long reining in side reins

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riding_high

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just wondered what people thought about this and if it was beneficial?

my horse doesn't really work properly from behind, he's an older horse (17/18yrs old) and suffers from arthritis, i can't lunge him due to other problems he has and it puts too much pressure on his joints so i thought about long reining him with side reins on and see if it helps him to work properly so that when i ride him he should be stronger in his back?

what are your thoughts on this?
 
As no one has replied, I will.

All side reins will achieve used in this way is strapping his head in. It will have no benefit whatsoever. The only way to encourage outline is to be ridden/ lunged forwards into the bridle. Outline comes from behind first and foremost.

Can't see there will be any benefit of long reining either to achieve your particular goal.

It is a shame that you cannot lunge as this is a good way to build and maintain muscles.

Maybe some lessons would help.
 
Agree with Asterid re the side reins but you can achieve the same results from long reining as you can riding, ie forwards into the bridle to achieve an outline, and so should strengthen his back for when you ride. You can also long rein on a circle and it doesn't put as much strain on the joints as lunging does because it is more balanced from both sides (I hope that makes sense)
 
It sounds as if he isn't working properly for a reason - his arthritis. Seems a shame to try to get an older horse working more in a way which he finds difficult/painful... what about carrot stretches and massage to try to help his back muscles?
 
I have to dissagree with the above statements. Sidereins do NOT have to be used to 'tie a horse's head in' if used correctly they can be a very useful aid. Fit them loose and encourage the horse to stretch down into the contact as you would if you were on board.

I do have to say that whilst a bit of theraputic exercise can do arthritics the world of good, I wouldn't go overboard.
 
thanks for the replies, he only gets ridden for about 20 minutes each time about 4 times a week, the vet is more than happy with that and said that he's coping fine with it, it's the work that's keeping him happy and going, he likes to work!

my lad has only ever hunted until i got him and then he became a happy hacker, it suits us both. he's never been schooled as such so doesn't know what is what and i don't expect him to know or do too much so no worries there!

he gets a regular massage and does his carrot stretches (well polo stretches!) so is quite 'flexible' in that way.
when ridden we just 'mooch/loaf' around the place either in the arena or out hacking and i can feel he's not really using himself as well as i know he could.

for the long reining it would only be about 10 minutes of work in walk on the days i don't get to ride him or even give up a day riding for the long reining.
he wasn't ridden last year due to lymphangitis (bad case of it) and also a possible tear to the DDFT hence why he's only doing a little bit of work, he got so depressed when not being ridden the vet said to introduce it slowly and see if he cheers up, he has done! been doing the above routine of ridden work for about a month now.
 
I quite agree that being ridden and working gently will help him - no qualms about that. My question was really just that I don't understand why you feel you want him to work better - it doesn't sound as if you're going to be competing him at all, so why worry about the quality of the way in which he is working? I mean, I know if he works in a good frame and is muscled up properly he will be better equipped to carry a rider, but as your horse ages you've got to weigh that up against what he can do.

To give a similie, my mum now bends from the waist when lifting a heavy object, because her knees aren't strong enough do to age and wear and tear to do the safe lift which is recommended by HSE - So I'm just wondering if your horse's way of going, whilst not to the officiall standards - is actually just a way which he finds comfortable and efficient, and in which case it shouldnt' matter to try to get him working "better", especailly if that means you are going to be challenging arthritic joints in ways which they won't really like. If you understand what i'm trying to say.

Having said that you're obviously very conscientious and know your horse well, so I'm sure whatever you choose will be best for him :)
 
thanks Naturally, i understand what you are saying! like you said it was a sort of 'observation' as to how he moves and i was thinking that maybe if he was using the right muscles when ridden he would/could do more of the ridden work for longer.

i've heard so much lately about getting horses to work properly that it made me think about getting mine to do it to the best he could manage, but like you said he has probably always worked like this and is now comfortable in his way of working so why change it. thanks
 
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