[IIIBarsV]

So, it's recently come to my attention that a lot of people really like using their sidereins (english horses) and lunging for warm-up. I don't have too much of a problem with this outside of the boredom of routine it creates for the horse, as it still gets the job done and isn't horrific, done properly. To each their own.

My problem starts when people who don't truly understand what side reins are actually doing (function wise, and horse-brain wise), put the darn things on too tightly. For me, too tight is anything that doesn't give your horse the option of being at least a couple of inches in front of the vertical. When the horse is on a correct frame, there should be a little bit of slack in those reins- hence mimicking " pressure-release-giving the bit" at a comfortable position for the horse, which allows them to learn to carry themselves without getting sore or fatigued from holding this highly-tight position for extended periods of time.

I can't stand the following things in regards to side-rein use. (Personal opinion).

1) Sidereins done up too tightly just make the horse want to lean on the bit. I have recently ridden two such horses that are worked in sidereins regularly, and my shoulders were SO sore from their concrete mouths that I am still in pain today. Sidereins teach a horse to give to the bit when they are not so tight that the horse can't do anything BUT go on the vertical... if they cannot relax, they will absolutely figure out that they can lean on the bit. Sure, it looks pretty.... but when someone with poor light-hands like me gets on the SOB, she ends up with dead shoulders. Thanks, hardcore-improper-use-of-siderein-users....

2) Side reins too tight can have serious repercussions if used on a green horse, or a horse who might decide to lose their forward momentum or get their tongue over the bit. This usually involves the horse feeling trapped by the reins, and flying backwards and upwards. Not safe for anybody involved- and highly damaging to the horse's mouth and neck muscles. Good job, you just caused serious nerve damage to your horse's mouth and they will always feel like concrete on one or both sides from now on...

3) Riding in this fashion. Scenario: School horse. Bad enough situation for a horse's mouth to be in regardless.... couple hardcore english kids who ride A-circuit get on horse... canter around nicely, horse frames up, jumps a couple jumps, auto-changes, nice looking rides. They don't appear to be hauling on his mouth, but they are in 2-point, butts out of the saddle.

Then I get on same horse... and anyone who knows me and my style of riding, knows I strive for horses with "butterfly touch" mouths and aides, and I use the *least* amount of pressure to get there. I have a good record and consistency of softening up hard-mouthed horses over training time, and having responsive, forehand-light horses, who steer well, and respond to cues in a *Snap*, not ten minutes later.

So I get on... take up reins, light contact. We're talking, the reins have no slack... but there is no pressure on that horse's mouth (or very little). Ask the horse to walk on... horse has his head totally in the sky. Cue for giving to bit- leg plus more rein pressure. No response. A little more leg, more hand. Nothing. Inside rein increase, more leg both sides. Nada, except a dropped shoulder........... Horse still has head in the sky and is now counter-bent against my inside leg..........

I should probably note.... this is a horse that I rode for 20 minutes one day before on a lungeline with sidereins, in a perfect frame (both with and without rider reins). (We were practicing for coaching class, doing rider exercises, etc.)

I go through every cueing system known to man on this horse for frame and collection.... and basically, the horse seems to not even be noticing that there's a rider up there.

Then I think back to the english riders who JUST rode him... so I pick up more rein, go into 2-point, and just crank on his mouth, both hands- basically lean and put all my balance onto his mouth (against my will!).... and what do you know... the poor thing goes into frame, on a mouth like a bloody concrete.

I felt guilty and gave up. And wondered... if the english kids thought THIS mouth was light... then the other horse they rode who was looked pretty forward by himself... if I had got on that other horse, I would've had a runaway on my hands. LOL

Is this common? Do they think it is *normal* for a horse to be THAT hard-mouthed? IMO, those sidereins, that when *done up too tightly*, really "hold" the horse in position, are a definite root cause of riders having to take a strong, heavy hold of the horse's mouth.

That is my rant for tonight... now I need to go get my shoulders massaged....

[HappyHoof]

I am not an experienced English rider, but I did have the privelege to ride a wonderful TB gelding a few weeks ago that had been a lesson horse. He was sort of heavy on my hands--had to REALLY pull (this coming from a Western rider, so maybe it wasn't so much in comparison between English and Western...) to get him in frame and collected. Once he was in, I LOVED it. But I did have to fight him to keep him there, and, being used to a 14.3hh light-mouthed Arabian, the 16.3hh TB was really a change.

[firegurl979]

I used sidereins at a point in my horses education to help him better understand what I was trying to teach him. (he would either head in sky or tuck/curl way behind the vertical - no horse!!)

I wasn't using them for frame - I wanted to teach him impulsion with his butt (use his body correctly), how to go into the bridle, and build his confidence/ability that he could carry himself. After he was past that, they helped me teach him better speed control (tempo/rhythm) and was great excercise for his topline once he learned how to carry himself better.

He is extremly sensitve and light mouthed. The sidereins helped alot!! But I did lots of research about them and picking trainers brains about the correct way to use, the wrong ways, and they're uses.

I totally agree that those who are ignorant on how they work, along with the pros and cons should not touch them! *shudders* and having them too tight on a horse that is not capable (physically, mentally and training wise) is a big no no!!!

