side reins????

jenbleep

jenbleep

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i dont know if im allowed to do this but hey......

i found this on a website today:

"If you are trying to create a very long low stretch with a deep profile then the (side) reins can be attached side by side in between the horse's front legs looped around the girth then up to each bit ring."

ive never seen this before, does anyone do it? do you think its ok and it works? and how the hell do you fit them this way??
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*i dont do a lot of lunging obvs!*
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I've seen them used like this, it isnt too bad if its done properly, encourages them to drop instead of becoming hollow and picking their heads up. just put both side reins where your martingale sits under the girth then attach to the bit
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castle mouse is that two side reins? two on each side?

from the quote i found i think it meant just straight from the girth to the bit, one rein each side as per usual

(???)
 
I have actually used side reins before going from between the legs to the bit rings, like a harbridge. My side reins are really elasticated btw. It worked well at getting him long and low, but I still prefer my Pessoa!
 
seahorse im going to get a pessoa cus i think theyre amezzing - but need to save up first!! better put some of my wages away, get paid wed
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so does that work then? putting the side reins between the legs instead of the girth straps? of course i would make them loose, the last thing i want to do is strap him down poor thing
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Yes it does work, but it will make them work very low. I've even ridden in them like that!
Its exactly the same as a Harbridge, just make sure your side reins are elastic!!

The cheap Pessoa's off of ebay are just as good btw, or you can get one from Divoza, that's what I have.
 
Yes I school my husband's hunter in side reins like you describe as she's so heavy in my hands. Put the girth through the loopy ends of the reins and then just clip one onto each side of the bit (mine do have elastic in and are very adjustable)
Seems to work for us.
We do have various other gadgets (pessoa, harbridge etc) but this is a very quick way of achieving a similar result
 
I've used side reins like that on both my horses and prefer to work them with the reins in that position to any other. My stocky cob can't work round properly if you just put the reins from the bit to the roller as his gullet is too thick, he needs the reins lower to get him to stretch down first and then round.

My light warmblood evades stndard side rein fittings by just putting his head in the air, you'd have to do the reins very tight to get a frame out of him, and all this creates is a tense shortnecked horse so I don't do this. Instead with the reins between his legs he is alot more accepting as the contact is much looser and freer so I prefer to work him in this way to get him to stretch. Using the reins in this way, so long as not too tight gives a nice open contact that the horse seeks rather than being forced into, it is very good for getting a horse to stretch down and work in a more active and free manner.
 
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