Side reins?

dwi

dwi

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I'm aware that many of you will say don't put a gadget on your horse, it needs to come from your riding, but I was curious to ask you all something...

I lunged Daisy in side reins tonight rather than loose or in a pessoa and noticed that she softened nicely onto the bit rather than giraffing or fighting it. We got some really sensible work over trotting poles and she started to use her back nicely.

Could I try schooling her in loose side reins to help me get the "feel" of how she should be working on the reins? We've got plenty of impulsion coming from behing now but I still struggle to get that elusive sensation of her softening rather than going above the bit. We have fleeting moments but I don't seem able to sustain the correct amount of hold through the reins. She would be in an enclosed manege so not likely to spook or trip, if I only put them on quite losely would it really be any worse than riding her in a running martingale as presumably they would only coming into action if she was really evading?

I am having regular lessons, I'm not trying to substitute hard work but am curious to know whether they might have their place in this instance...

*runs and hides before the bun fight starts*
 
well as much as people on here will tell you no, i got told to do so by my instructor, as this kept me of her mouth, she didnt rush off, and it really helped.

ide definatly recommend it but just be careful of the ground etc incase its slippy.

*runs and hides with you!*
 
My old dressage instructor used to ride in side reins....see, I would think that they were much better than draw reins as they have the fixed pressure, so the rider can't tighten and tighten until it gets silly. I think actually, I may try riding in them on Friday.Yup, I'm running too...but wait....lots of people have looked at this thread....hmmm...maybe we are safe?? (ooh...a knock on the door...)

No, seriously, I think that they may help to make it feel right and will stop the stiffening that I get through my hands and stopping me fiddle?

Hehe, really need another lesson...

Why would the ground being slippy make a difference tho MFE? Aside from that the horse would fall over (ponio does that anyway....need studs...see earlier post)
 
Well, you can do whatever you like, and judge fit with your own horse.
The BHS view (as I understand it) is that it is considered dangerous to ride in side reins unless on the lunge, in case your horse backs up (you can't release them).
The other problem though, is that using side reins in walk and canter can adversely affect the quality of the paces (as they restrict the free forwards movement of the neck and thus start to create tensions).
I'm not saying don't do it, though - that's your call (I wouldn't, though - I'd use something like a de Gogue instead).
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They clip onto D rings. so I would think almost as easily releasable almost as draw reins ....sort of.
So....sorry, how are they ok to lunge, but not to ride?
Oooh dear, sorry, being idiotic.

What does the de gouge do...I thought that was also not suitable for riding in?
 
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They clip onto D rings. so I would think almost as easily releasable almost as draw reins ....sort of.
So....sorry, how are they ok to lunge, but not to ride?
Oooh dear, sorry, being idiotic.

What does the de gouge do...I thought that was also not suitable for riding in?

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How do you mean your side reins clip onto D rings? When using them on the lunge, with a rider, it is usually the girth they are attached to, if you mean that end?
I believe they are ok to lunge in because you have a qualified instructor who is in control of the horse, sending it forward with a lunge whip if it should start to back up. That's the theory as I understand it. And regarding the paces - most lunge work is of fairly short duration, and the horse is often warmed up/walked without the side reins on...or they are loosened for the walk/canter. You'd have to get on and off to do that ridden though.
You can't ride in a Chambon, but can in a de Gogue....my powers of explanation are not up to de Gogue workings...let me see if I can find a link to a picture instead....
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what i meant is if they slip or anything, they cant get theyre head, wasnt being a no it all sorry
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just i knew when harmony trips or slips she sorts her self out quickly but her heads everwhere!
 
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what i meant is if they slip or anything, they cant get theyre head, wasnt being a no it all sorry
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just i knew when harmony trips or slips she sorts her self out quickly but her heads everwhere!

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Yes, good point< MFE.
You wouldn't be able to 'slip the reins' if your horse lost balance/stumbled...this might lead to a fall.
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I attach them to the girth, but she did it to the D rings? more up/collected.

Yes, I loosen by two holes for canter, but not for walk - but I have the sort of animal where you can do this whilst riding - she's a sweetie. Got to read your post a bit better, then will reply accordingly!

Oooh, ust looked understand what you mean, and also thing about them slipping...to tell you the truth, depends where they are on the girth? If above saddle straps, aren't going to slip, and also easy to undo?

Hmph, may have to try it on Friday and see how it goes...will get bf to take photos....anyway,,,, at least better than draw reins!
 
I'd prefer to ride in draw reins rather than side reins as if the horse rears or stumbles you can release the pressure and give it its head.

A friend of mines' horse fell over in the school when being ridden in side reins and friend broke her thumb. The horse was having a hissy fit about its head being tied in too much, lost its balance and fell into the fence.

