| The Side Rein | | | | collection. Rather, a properly longed horse will collect |
| A set of side reins with elastic, buckle adjustment | | | | himself, and the shorter side reins will be the correct |
| Side reins are made of leather or webbing, sometimes | | | | length for him to keep a contact with the bit. Short side |
| with added elastic, and have several rings or holes for | | | | reins should not be used for long periods of time. |
| buckles along their length. They are easily adjusted. | | | | Side reins should usually be adjusted so they are the |
| Some designs have adjustable buckles and attach to | | | | same length on each side, though in some cases, the |
| the bit with a snap, other designs run through the bit | | | | inside rein may be slightly shorter, particularly with a |
| ring, then fold back on themselves and snap to their | | | | horse that has previously been allowed to develop the |
| own rings. | | | | habit of arcing its body away from the circle. It is |
| Side reins may be completely of solid material, or they | | | | considered correct to fasten the outside rein before |
| may have an elastic or rubber ring insert. Each design | | | | the inside rein, similarly to the idea that a rider would |
| has its advantages and disadvantages. Designs with | | | | take up outside contact before inside rein contact. It is |
| elastic have more "give" to them, which is useful for | | | | best to make sure that both side reins are adjusted |
| sensitive horses or horses that throw their heads. | | | | before attaching them to the bit, as it can be irritating |
| Elastic inserts must be used with caution, however, as | | | | to the horse to stand with one side rein attached while |
| some horses learn to lean on them. Solid side reins are | | | | the handler is adjusting the other. |
| the older, classical design, give the horse a more solid | | | | Improper adjustment of side reins can cause a horse |
| contact to work into and discourage leaning, but must | | | | to go behind the bit, spoil the horse's training, and even |
| be adjusted with greater care because their lack of | | | | cause the horse to feel trapped, leading to rearing and |
| give may upset a sensitive horse and, particularly if too | | | | the possibility that the horse will flip over. |
| tight, may provoke rearing, head-shaking and even | | | | When to Attach Side Reins |
| panic in some animals. Side reins with a rubber donut | | | | A horse should always be warmed up and cooled |
| provide some give, although not as muct as elastic and | | | | down without the side reins, allowed to stretch long |
| so discourage leaning. However, they are heavier and | | | | and low. When the side reins are first applied during a |
| are prone to bounce when the horse trots or canters, | | | | workout, they should be adjusted long and gradually |
| which does not provide as steady a contact as the | | | | shortened as the horse warms up into them. Side reins |
| solid or elastic-insert side reins. | | | | are only for work in the trot and canter. Working a |
| Uses of the Side Rein | | | | horse in side reins at the walk, other than in brief |
| Elasticized side reins are often used with training young | | | | transitions can spoil the gait by inhibiting forward motion. |
| horses prior to being ridden. They help accustom a | | | | Side reins should not be used for jumping, as they |
| horse to the feel of pressure on the bit, and reward | | | | restrict the use of the neck too much, and may even |
| the horse when it gives or flexes to bit pressure. Solid | | | | cause the horse to fall. |
| side reins are usually used for more advanced horses. | | | | The Sliding Side Rein/Lauffer Rein |
| They give the horse something to take contact with, | | | | The sliding side rein. These are adjusted with the side |
| encourage balance and correct head carriage, help a | | | | reins attaching between the legs. |
| horse develop self-carriage, and help stop a horse | | | | The sliding side rein gives a bit more freedom to the |
| from over-bending in the neck. | | | | horse than the standard side rein. It attaches from a |
| Adjustment of the Side Rein | | | | lower ring on the surcingle, through the bit ring, and |
| Side reins may be attached from the bit rings to the | | | | back up to an upper ring on the surcingle. This allows |
| surcingle rings, or from the bit to the buckles of the | | | | the horse to stretch down and lower his head while still |
| girth of an English saddle or cinch rings of a western | | | | maintaining contact with the bit, and are therefore |
| saddle. | | | | useful on horses that are tight in the back, carry their |
| Side reins are adjusted longer for less-experienced | | | | head too high, or are learning to stretch forward and |
| horses, and gradually shortened and raised higher | | | | down for the bit contact. |
| (from point of shoulder up to the point of hip) as a | | | | Like the side rein, the lauffer rein is adjusted so that |
| horse becomes better trained. Side reins should never | | | | the horse has contact with it when his head is at or |
| be so short that the horse's head is pulled behind the | | | | just in front of the vertical. Green horses should have |
| vertical. For green horses, the side reins should be | | | | the lauffer rein attached to a lower and middle |
| adjusted so that the horse's head is approximately | | | | surcingle rein, while more advanced horses can have |
| 4 inches in front of the vertical and the side reins are | | | | the reins raised to a middle and high ring on the |
| attached at a point level with the point of the shoulder. | | | | surcingle. |
| As the horse becomes more advanced and more | | | | The sliding side rein was designed to be attached to |
| physically developed, the side reins may be shortened | | | | the outside rings of the surcingle, not between the legs. |
| so the head is nearly vertical to the ground. Side reins | | | | Running the reins between the legs can encourage a |
| should not pull the horse inhey do NOT create | | | | horse to get behind the bit and overflex. |