Lunging with side reins between front legs...

[sfward]

Could someone who uses this method please explain what equipment you use and how - ie. would you run the side reins from the roller through the legs to the bit rings and then lunge from a cavesson? Or would you attach the side reins to a cavesson to prevent jerking on the mouth? And how tight/loose would you adjust the side reins?
I assume the benefits of this is strengthening the horse over its back?
thanks

 

[Bossanova]

A better method Imho is to lunge with draw reins like this which loop across just behind the wither then go down, between the legs and clip onto the bit. Really gets them working properly

 

[H-J]

I lunge mine like this - I put them on the ring on the roller in between their legs then clip the the clips on to the bit.

Have always lunged ALL mine like this and they have all had great/correct muscle and good toplines

 

[Madam_max]

I always lunge like this. My MT roller has a clip in between the front legs.

 

[sfward]

Yes, I think it was your post that gave me the idea in the first place!

how tight do you adjust the side reins please? and do you lunge off the bit also? (bearing in mind mine tends to 'sit' on the lunge line to the left so a cavesson can be better for her...)

 

[sfward]

Can't quite visualise what you're doing here, but I used to lunge in draw reins, mine had loops instead of clips on each end so the surcingle would go through these, then between the legs, through the bit rings and attach to the top of the surcingle... is that sort of what you mean?!

 

[H-J]

[ QUOTE ]
Yes, I think it was your post that gave me the idea in the first place!

how tight do you adjust the side reins please? and do you lunge off the bit also? (bearing in mind mine tends to 'sit' on the lunge line to the left so a cavesson can be better for her...)

[/ QUOTE ]

I lunge off the bit, I thread it through the bit and onto the roller to encourage a bit of inside bend on each rein.

And I start loose and tighten as they warm up

 

[sfward]

Great, thank you. Think I will give it a go this evening. I usually thread my line through the bit to the roller as well, although as my mare likes to sit on the line to the left it ends up shortening her neck up as the more she leans the more the line shortens, not ideal!

 

[Bossanova]

Like this-

It's very effective and is more even than side reins as the continuous loop across the back creates even tension. The horse cant lean as it will be pulling down onto its own back! Also no need for a roller for quick and easy.

 

[Bananaman]

That's really interesting Boss.

A friend who is into Western came for a lesson last week with an attachment like that but she was riding, not lungeing, and either rested the rein on the withers as in your pic or held it in her hand.
She reckons it is much better than draw reins as it mainly encourages a lowering of the neck not shortening as well.
I was a little concerned that the skin by the elbow might get rubbed but they were quite loose most of the time.

 

[Bossanova]

Thats why we use them- the horses dont tuck in the nose, they always stretch out and forward

Never had one get rubbed elbows but we dont lunge for more than 30 mins twice a week very tops

 

[huskimo12]

I think i am still being very dull but dont quite get how you attach the lunge through the one side and then across the back???

sorry for being so dense

 

[Bossanova]

The lunge line clips onto the bit/goes over the head/onto a cavesson, however you normally do it. This arrangement is for draw reins so the bit where you'd normally hold the draw reins goes at the wither and the clips go onto the bit rings. You can tighten it by putting a knot in at the wither

 

[sfward]

Oh I see, interesting... Would probably be tricky with my draw reins as I have some old fashioned leather ones with loops on the end instead of clips!

this is how I do mine usually: (sorry couldn't work out how to delete your pink lines!)

The loops attach to the surcingle under the belly then through the bit rings and attach again at the wither, with a knot to tighten. Would this have a similar effect...? With mine I find she needs something along the outside of her neck as otherwise she curls her neck too much to the inside and throws her quarters out.

This is what happened last night when I tried the side reins experiment!