The FEI hired a photographer and those pics also show blue tongues.
The stewards are not calling out rollkur or LDR. Only 1 rider was sanctioned for rollkur and they were not a top contender.
1 Like
Dealerās choice.
Methinks someone better tell the Spanish Riding School, the Cadre Noir, the Royal Andalusian School, and the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art that they have been using side reins incorrectly for hundreds of years. And I can point them to someone who would probably be happy to teach them the CORRECT way. 
22 Likes
I wasnāt aware the majority of equestrians were trained at those facilities where they often focus on Airs. Also the SRS is on blast for not being what it once was.
Still waiting on the video.
Iām not sure why you feel it necessary to disparage me as we debate.
4 Likes
You may have your experiences, but in my nearly 20 years of experience and numerous barns Iāve ridden at, Iāve never seen side reins used to crank a horseās head in like the photos above. Some may not have been used 100% correctly, but they were more likely to be too loose, and thus ineffective, than too tight.
My trainer growing up (not a big name, but always with correct basics) taught me to use side reins the same way @DownYonder described: we used them to help my horse gain strength in the trot-canter-trot transitions by having a steady, consistent contact to go into rather than my less steady hands. For the first sessions, she did the lunging with me standing with her. Then, I did it with her watching before I was allowed to do it on my own.
I think itās harder to find a correct example than an abusive one because at least in my circles, weāre not videoing horses lunging unless itās for soundness for a vet or owner - which would not be done with side reins, more likely to do the video trotting in a straight line - or for an online training video. The point here is that people out there using side reins correctly arenāt the ones taking videos of them.
21 Likes
Try looking upthread at post 1402
And the Spanish Riding School in Vienna
Here is an eleve being lunged in side reins
Because perhaps your posts come across as rather than having a civil discussion on use of side reins, you seem to disparage anyone who has offered replies that are counter to your POV.
I have had the good fortune to train with riders that came out the the French, Spanish and Portuguese national schools. Those riders bring hundreds of years of experience in horse training. I have never seen the abomination of the cranked head of Power and Paint that you showed above.
You donāt need Manolo Mendezā¦oh, I also have taken a few lessons with him. He has his own āuniqueā approach.
If you are looking for good training, there are people out there who are still steeped in the classical traditions.
14 Likes
When used correctly on a lunge line, they are very useful and can be used to teach the horse to reach for the bit and come through without the weight of the rider.
Example: TB coming off track dumped in field for a year. Familiarize with lunge line. Add loose side reins. Squeeze and release hand to talk with mouth encouraging horse to seek contact. Back is warming up. As horse relaxes more, shorten side reins a couple of times during process. Never shorten more than just in front of the vertical. He had the most beautiful trot and when warmed up would happily go around, totally through his back and soft in my hand. When I would get on, he felt like butter and as if he had grown a couple inches.
I produced the most beautiful top-line on this horse with this method. I used it to warm him up for 4 months before mounting. Upon his initial saddle fitting, he had 11 degrees difference in shoulder angle between left and right. At 4-month readjust, the difference was 2 degrees. The saddle fitter asked me what I had been doing since they never saw that much improvement in that amount of time.
They can definitely be used abusively, but when used correctly, they can be a great training tool.
28 Likes
And the hippity hoppity floppity canter pseudo piruoette was just ugly. Iām not super impressed by trussing the horse like a turkey and adding guitar to make it palatable.
13 Likes
Vienna side reins have a single attachment point at the girth so thatās definitely not what these are. But regardless of what they are, they are NOT being used correctly.
1 Like
Interesting. I have a pair, and they are two separate reins so not a single attachment point? I
I understood that Vienna reins are those that allow the horse to stretch up and through the triangle. More movement permitted than the standard horizontal donut or elastic side reins. Why do you say they must be attached in one spot on the girth?
1 Like
Those are Lauffer reins.
The Vienna reins have a single attachment point at the girth between the front legs, split at the chest, go through the bit ring and then attach back to the girth, so they also slide.
Two different pieces of equipment, although some folks use the term sliding side reins interchangeably for both of them.
3 Likes
I made it halfway through. I found the video faulty.
-
She starts off with the reins at equal length to go in a circle. Shouldnāt the reins allow for bend?
-
The horseās head from the very beginning is pretty much on the vertical. How can a horse stretch if the nose canāt go out?
-
No give. As the horse moves the mouth receives bump bump bump.
-
There is no reaching for the bit. There is only being limited by the bit. No bend, no reach, no give. Just fixed insistence.
-
You know who else does this? Western Pleasure people.
I donāt think this chick is as good at lunging in side reins as she thinks she is.
Ok. Now yāall can attack me.
3 Likes
She said she had already warmed him up before she snapped the side reins on. When he was standing still, the side reins looked slightly in front of vertical. When he moved, he dropped down to vertical.
4 Likes
He was walked for 10 minutes on the lunge before moving to a trot.
He was able to walk along with his nose ahead of the vertical. The horse then elected his own carriage in the trot and canter that was more on the vertical.
I have zero interest in either kissing your ring or chewing your ass, KM. These forums donāt exist to please you or displease you. Your experience is wholly your own.
This example of lunging in side reins shows a horse relaxing into the work and accepting the contact happily.
20 Likes
Not part of the current discussion, but relevant to the thread title: Anyone have any idea if/when a decision regarding Charlotteās punishment will be made? And by whom?
8 Likes
I prefer noses that can go out out. Itās how my mentor taught me.
@Djones as we get along elsewhere ( I think) Iām just not responding further to your comment.
1 Like
You all but insisted āweādā attack you.
Your contempt drips off your posts, KM. Do not piss on my feet and tell me itās raining, lol. I chose that video, not āthat chickā in the video. Me. So whether we get along elsewhere or not, youāre being a real brassy one of late. Iām not sure why. Lately, you hold yourself out as The Arbiter of Truth. You can spend your time telling others to believe you and trust you and your experience while extending zero courtesy to others or any appreciation for their perspective or experience.
Now, you can totally do that, beat your drum. Bam bam bam. That approach isnāt influential or informative, but youāre welcome to it.
34 Likes
Donāt piss on my feet and tell me itās raining is the title of a book by Judge Judy. I used to work with her. Bought the book as soon as it came out.
Iāve been on CoTH for well over a decade and whenever Iāve spoken against abuse I get piled on, so any comment I make I expect a pile on.
As for individual posters I have no ill will toward anyone but LK & friends.
Your post reads of your being super upset with me. Iām just here to post about training and abuse.
If Iām that awful, just block me. Otherwise I ask that you not insult me further. Thanks.
1 Like
I am not upset with you. I am sharing observations about your tone and tenor. Thatās it.
21 Likes