[MysticRealm]

I rarely lunge my horse as I prefer to ride but when I do I usually use a pair of side reins. The one thing that stood out to me in your post which I disagree with is where you said that there should be a slack in the side reins. Now maybe you just used the wrong word but I don't want there to be slack in the reins. This means my horse is not actually working into the side reins properly, instead he is hiding behind them. I want the to have a light consistent contact with them at all time just as I want them to have a light consistent feel of my hands while riding.

I love how you, as a western person, have one bad experience with an english horse/rider (love that you made sure we knew it was an A-circuit rider so that we knew this was what you considered should be a 'higher end' rider) and think that we all ride around ripping at our horse's faces.

Guess what. Just like with EVERY other discipline, you have good riders and you have bad riders. I have been at a show this week (Spruce Meadows, my horse was fantastic and we got all clear rounds even though he is a green baby) and yes you see a couple riders competing higher than they should be, or riding poorly on their horses but you also see many more GREAT riders riding wonderfully.

Don't be 'stupid' and judge the entire discipline due to a 'bad' experience. And maybe you just did not know how to ride this horse, didn't know how to 'push the right buttons' IF this horse was a school horse it WILL take more to get him to soften up and give due to him guarding himself more due to being used to beginner riders with bouncy hands and unbalanced seats (and if he had already been ridden in a frame for a bit that day/week he could very well have been tired from not being used to using those muscles). And you really can't pull all the hard in a half seat (atleast with out looking like you are pulling that hard and you said they sure didn't look like they were)

[Showrider]

I very much agree with MysticRealm. IIIBarsV, I don't think (well I hope) you weren't intending to attack all english riders using side reins, but it did sort of come off that way in my opinion.

Putting that aside, I do agree that incorrect use of side reins can potentially do damage to a horse in some of the ways that you have listed. I disagree that there should be slack in side reins, however. As MysticRealm said, I want the horse to have light consistant contact with the reins just as he would have if I was riding. Otherwise we would be expecting the horse to come onto the bit and stay there with no direction or contact whatsoever.. now that would be annoying trying to compete in a pleasure class. I lunge my horse in side reins 2-3 times a week and find it extremely beneficial to his muscle development- thats really the only reason I lunge in side reins, personally.

[xlilxonex]

I ride English and I use side-reins, not to get into a frame but to help him stretch into the bit... I'm not sure if that makes sense? I don't have them tight, but not so loose they flop down, but i've learned that by having it where I normally put it he SEARCHES for the bit, and ends up coming onto the bit beautifully... Where as if I try and crank his head he WILL fight it, and it looks awfull..

Great tool, but like most: fairly mis-used

[calypsoscarnivl]

My big mare was trained by a very well respected, successful QH trainer. She competes in English and Western. My mare was "head set" on a dailey basis. Not too much difference between this and lunging in side reins.


My neighbor is a very successful Paint/Pinto rider (her barn cleans up for the zone at every show) and she ties a horse down more than I have ever seen in my many years of English riding....

I agree that side reins can cause more harm than good when used incorrectly. However, I don't think any one discipline corners the market in poor side rein use.

[xlilxonex]

Anybody who forces a headset is doing it wrong.... Forced headsets are not real headsets... Really, why do people use the term "head-set" there is SO much more to that than just setting the head.

[KristinJ]

I hate sidereins. lol End of story, they are NOT needed. I just don't understand them. My friend uses them .. A LOT! Her dressage horse she uses them on, VERY loose. If he just thinks they are on he will tuck in (but not truly engaging from the hind, just has his head in). But seriously .. ehh you NEED to take them off for showing .. so what's the point?

She also uses them on her TB she is working with .. while JUMPING ... and yes her trainer (a rider who shows around the east coast in A and AA shows) tells her to ... GAH!

It's amazing the things you can find out about some supposedly 'great' trainers when know one is looking .. pathetic.

I think one of the main problems with sidereins is that people thing it will FIX their horse. So they snap them on and look at how beautiful their head'set' looks .. ehh HELLO! look at the rest of the horse, and how is hind end is WAYYY out there and not true collection at all! People need to understand impulsion and what it means to really be 'on the bit' which most don't, or just don't care to know because HEY my horsie looks pretty with those sidereins on ...

And really .. how hard is it to just hop on your horse and work them in the frame YOURSELF with give and reward .... something sidereins do not offer.

[Jenje!]

Originally Posted by KristinJ

I hate sidereins. lol End of story, they are NOT needed. I just don't understand them. My friend uses them .. A LOT! Her dressage horse she uses them on, VERY loose. If he just thinks they are on he will tuck in (but not truly engaging from the hind, just has his head in). But seriously .. ehh you NEED to take them off for showing .. so what's the point?

She also uses them on her TB she is working with .. while JUMPING ... and yes her trainer (a rider who shows around the east coast in A and AA shows) tells her to ... GAH!

It's amazing the things you can find out about some supposedly 'great' trainers when know one is looking .. pathetic.

I think one of the main problems with sidereins is that people thing it will FIX their horse. So they snap them on and look at how beautiful their head'set' looks .. ehh HELLO! look at the rest of the horse, and how is hind end is WAYYY out there and not true collection at all! People need to understand impulsion and what it means to really be 'on the bit' which most don't, or just don't care to know because HEY my horsie looks pretty with those sidereins on ...

And really .. how hard is it to just hop on your horse and work them in the frame YOURSELF with give and reward .... something sidereins do not offer.

Er... your problem with side reins seems to revolve around the MISUSE of side reins... They are perfectly useful in the right hands. I use them myself (on my western horse, even! ).