What are side reins, and why do we use them? Side reins are a training aid used when riding or lunging a horse. Lunging is a training technique that involves moving a horse around a handler in a circle while the handler is attached to the horse with a long lead rein, called a lunge line. The horse can move at a walk, trot, or canter, and the handler can control the size of the circle by adjusting the distance between them. A couple of the main reasons we use side reins are to help develop the horse’s topline (the top of their back where they carry rider weight) and to encourage the horse to move into consistent contact while maintaining balance.

Staff partake in weekly lessons and continuing education, where they are taught how to properly attach and utilize side reins, among other pieces of equipment.