28/11/2025
*** PLEASE do not RIDE in side reins ***
I have sadly been told this week about one scary incident of a horse rearing up and nearly falling over whilst being ridden in side reins, and then saw a pony being hacked out in side reins about two weeks ago. This is a terrifying accident waiting to happen.
Side reins are fixed, which means if the horse panics, he/she could very easily get a front leg stuck over them, or completely flip himself over, potentially causing very serious injury to horse and rider. ESPECIALLY when out hacking, the horse needs to be able to use his head and neck to balance himself, so using fixed side reins out hacking is dangerous, and an absolute no.
Even as a very experienced rider, I wouldn’t dream of riding any of my horses in side reins. I’m not a huge draw rein fan, but they are a lot safer than side reins, in that an experienced rider can feel if the horse is going against them, or panicking, and immediately release them. I will use draw reins if needed, although never for the purpose of “schooling” or getting a horse into an outline, but I wouldn’t ever dream of riding in side reins.
I’m not completely against side reins for horses on the lunge, but they do provide a very fixed/false outline.
However, for riding in....please don’t!
Feel free to share, but not to copy my words as your own.
