Is it "acceptable" to..

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Tern

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.. Lunge with side reins attaching to girth of roller, through front legs and onto bit.. I tried it one day as having side reins on the side did nothing could have gone without and it'd look the same (Welsh D with high head carriage) and they weren't too loose either - they went up to her jaw (like they should) and I even tried tighter although not extremely tight anyway.. Yeah, is it acceptable? I find my mare really works well with it and I don't have to put them tight she works really long and low then is very nice under saddle as she isn't fighting when I ask her - she does it herself for most of the time just worried of getting judged by others..

Thank you, Home made Tiramisu for anyone who answers! ;)
 
As soulful said, but have you tried putting them on the side but on the girth? I often find most modern rollers do not have rings low enough to encourage a horse to stretch an work longer and lower so I often tie them onto the sides of the roller quite low down and loose and find this helps.
 
Probably similar to what I do - draw reins over the back, down behind elbows and between legs up to the bit? I think it's kerilli on here that sort of showed it - works fab to get my boy working down and stretching
 
spotty_pony said:
As soulful said, but have you tried putting them on the side but on the girth? I often find most modern rollers do not have rings low enough to encourage a horse to stretch an work longer and lower so I often tie them onto the sides of the roller quite low down and loose and find this helps.
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Yep, my roller had rins on the girth and tried putting them lower, to no avail she just fights it and has her head like a loony in the air, however when under she doesn't even try fight it.. she relaxes her head long and low.
 
Nannon said:
Probably similar to what I do - draw reins over the back, down behind elbows and between legs up to the bit? I think it's kerilli on here that sort of showed it - works fab to get my boy working down and stretching
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I've used this on a lot of horses, especially ones with a high short neck carriage, really helps them work more down. You don't need a roller, just a pop the draw reins over the back and up between the front legs onto the bit. To stop them dropping to low if your horse really drops his head I use a 'too big' neck strap.
 
Only issue is that when done loosely between the legs, if horse stretches out long and low, they can get their feet caught in the side reins. Have seen it happen.

I attach mine to the side of the girth, but low enough down to have an effect without trapping feet!
 
khalswitz said:
Only issue is that when done loosely between the legs, if horse stretches out long and low, they can get their feet caught in the side reins. Have seen it happen.

I attach mine to the side of the girth, but low enough down to have an effect without trapping feet!
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Ahh yes I see where you are going.. they are done loosely but she is never dragging her head across the floor so they are that low she can get her foot through.. is that making sense? :)
 
Tern said:
Ahh yes I see where you are going.. they are done loosely but she is never dragging her head across the floor so they are that low she can get her foot through.. is that making sense? :)
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This is an issue with this system .
If the horse is carrying it's head that low consistently I would move on to something else .
 
khalswitz said:
Only issue is that when done loosely between the legs, if horse stretches out long and low, they can get their feet caught in the side reins. Have seen it happen.
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Knew someone who had the same issue with a chambon. Her solution was to get a martingale neckstrap, attach a loop of baling string to the 'slot' part and run the chambon through the string. It kept the chambon up out of harms way if the horse put its head low but didn't interfere with the chambon's action. Hope that makes sense!

Also, isn't this side reins method basically the same principle as a Harbridge? Does the same thing happen with a Harbridge? (Never used one btw, just wondered!)
 
sav123 said:
Also, isn't this side reins method basically the same principle as a Harbridge? Does the same thing happen with a Harbridge? (Never used one btw, just wondered!)
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Yes it is. :) I think the Harbridge is basically draw reins except you have no control of when to use it.
 
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