

Cop-Pop

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I started lunging my pony in November last year. She's 9 and has only been used as a broodmare/companion. She's walked out in hand three times a week up the hill and lunged twice a week off the head collar as she is very resistant to a bridle!!

I want to build up topline for showing this summer but I'm not sure when to introduce side reins. She is only just starting to go in circles on the lunge after three months - she seems to be finding it hard mentally to work and I don't want to damage her at all.

I bought her at the end of July so she had three months of walking in hand up the hill before I started lunging her, so it's not like I suddenly introduced her to working. She was bored as a companion and loves walking out up the hill etc.
 
will you be showing in hand in a bitless bridle? I guess you could put side reins on to a headcollar (do you mean lungeing cavesson?), but i think I would persevere with getting her used to a bridle. Perhaps in the meantime, feed her hay from the floor, put hard feed (if she has any) in a bucket hooked over door and start strapping her. And depending how energetic/mad you are you could trot up the hill?!?
 
With youngsters, I always get them used to wearing a bridle when they are in a safe stable (where they cannot get it caught on anything) Just 1/2 hr a day with no pressure on the bit so they learn that the feel of the bit in their mouth is nothing to be afraid of.

Then put side rains on high up on the roller but fairly loose so they start getting used to a cosistent feel on the bit, but again, not too loose that they can get caugt up and make sure you are around. Again, just in the stable so they are not expected to work with them on just yet.

Then start walking them in hand with the leadrope attached to the headcollar and the sidereins on the bit so they understand they can still walk fowards and there will be no sudden jerking on the bit.

Then once they are happy with this, start lunging with them on and you can gradually tighten them as the horse gets more confident.

This process usually only takes about 2 weeks, but with an older horse who already has an aversion to them, it might take a bit longer.

I do use sidereins, but don't necessarily think they assist in building up topline - lots of work under saddle or in a possoa working long and low will probably be of more benefit.

I would get the horse used to side reins on the lunge first tho.

x
 
my trainer taught me always to start them with just the inside side rein first, for at least the first few times. sounds weird, but it prevents them from panicking and thinking backwards (they so obviously have a way out), and it gets them looking for the inside rein contact and thinking of inside bend from the start.
 
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