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Discussion on Longeing equipment
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Member:
Skye
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Posted on Sunday, Jan 2, 2005 - 7:36 pm:
I tried this question under "tack," but got no responses, so I thought I'd try here.
What are people's thoughts on side rein types--donuts vs. no donuts, sliding, vs. nonsliding, leather vs. non-leather?
My horse won't be ready for side reins for a while, but I'd like the best for him.
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Member:
Canter
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Posted on Sunday, Jan 2, 2005 - 8:18 pm:
Ellie,
I think it depends on what you want to do with your horse. I recently bought side reins for lunging my mare after a long stall rest (due to injury). The tack shop told me to get the reins with the donuts since I ride dressage. Unfortunately, I can't remember the reason they gave me for why...but the other advice they gave me was to buy inexpensive leather reins--more likely to break if the horse gets tangled up in them for some reason. My mare is quite experienced, so that wasn't much of a concern, but why take chances and with horse stuff being so expensive, I was glad to find an excuse to buy "cheap" for once!
Fran
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Member:
Mrose
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Posted on Sunday, Jan 2, 2005 - 11:10 pm:
The side reins I like to use are leather on the buckle and attachment ends and rubber in between so they have a little bit of give to them. They don't have donuts. Fran is right about using a rein that will break easily. I have seen people use home made reins out of rope which makes me cringe at the thought of an accident of some kind. Also, if you haven't used side reins before be sure and get some instruction in the right way to use them. I know of some bad "wrecks" due to their misuse.
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Member:
Imogen
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Posted on Monday, Jan 3, 2005 - 8:30 am:
The big worry is rearing or other major excitement with sidereins on, leading to the horse falling awkwardly and injuring itself. Always first lunge the excitement out of the horse in both directions without the sidereins, then put them on very loosely to be sure there is not going to be any more bucking or rearing and the horse is responding to your voice instructions before you even think of tightening them up. I think the method with which they are applied is more important than the substance they are made of.
I've always used donuts, I'm not sure they really do much good although they are supposed to mimic the "elasticity" of rider contact. Some people like to have the "outside" side rein slightly tighter than the inside one to mimic outside contact but personally I am too lazy to keep adjusting them every time the horse's direction changes.
There is a whole other debate about whether sidereins should be used at all. Many continental trained people would only use the chambon, not sidereins at all. I think it depends on the horse, particularly its natural head carriage and response to contact.
All the best
Imogen
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Member:
Christos
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Posted on Tuesday, Jan 4, 2005 - 11:29 am:
Hi, Imogen,
Doughnuts or other elastic inserts in sidereins are not good. They're not detrimental or anything, but you're better off without them.
Side reins work on two things.
One is balance, as the horse has to figure his balance out without performing stupidities with his head. Towards a better balance, he also can and will find some initial support on fixed side reins.
The other thing is that they teach the horse that the bit is an absolute limit, that he can only curl his neck and body above and around it and that trying to fight against it is absolute nonsense.
Elastic inserts do not help towards these goals, do they?
Also, the idea of having the outside rein shorter destroys the horse's bend and teaches it uneven contact. For the horse to develop correctly in the lunge, the inside rein must be one hole shorter.
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Member:
Warwick
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Posted on Tuesday, Jan 4, 2005 - 1:06 pm:
Hi Elie
Dr Reiner Klimke's books on lunging - exact titles escape me now but check Amazon.com and they should have them listed - are excellent texts which discuss the use of sidereins in detail by the master. Can't get any better info than that IMO.
Christos - touche as usual!
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Member:
Skye
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Posted on Friday, Jan 14, 2005 - 5:48 pm:
Great advice, everyone. Thanks so much.
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