Walking in side reins

Mule

Mule

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Hello, I am planning to do a bit of lunging with my horse. I would like to focus on transitions. As he is just starting work after a few months off I want to concentrate on walk to trot transitions. I have read that the use of side reins should be avoided in walk.

My question is does this also apply to side reins that would be fitted quite long? I want to use them for straightness and to encourage stretching, as opposed to encouraging a 'frame'. He always stretches down in walk but not consistently in trot, which is why I'd like to use them.
 
The side reins would need to be very long (dangerously long) in order for the horse to be able to stretch - otherwise when he tries to stretch forward and down he will get pressure on his tongue and will have to tuck his nose in which then causes tension in the neck. This is why I don't use any gadgets. Equi Ami and passoa also cause this.

If you want the horse to learn self carriage then don't use ropes or straps lol
 
Lungeing in 2 reins would be better for stretch and bend.

Side reins are useful for one who explodes to concentrate the mind, but lungeing on 2 reins is better in just about every other circumstance.

Plus, you can change the rein frequently, go large by driving round the school.... It is a much better workout all round (both for you and the horse:D ).

The rein around the back helps remind them to step under.

I don't even usually use a bit, you can lunge on 2 reins off the side rings of the cavesson quite effectively as long as the horse is mentally well adjusted (see use of side reins above).

When I was working silly hours I would often pack the lorry on Wednesday for a Saturday comp, have Thursday off and on Friday we would long rein/lunge in 2 reins through the test a time or two. I found I could learn it and the horse never once started to predict the movements when ridden. FAB workout.

I do think that round and round on the same size circle is harmful. So, large and frequent rein changes is much better.
 
You can walk in side reins keep them low and very very Long .
I do this with some horses , you need to keep moving round the school not just go round and round in a circle .
If you take a look on you tube at Art2ride videos you will find lots of clips of side reins being used within a system that’s walking based at the start .
ETA if you tie the side reins to a leather boot lace it will break easily in a emergency .
 
lunging in two reins would be better... it;s a fantastic technique cos you can ride the horse from the ground, change the rein and do things like serpentines so the horse works more normally than round and round in a small circle.
 
Long lining (or lunging with two reins) does NOT replicate riding in any way, unless of course you ride without using your legs and seat? It's called plough reining in America, and that's a very good description of what it's for unless the horse is very advanced and able to carry himself in collection. Walking for more than a few steps through transitions in sidereins is really counterproductive and will have the opposite effect if stretching is what you want as the horse will do one or a combination of the following: shrink back and float behind the contact; "yaw" down on the reins; go hollow. The head nods in the ordinary walk (or it should!) and there is no room for it to do this on a constant contact. The head remains still in trot, so this is the working pace for lunging, and should be more or less level in canter.

The "free-est", least restrictive type of sidereins are Vienna or triangle reins, which allow a great deal of up/down movement with the head and work well for horses which are either afraid of the contact or extremely stiff and hollow. They are also easy to improvise with cord or bungee.
 
I disagree with Cortez on this the long side reins can be used to show the horse the way to the stretch and used well the horse experiments with opening the jowl .
You need the right length and of your your timing needs to good .
I also use Vienna reins but I like them less than the long side reins for walking the horse you want to open the jowl .
Once they begin to experiment you can do the work in just a bridle and a lunge line and use your timing with the whip to the ribs to push the stretch through them .
They use both side reins and Vienna reins at the Spanish Riding school .
 
I know how to lunge with two reins, but I choose not to. I can't feel the contact correctly with all that length of rein weighing down on my hand, and when the horse is circling or changing the rein, the effect of the lines on the mouth as they drape around the horse's moving hind legs must be confusing for it.
 
Tiddlypom said:
I know how to lunge with two reins, but I choose not to. I can't feel the contact correctly with all that length of rein weighing down on my hand, and when the horse is circling or changing the rein, the effect of the lines on the mouth as they drape around the horse's moving hind legs must be confusing for it.
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I was a big fan of long reining but now I agree with you. the only way I (would) do it now is on fairly short lines, direct to hand to get them out hacking out front alone-it is useful, if you're good at it, to sort some problems out under saddle and if you cant use a saddle for any reason. for schooling I'd only do it with a proper roller that can mimic hand position-I used to dabble with lateral work etc on long reins but am way out of practice. mostly when I see horses being lunged on two reins I see horses massively on the forehand with the bit working in the wrong place.
 
I tried it yesterday before I read the replies. He did stretch nicely in the walk with a big overtrack but I might just work in trot in side reins to avoid risking him feeling constricted.
Im not experienced with lunging so want to be careful.

I can fashion some Vienna reins to try aswell. I don't know how to lunge in two reins so might avoid that. Great tip about the shoe laces Goldenstar, I like that idea. Thanks everyone for all your responses.
 
Now I’m confused, I was going to long rein my horse when she’s comes back into work in August to get her going again but it sounds like I might be better off lunging?
 
well that's a lot of conflicting advice! I think it really varies from horse to horse, I like long reining and using two lines to lunge but find it doesn't work with lazy horses or very long striding ones (I have short legs and can't keep up!) they do just end up on the forehand. Sidereins are much more effective in trot and canter but as someone else said, if they are set a bit longer than normal then you can walk in them so I suppose it depends whether you're working on walk trot transitions or trot canter, I would say your best bet with walk trot trans would be to do it ridden. Good luck!
 
confirmedponyaddict said:
well that's a lot of conflicting advice! I think it really varies from horse to horse, I like long reining and using two lines to lunge but find it doesn't work with lazy horses or very long striding ones (I have short legs and can't keep up!) they do just end up on the forehand. Sidereins are much more effective in trot and canter but as someone else said, if they are set a bit longer than normal then you can walk in them so I suppose it depends whether you're working on walk trot transitions or trot canter, I would say your best bet with walk trot trans would be to do it ridden. Good luck!
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Thanks;)
 
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