From: Melanie McNeil
Hi Jessica,
I wondered if you could discuss the pros and cons of using various types of sidereins, such as Vienna versus fixed, and whether you have an overall preference regarding type (assuming an experienced and knowledgeable person is doing the lunging). Thanks in advance,
Melanie
First, as you say, we should assume that an experienced and knowedgeable person is doing the longeing. This is a VERY important point! Sidereins have their uses, but when they are used at the wrong times, for the wrong reasons, or adjusted incorrectly, they will create problems, get in the way of training, and even cause damage (temporary or permanent) to the horse.
For our purposes here, we'll assume that the person longeing the horse understands the art of longeing, has found a suitable place with good footing, and is equipped with a proper longeing cavesson, a 30' (at least) longeing tape, a longe whip, and either a longeing surcingle, a saddle, or a longeing surcingle OVER a saddle. Since the person is knowledgeable, he (or she) will always longe from the cavesson, never from the bit. And we'll assume that the person will always take the following things into account: the horse's age and training level, the horse's conformation, the horse's degree of fitness, and the horse's (mental and physical) comfort level.
If the horse is young, unfit, or coming back from time off, the sidereins would be adjusted long and low, but not so long that the horse is in danger of being hit in the head by the rubber donut if the handler is using fixed sidereins!
On an older, more fit, or more experienced horse, the sidereins could be adjusted slightly higher or shorter or both. On a younger horse, for schooling purposes, the sidereins could be adjusted similarly for just a few minutes of trot-work toward the middle of the schooling session, then returned to their long and low position.
However the sidereins are adjusted for a particular horse, they should OFFER a soft contact, and encourage (NOT FORCE) the horse to stretch forward and down with its head and neck, seeking the bit. This, in turn, should lead to a raised back and engaged hindquarters. If tight sidereins are used to IMPOSE contact and force the horse's head down and in, it will travel with a hollow back and its hind legs out behind it, and the only individual who will benefit from THIS will be the chiropractor who has to readjust the horse's neck later on!
A "typical" session on the longe would begin with five minutes of "playtime" -- allowing the horse to trot freely, with no sidereins attached. Five minutes will allow most horses to warm up and stretch, and will give the handler a chance to observe the horse and notice any hint of tension or lameness.
After the "playtime" (which does NOT mean racing around or bucking on the longe), the horse would then be worked for perhaps fifteen or twenty minutes with the sidereins attached. Most of this work would be at the trot, with brief periods of canter, and many transitions. The horse would be worked in both directions, with more advanced horses performing more changes of direction. The work would be followed by a "warm-down" of five or ten minutes walking, either on the longe (without sidereins) or under saddle on a loose rein.
When you longe, WATCH YOUR HORSE. He's your best teacher, and he'll tell you if the sidereins aren't adjusted correctly. Don't adjust them so long that your horse will trip over them -- but never shorten them to the point where they force contact or restrict his movement or stride. You do NOT want to encourage a stiff, set head carriage, a shortened stride, or anything else that will cramp your horse's neck, restrict his shoulder movement, and keep him from stepping up under himself.
Adjust them so that your horse can stretch his neck forward and down comfortably -- then play with the length and watch him trot. You'll find the right length for him. When he is comfortable trotting with rhythm, looks cheerful, and carries himself well -- you'll know because his tail will be a little up, and will be swinging in rhythm with his trot -- and when he is comfortable working with a correct (small) bend to the inside (keep the sidereins adjusted EVENLY at all times, and this bend means that he will be working more from the outside rein than the inside, which is exactly what you want under saddle as well), THEN he'll be ready to canter in sidereins. Start with them really loose, and if he canters smoothly and regularly and maintains a bit of a bend, take up the sidereins gradually, but keep sending him FORWARD and DOWN to them -- never adjust them so that THEY pull HIM back.
Fixed vs sliding (Vienna) sidereins:
Fixed sidereins are primarily for use at the trot, although you can use them at the canter on an advanced horse that is truly in self-carriage. They should NEVER be used at the walk.
There is a way to avoid the constant adjustments of sidereins as you ask the horse to change gaits, though. If you really want to use sidereins at all three gaits, you should purchaseor make a pair of sliding sidereins, which, if correctly adjusted, will allow the horse to move forward correctly, on contact, at walk, trot, and canter. The sliding side reins do not block the horse, as would a fixed siderein. They function in a manner that gives the horse maximum comfort when he stretches his neck down and raises his back. They limit him putting his head up and hollowing his back - and allow a variation of positions in between for the horse to find his own most comfortable spot.
When most people in the US think of sidereins, they tend to think in terms of fixed sidereins, either the plain-leather sidereins and the sidereins with the rubber donuts. My personal preference is generally for the ones with the rubber donuts -- since this affords a little flexibility and adds weight to the bit -- but I would generally prefer to use sliding sidereins whenever possible.
Whichever version you use, be very careful with sidereins. Although they can be very helpful, they can also create enormous problems in a short time if they are too tight, too low, or incorrectly used.
Jessica
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