Side Reins - good or bad?

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Gorgeous George

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What are people's views on side reins for lunging/riding? George tends to poke his nose in canter a lot making him quite strong and yesterday someone suggested introducing him to side reins to help. I always thought that strapping a horse down artifically won't help, but am I wrong?
 
No I wouldn't use them to deal with nose poking, something like a pessoa would encourage the horse more to form a nicer outline.

I do use them loosely on one of mine as she has a tendency to turn in and they help to keep her on the right track
 
Firstly, I'd never ride in side reins. You're essentially tying a horse down which, if something happens, can be catastrophic. Draw reins at least allow the rider to release the contact in the event of an emergency... side reins do not.

On the lunge they can stifle your horses paces making it very hard to "fix" them again.... and similarly with riding, unless you're very good, they can wreck the outline.

Secondly, unless used by someone very experienced, side reins will do nothing other than help a horse to evade a contact, become over bent or to lean onto them creating a horse even more on the forhand than before.

From what i understand you're a first time horse owner? If so, stay well clear of the gadgets and gizmos. If you want him schooling correctly, either find a good trainer or have someone else do it. Theres no quick fixes
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Right that's exactly what I thought so thanks for clarifying it! I must start to filter people at the yards well meaning advice and not be so gulible and just do my own thing, must just enjoy my lovely boy and stop worrying that he looks a bit of a donkey in the school!
 
Would agree with the last 2 replies in that side reins being fixed, encourage leaning or curling up, both of which are even harder to fix than the nose poking!

Don't be 'bullied' into doing things with him you don't want to do, however, you do need to school him correctly otherwise he will develop incorrect muscles which will be difficult to sort a year or two down the line when perhaps you want to compete.

My advice would be to invest in some good instruction, ideally from someone prepared to get on him every so often so they can feel what he's doing and help YOU get him going the right way.

BTW the only gaget I use for lungeing is a Pessoa and swear by it but was shown how to use it properly by a qualified physio. A good instructor would do the same for you if he needs it.
 
Thanks, I have lessons once a fortnight (can't afford more often) from a qualified and I think good instructor and she will get on George for me if necessary to see what's going on. When I lunge him I actually long rein with the reins through a roller and this really seems to help, only do this once a week though. One day in the distant future I would like to do a very novice dressage test at a show, so i would like to make sure I'm working towards that in the correct way.
 
Only do what makes YOU feel comfortable, and you'll know yourself what's right or wrong for george.

Side reins are handy used loosly when you're breaking a horse to teach then the feel of having contact on the bit, but not really much else. I never use them unless they're loose enough for the horse to properly stretch their neck, and I always use them clipped up on a lungeing roller in the position the reins would be in.

As someone else saud, if you use them incorrectly then they can encourage muscles in all the wrong places. Try and keep things as natural as possible with him, he'll thank you for it!

I also recommend a pessoa. I think they're fabulous (and I hate things like this normally). Get an instructor or experienced Yard owner to show you how to use one. They work by encouraging the horse to work in a natural outline, and encouraging muscle in the right places.
 
Bri, a pony at the RS puts her head down alot to avoid the bit.

Instead of side reins she has two pieces of baling twine. They work just aswell and they can be snapped easily or cut if needs be. She's never jumped in them though and only ever does flatwork in them. I've ridden her in them and found it alot easier when she was without them to be honest.
 
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