Weird Question... who would lunge with side reins attached at girth between the legs

I do this with mine and did it with my old mare. It works the same way as a harbridge, ive found with mine and this may be worng but it encorages them to work in a better frame without becoming fixed. My old mare and my new one would fix and lean on normal side reins and it became aparent when i rode, it wasnt the the result i was after so figured id try them that way. It seems to work as they can stretch down as much as they like but can only lift there head so far before the reins come into play, they cant really lean and you dont need them short ive found in encourage a nicer frame.
Same as a bungee but without the poll pressure and a similar affect as the draw rein over the back and through the legs.
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Not as good frame as above in normal side reins
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Doesnt work for all horses but i think it has its place
 
I had to use this method on my old mare who had a rotated pelvis. This helped her into the correct outline which muscled her back up enough to hold her pelvis in. Since, I have taken to doing it once a week with my youngster:)
 
vam - just a quick point. You will have problems with leaning and not going correctly if you lunge off the bit and don't have a contact with the horse via the lunge line.

To get the horse to work correctly you need to have the line on the centre ring of a cavesson. The horse needs to take the rein out so that there is a contact on the rein between you and the horse. You then drive the horse forward (whip = leg aids) and squeeze the lunge line which activates the outside side rein giving the horse a half halt. This mimics what you will do once on board.

To the original OP - it is a short cut to getting the horse to stretch down. My mare at the moment won't react to the action of the chambon and is not yet working into the side reins. I could now short cut by putting on the side reins via between the front legs - but this doesn't mimic what I will be asking of her when ridden so I will persevere with the side reins. In time she will come down - I just have to be patient.
 
Evelyn said:
vam - just a quick point. You will have problems with leaning and not going correctly if you lunge off the bit and don't have a contact with the horse via the lunge line.

To get the horse to work correctly you need to have the line on the centre ring of a cavesson. The horse needs to take the rein out so that there is a contact on the rein between you and the horse. You then drive the horse forward (whip = leg aids) and squeeze the lunge line which activates the outside side rein giving the horse a half halt. This mimics what you will do once on board.

To the original OP - it is a short cut to getting the horse to stretch down. My mare at the moment won't react to the action of the chambon and is not yet working into the side reins. I could now short cut by putting on the side reins via between the front legs - but this doesn't mimic what I will be asking of her when ridden so I will persevere with the side reins. In time she will come down - I just have to be patient.
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I may sound dim but at what time does the lunge line attached to the front of the cavesson ever mimic what you do in the saddle, I nearly always lunge from the bit unless there is a problem with the mouth.
 
hippomaniac said:
I may sound dim but at what time does the lunge line attached to the front of the cavesson ever mimic what you do in the saddle, I nearly always lunge from the bit unless there is a problem with the mouth.
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When you put pressure on the lunge line - eg squeeze it the movement is transfered to the head which moves slightly towards you and so puts some tension on the outside side rein which then acts on the bit. This then mimics the action of the riders hand asking for a half halt.
 
I think some horses lean more when lunged from the bit. When I lunged horses without a cavesson the line is passed over the head.
 
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