I have heard of using donuts on side reins but what are donuts?

Question

I'm not sure if you use them on draw reins or side reins but I knwo it's one if them.but i need to know what they are used for and both the positive and negitive effects they do/can have on a horse.

Answer 1

"Donuts" are the big rubber circles attached to some versions of side reins.  They have give, but not as much as the elastic side reins.  When the horse pulls on the bit the donuts stretch, but keeping the pressure up, forces the horse to finally give to the pressure and drop its head.

Answer 2

It's sidereins.  They're not something you use WITH sidereins, they're something that may or may not come ON sidereins.  Some sidereins have an elastic portion to them, some have no elastic at all, and some have rubber "donuts" midway down each siderein.  The donut stretches, so acts the same as the kind with the elastic panel.  It's really more of a super thick rubber band than a donut, so if you think of grabbing opposite sides of a rubber band then pulling, you'll get the idea of how sidereins with a donut work.

Answer 3

They are thick rubber rings built into side reins, like this-  http://www.doversaddlery.com/crown-germa...

Side reins are used while lunging the horse to help the horse learn how to accept and give to contact with the bit and to help the horse build muscle over its topline.  Side reins are often designed with elastic or rubber inserts, like donuts, to allow for a little give, useful on a green, sensitive or head-tossing horse.

Answer 4

i think they're mostly used on side reins, and standing martingales. basically all the do is keep the martingale from slipping

Answer 5

They're sometimes incorporated in side reins.  They're donut shaped (surprise!)  rubber things that are intended to add an elastic feel to the reins, more closely approximating human hands in riding.  In other words, they have a little give and take, unlike solid leather side reins.  The side reins I use have double elastic on the end that attaches to the rings on the circingle or the D's or billets.

Answer 6

they are thin rubber circles with a little hole in the center. they go on the reins of the bridal