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What are the Pros, Cons, and Uses of Side Reins vs Long Lines2007-11-24 21:21:15

I just bought a nice little buckskin - 8 yrs old, 15.2 hh, reg. appx QH. Beautiful movement and conformation. He was purchased for $10k for a spoiled little girl who turned him out in a field and didn't handle him for 6 mos. I bought him for 3k, and have to bring him back into work. At the time of his "retirement" he was schooling 1st level dressage. At this point, I'm going to have to do a lot of ground work before I even think about getting on his back.

I've been working on handling him, picking up his feet, and lungeing him. For the last two days I've been using just a single lunge line to work some energy off him, but I don't want to continue doing this. His haunches are all over the place, and he's using his head almost like a pivot. I need something to keep him on the outside rein.

My question: What would be more effective? Side Reins versus Long lines? He seems to have a pretty sensitive mouth.

Answers:

Both can be equally effective, but with long lines, you can't really work him faster than you can run. The side reins can be adjusted to have a supporting outside rein same as if you were riding quite easily and then you can maintain propulsion on the lunge with the aid of a lunge whip. As he learns to move up into the cavesson/ bridle from behind, he'll get less wobbly and more focused and remember what it was he used to be doing. If he was trained on the lunge for his dressage work, this should happen fairly quickly even though he's had a vacation. Right now, he's just giggling away because he's not got any aids telling him what to do!

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I prefer long lines. Side reins are too easy for a horse to lean on and get heavy in the forehand if he gets lazy.

If you want, try both. See what works best for him.

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use side reins to lunge him with. If you use them correctly it will get him back on the outside rein, build up muscle in his haunches, neck, back and forehand, and get him used to keeping his head down which will make it easier for you to get his pole flexed when riding him.