I'd rather have had the option of draw reins for a horse like hers as she could've let go and the horse would've kept its feet.
 
Hmmm...yeah. Not sure. With draw reins though, there is the fact that you can baically be holding onto them instead of normal reins?

Yeah, hard between the two......side means that you can;t fix, draw, possibi.ity of problems...
 
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Hmmm...yeah. Not sure. With draw reins though, there is the fact that you can baically be holding onto them instead of normal reins?

Yeah, hard between the two......side means that you can;t fix, draw, possibi.ity of problems...

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I really think you'd be safer/better with de Gogues or even draw reins (much as I dislike them).
And I'm not sure that attaching the side reins to the D rings at the pommel for 'collection' makes sense with a horse which obviously doesn't know how to work softly in an outline, engaging behind....where collection comes from...
Goodnight.
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Echo shilasdair on this. Attaching sidereins to the d rings for a higher degree of collection makes absolutly no sense. You'll only get collection if the horse is working correctly. If its working correctly, theres no need for side reins
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Dwi - I personally wouldnt ride in them as i dont like the concept of there being a solid connection holding the horse's head down. Even when loose, if a horse loses his or her balance, the first thing that usually happens is the head and neck shoot up. You have zero control over this connection and aside from ending up in a heap, you could potentially wreck your horses mouth.

In regards to the lunging. Some will appear to work better in side reins than pessoas because a pessoa jabs them in the mouth with every stride. The pulley system means the horses own hind leg system snags at the mouth each stride. Most horses will just over bend as a result of this and tuck their heads behind the verticle in an attempt to evade the jabbing. Some go mental and fight it at every possible step
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Side reins, while im not a fan really, dont have the constant jabbing action that the pessoa does, so its quite easy to see why she might appear more content in her mouth.

Either way be aware that side reins will not make her work correctly so using them to gain some kind of insight into how she should feel is kinda futile. The only real insight you'll gain is how it feels to have a lowered head and neck, but neither are going to be in the correct place that you;re aiming for when riding. Does that make sense? What you dont want is to hop on, have a horse whos got a curved neck due to the side reins and think thats what you're aiming for.
 
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Either way be aware that side reins will not make her work correctly so using them to gain some kind of insight into how she should feel is kinda futile. The only real insight you'll gain is how it feels to have a lowered head and neck, but neither are going to be in the correct place that you;re aiming for when riding. Does that make sense? What you dont want is to hop on, have a horse whos got a curved neck due to the side reins and think thats what you're aiming for.

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Absolutely agree, Lance was schooled incorrectly, side reins/draw reins, and quickly learned that tucking his head in prettily stopped him being fussed with.He still did wel at dressage but there is another issue!
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There is a World of difference between having a horse going around with its head tucked in, and Feeling when the horse is working correctly over its back. The power, softness and impulsion, you cant get that from strapping a horse's head into place!
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Yep! Agree with you!

The other issue for me is that unschooling a horse that over bends is worse (imo), than schooling a horse that star gazes. Both are evasions and neither should be encouraged. You'll get there Dwi
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Its a long road
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How about a pony who was working wel, was umped for 2 years with no schooling, tried to do the softly approach to no end? I used to be able to get her working nicely,a and now nose in air, and no contact! Draw reins worked a treat today, when I took em off she was beginning to learn again....ho bum...
 
If she hasnt been schooled right for two years she wont have the muscles to allow her to work correctly. It can take two years for these to build up (but for more advanced work).

Draw reins just drag the head down and inwards in most cases. You take them off and frequently, the head will stay there
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Tis why if you work in them enough you get horses with almost a rubber neck syndrome that just keep their heads in a constant (and incorrect) position.
 
Pony was in a 3 ring, put her back ina snaffle to soften...and had brakes but nothing through neck/back. In draw reins today., good through back, still not great through neck but did better ....did 5 mins off, 5 on, and loved the stetching!

Why incorrect? If not held tight, then (if working thorugh) back is correct? Je ne sais pas. Got to sleep now! Tierrra, good for input tho, I haven't ridden really for 3-4 years, got unschooled pony back with no balance,so not just trying the quick fix....dont bo**ox me..:-)Im longlinisng and tring not to be toooooo bad....
 
Where I ride they frequently use side-reins on the horses (especially when beginners are riding) but the side-reins are on very loose and I mean very and attached to the girth. The horses tend to stretch down into them as they are constant and then the rider can focus on getting the horse to use it's back end and by way or effect it's back and then can work through. There is a risk of them rearing, yes, but they are on so loose that the horse normally doesn't notice when he/she is not actively looking for them. They really do need to be loose though, nowhere near the length that one would use for lunging.

Hope this helps.
 
Yes you can, just dont clip them on before you actually get on. Its a very useful excercise to get the right feel but dont cheat and use it all the time
 
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