Use of side reins

[JenEM]

[QUOTE=SaturdayNightLive;7372274]
This is incorrect. Or overly simplified to the point that I am completely misunderstanding you.

I, for one, do not want my horse to seek a release from all contact. I want him to learn to accept, seek, and use the contact.

In the picture you’ve painted above of the horse carrying himself “in frame” with no contact, the horse is not properly trained to the contact. I’m at a loss for how you would ride such a beast, except on a completely loose rein.

And I certainly do not want to teach my horse anything before I teach him to engage his hind end, let alone anything to do with where to put his front end.

Side reins, used correctly, teach a horse to reach over his topline into the bridle. They teach acceptance of the contact. They have been used in this way going back into forever.[/QUOTE]

I’m not Nancy, but I don’t think she meant “release” in the way you’re thinking about it. I think she meant “release” in the way my dressage lessons tell me to release when the horse responds correctly–a softening of the hand, not a letting go of the reins, or of contact. As someone who struggles greatly with this concept (I tend to let go, rather than release!), side reins are one of the tools I’ve found helpful for letting the horse understand this, because IME the sliding/balancing/vienna type reins do allow this maintaining of contact while softening just a bit when the horse starts working into contact the way they should.

In theory, yes, a horse should carry itself correctly forward from behind whether there’s contact and a bridle there or not. Once they learn to carry themselves (something IMO sidereins, used properly, help with), they should carry themselves correctly when being worked, whether there is a contact or not. A hunter working properly, or a dressage horse doing a stretchy circle are still pushing from behind and through their backs.

[GoneAway]

JenEM is spot on. SNL, you misinterpreted what Nancy was saying. Softening the hand and releasing encourages the correctly schooled (working from behind) horse to seek and maintain contact with the bit, not avoid it as you stated.

[poltroon]

I personally am not a fan of the donut side reins because the rubber donut has a fair amount of mass and bounces around with the horse’s motion. My side reins are plain leather.

An elastic insert is not necessarily bad, but again, usually the way they are made, they add mass to the rein, and usually right in the middle of it where it can create the most amplitude in the motion of the trot or canter. If you want elasticity, I would probably rig something up on the saddle or surcingle end so it can’t flop.

Having a snap on both ends, even if you have to add one set of snaps yourself, is super nice.

[poltroon]

Also, when using side reins while lunging:

• Don’t lead the horse wearing the side reins.
• Warm up the horse for a few minutes (I usually do both directions) before attaching the rein to the bit.
• Generally the inside rein is going to be a hole or two shorter than the outside. Make sure you switch the lengths when you change direction.
• Better too long than too short when in doubt. You can always stop the horse and take up another hole if you need to.

[SaturdayNightLive]

[QUOTE=GoneAway;7372368]
JenEM is spot on. SNL, you misinterpreted what Nancy was saying. Softening the hand and releasing encourages the correctly schooled (working from behind) horse to seek and maintain contact with the bit, not avoid it as you stated.[/QUOTE]

In that case, I guess we’re having two different conversations.

Side reins educate a horse’s mouth in that they 1. provide rock steady contact, allowing the horse to learn to trust the bit, and 2. provide limitations - I want you to be here, but no further.

I 100% agree with your statements about softening of the hand, etc… above, but that is unrelated to the purpose of lunging in side reins, IMO.

And I’m pretty much always going to give the side eye to someone who makes statements about using draw reins to school correct contact.

[GoneAway]

[QUOTE=SaturdayNightLive;7372452]
In that case, I guess we’re having two different conversations.

Side reins educate a horse’s mouth in that they 1. provide rock steady contact, allowing the horse to learn to trust the bit, and 2. provide limitations - I want you to be here, but no further.

I 100% agree with your statements about softening of the hand, etc… above, but that is unrelated to the purpose of lunging in side reins, IMO.

And I’m pretty much always going to give the side eye to someone who makes statements about using draw reins to school correct contact.[/QUOTE]

Agreed on all points. I think the disconnect with Nancy’s post was that she was stating that side reins aren’t the best choice because they don’t offer that release like softening of the hand does. Sounds like you and I feel the same way about draw reins.

[NurseHorsey]

Just purchased a lovely used pair of Nunn Finer side reins from the English Tack Trader FB group. Now I just have to find a reasonably priced surcingle to go with them!

Also, if you are not familiar with the English Tack Trader group… go do it! I can’t believe I didn’t know about it. Likely has changed my life (and wallet… :winkgrin:) forever haha.

[ladyj79]

I’d suggest learning how to long-line, I found it invaluable with my OTTBs.