Training aids are a popular inclusion to a horse's training regime. Owners and trainers use them for a number of reasons, such as during rehabilitation or to improve overall strength and condition. Some training aids can only be used from the ground and are therefore popular in the winter months when riding time is reduced and a shorter session, focusing on specific muscles for maintenance of strength, is required. Other training aids can be used during ridden work as well. Manufacturers present training aids as a means to improving how the horse moves and/or carries themselves to encourage better muscle activation and, through this, longer term muscle strength. However, deciding which training aid is correct for you, your horse and their stage of training can be a bit of a minefield! Have a look at the information below to help you decide.
Side Reins
Sides reins attach from the horse's bit to the horse's saddle, girth or roller. Some are elasticated to allow more movement and create less restriction. They are designed to encourage the horse to take their head forward and down, with the intension of flexing the spine and through this, engaging muscles in the back. This type of carriage also encourages activation of the neck muscles which sit above the spine. The neck muscles which are located below the spine are then given the opportunity to relax. This might be desirable if you have a horse with very tense and over worked brachiocephalicus or sternomandibular muscles.
However, if the side reins are too tight and draw the horse's head towards the chest, the nuchal ligament (a ligament of the neck) is unable to carry out its role of holding and stabilizing the head and neck. Ligaments have an element of elasticity and for the nuchal ligament to work effectively there needs to be a small about of movement in the head and neck as the horse is in locomotion- this movement is normal and managed by the nuchal ligament. If the head and neck are held, this movement is prevented and the nuchal ligament becomes redundant.
Instead, muscles in the neck take on the holding and stabilizing role, which results in over use and leads to over development. Muscles will then begin to increase in mass and tone, often becoming tighter and restricted in flexibility. Furthermore, the load to parts of the cervical vertebrae can increase, risking premature wear and longer term neck issues.
The Pessoa
The Pessoa is a training aid designed to be used when the horse is being lunged. It creates a connection between the hindquarters and the horse's mouth. The system works by putting pressure on the hind quarters to encourage the horse to step under with the hindlimbs. This should then result in them lifting and stretching over the back. Pressure is also placed on the mouth but this is removed once the horse lowers their head and neck, therefore encouraging them to adopt a lower head and neck carriage. It is suggested that the Pessoa can improve topline muscle, improve suppleness of the back, increase the connection between the hindquarters and the bridle and result in better hind limb engagement.
Research that has monitored horses' response to the Pessoa has recorded the following:
An increase in lumbar sacral flexion (flexion at the lumbar sacral part of the spine)
The system results in a lower head and neck carriage (while the aid is being used)
No increase to limb load was recorded (other than the increased load to outside limbs due to being on a circle)
An increase in cross sectional size of the multifidus muscles (muscles found along length of spine) and biceps femoris (hind limb muscles part of hamstring group)
There was no increase in latisimus dorsi muscle activation unless only the rope around the hindquarters was used (meaning there was no connection to mouth)
What do these outcomes tell us?
The Pessoa does improve back stabilisation. However, the increased lumbar sacral flexion recorded might be too great for a horse with a lordotic back confirmation, putting increased strain on back musculature and resulting in them becoming uncomfortable. This is important to note as many horses with this 'dipped' back confirmation have weaker epaxial muscles, which as owners and riders we want to strengthen. However, due to the way in which the pessoa requires the horse to work, it makes horses with this type of confirmation have to work harder, making their weaker muscles fatigue more quickly and likely become sore. On a more positive note though, use of the pessoa does not increase the load to the limbs, other than the increased load working on a circle produces. Therefore, it is a suitable aid for horses in rehabilitation once they are at a stage where they can be lunged.
The EquiAmi
The EquiAmi is designed to replicate the 'loop' which is made up of the rider's shoulders, arms and hands, with the reins and bit in the horse's mouth. This aid aims to provide a soft and consistent contact for the horse to work into. As with ridden exercise, the intention is that the horse returns the softness it meets in its contact and carriage. The positioning of the aid encourages the horse to bring the hindlegs underneath the hind quarters, lower the head and shorten the frame through development of wither lift. When the horse lowers the head to work in a more rounded frame, they are rewarded as the training aid becomes looser. This encourages them to maintain this posture and work without pressure. Furthermore, because the loop design is not fixed, it prevent the horse from leaning on the aid; they learn to balance and carry themselves.
Research that has monitored horses' response to the EquiAmi has recorded the following:
No significant difference in stride length at walk or trot was measured when wearing the aid when (measurements were taken from FL and HL protraction and retraction)
Some lowering of the head and neck was recorded, along with lowering of the withers.
What do these outcomes tell us?
No increase in stride length suggests that the aid doesn't increase HL engagement and the lowering of the withers recorded suggests the horses in the study were working on the forehand. However, the lowering of the head and neck carriage achieved by the aid means it could be useful in supporting a horse establishing this carriage and begin to develop the muscles required so that they are more able to understand and maintain this posture when working without the aid.
Resistance Bands
Resistance bands are different to the above training aids in that they stimulate a proprioceptive response rather than use a pressure and release system. Although to the observer they may look similar to the Pessoa and EquiAmi in that there is a band around the hind quarters, the band used as part of the resistance band system has a slight tackiness to it which stimulates the hair follicles and provides proprioceptive feedback, making the horse become more aware of its body during movement. The intention is that this increase in awareness creates greater muscle activation and therefore increased hind limb engagement from the band around the hind quarters and increased abdominal and core engagement from the band which attaches under the abdominals. However, there is no attachment to the head; the expectation is that the horse will improve head and neck carriage/posture through activation of the hindlimbs and abdominals.
Resistance bands are used during rehabilitation and as part of everyday training to help strengthen and condition. They are considered to be particularly helpful in improving pelvic and back strength due to stimulation of the hindlimbs, resulting in increased engagement and stimulation of the abdominals which encourages the spine to flex. The bands can be used during ground work, both on the lunge or when using long lines, or under saddle.
Research investigated a group of privately owned horses' response to a four week training regime. During this time, the horses carried out their usual exercise routine while wearing the bands, which were fitted at 30% tension. Back movement was recorded at the start of week one and at the end of week 4 and a comparison was made for each horse. Results evidenced a decrease in roll (which means rotation around the forward and backwards axis) and a decrease in pitch (rotation around a left to right axis) at the withers. There was also less mediolateral movement (movement left to right) in the midthoracic and lumbar regions (T16; L4-6).
What does this research tell us?
The results suggest that use of the resistance bands over time can improve dynamic back stability. This means that during movement, the back becomes more stable, suggesting an increase in strength. This is important for training because it is often when structure become less stable that injuries and issues occur.
Other things to consider when using training aids.
There is currently no research which has evidenced a significant change in either limb flexion or extension and this is what is required for increased protraction and engagement - if this is your goal, pole work is more beneficial
A lot of the training systems require a roller to be used. Roller pressure has been recorded to apply the same amount of pressure to the dorsal midline of the horse as sitting trot under saddle. (This was measured at trot and canter, not at walk, where pressures recorded were far lower). This suggests that ground work doesn't necessarily mean an easier day for the horse's back if a lot of this work is carried out in trot and canter and a roller is used.
Training aids are frequently used on a circle and the impact of this, with the increased forces which are applied to the outside limbs through this, need to be considered.
Rest periods during sessions- when you are riding or using other training exercises such as poles, the horse, and the muscle groups they are using, can rest for brief periods either when they are not crossing a pole or when you release the contact. They don't get this same release from training aids unless you go and remove/release the aid for a period during your session- try to remember to do this to prevent muscle fatigue; tired muscles are more prone to injury.
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