by Dee22 » Tue Feb 15, 2005 9:41 am
Weeelll, I agree with both Chenders & Piaffing... on one hand, yes, accidents happen, we really do up our chances of getting hurt every time we step near a horse or get onto a horses back... horses also trip and fall, it happens...
BUT I also understand that there are ways to make riding safer... I would never ride my horse around OFF the lunge line in side reins... I think that is more dangerous than on the lunge line... for my particular horse anyway...
I think it's a matter of knowing your horse... I know my horse, on the lunge she is a pro, with and without side reins. I don't make the side reins so tight that is she were to trip her head would be tied down and therefore unable to regain her balance. I also get someone (jax) with TONS of experience to lunge, she knows my horse, knows me and knows what she's doing... so, maybe some people don't agree with lunging in side reins, it's dangerous... but I make it as safe as possible by knowing my horse, what she's capable of along with everything mentioned above.
There are some people that say cross country is so dangerous, or racing is dangerous, hey, jumping is dangerous, or even just going on a hack is dangerous.... my friends gallop their horses through the fields... that could be dangerous too.... <IMG src="smileys/smiley17.gif" border="0">
Guess you just have to make whatever you do as safe as possible<IMG src="smileys/smiley14.gif" border="0"> <IMG src="smileys/smiley2.gif" border="0">
I used side reins on the lunge because my horse is fantastic in them. It also helps her to use herself properly making sitting trot more comfortable not only for me but for her too, I'm just learning how to sit the trot *properly*, if she wasn't round for that I would probably have a harder time sitting which might hurt her back... we are both more appreciative of the side reins in the end! <IMG src="smileys/smiley2.gif" border="0">