ABOUT US
At Vivid Heritage Equestrian, our mission is to improve the training experience of horses by helping riders make thoughtful decisions about the equipment they choose to use. Through clear explanations grounded in biomechanics and training principles prioritizing horse welfare, we aim to provide riders with a better understanding of how traditional auxiliary reins and training aids work and how they may affect a horse's movement, posture, comfort, and overall performance. Our goal is not only to identify potential concerns but also to offer effective, horse-centered alternatives while explaining how these tools are intended to be used to promote healthy training and clear communication between horse and rider.
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WHEN LUNGING LOSES ITS
TRAINING VALUE
#1 Using"Lunging" to Burn Off Excess Energy
When lunging is used simply to tire out horses before riding, it not only teaches them to become overly excited or anxious, creating behavioral problems, but also encourages them to move out of control.
Horses that are routinely allowed to "take off" as soon as they enter the arena are not being correctly prepared for work.
Without a proper warm-up, the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joints are subjected to sudden stress, increasing the risk of injury or tissue lesions.
Incorrect lunging can lead to excessive loading of the inside limbs, reduced engagement of the hindquarters, loss of self-carriage, asymmetrical muscle development, body stiffness, fatigue, loss of motivation to work, potential aggravation of pre-existing lameness
—THE LIST CAN GO ON...
DOES YOUR HORSE TEND TO...
"The imbalance and discomfort may result from the training equipment and the way it is used."
WHAT HORSE OWNERS KNOW ABOUT
AUXILIARY REINS
Throughout the history of horse training, countless tools have been invented to meet people's needs.
Some of them are truly helpful, others have negative impact on the horse's welfare, and some are valuable for specific training approaches—but should not be used at all times or in all cases.
Many people tend to work their horses with equipment they have seen others use, expecting that it will offer a solution to their own training goals without truly understanding the function and long term-effect of these auxiliary reins.
WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN USING
AUXILIARY REINS
German String
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It restricts the horse’s ability to stretch the neck forward.
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Depending on the horse’s head and neck position, it exerts force on the tongue and lower jaw while also applying pressure to pectoral muscles and the spine.
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In a short frame, it acts at a perpendicular angle on the tongue and lower jaw, which may lead to excessive tension in the poll, neck, and back muscles both in horses that evade the contact and those that resist the rein.
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It can easily induce hyperflexion and pain throughout the body, potentially contributing to lameness and other musculoskeletal lesions.
What can be expected from its use?
Until one side of the rein is under tension, the other remains slack, resulting in uneven and inconsistent contact.
There is NO correct use of the German String, as it applies force in a manner that contradicts both biomechanical principles and horse-centered training methods.
If you are looking to...
WHAT TRAINING AID SUPPORTS
EQUINE BIOMECHANICS
®
EQUIBALANCE
Building the Foundation for Collection through
— Balanced Contact & Flexible Frame —
Horse Training Equipment Inspired by
Equine Biomechanics
The EquiBalance® Training Rein and Cavesson were created for riders seeking a horse-centered lunging aid that prioritizes comfort, effectiveness and biomechanical function to support relaxation, flexibility, symmetrical muscular development and improved proprioception.
The EquiBalance® Training Rein not only maintains consistent and perfectly even contact on both sides of the bit, but also allows unrestricted lateral and forward-down flexion of the horse's neck.
As a result, the EquiBalance® System does not create unnecessary tension or force the horse into a fixed position.
RELAXATION DURING TRAINING IS
FUNDAMENTAL
"Allowing the horse to stretch the neck and topline is essential for relaxation and, ultimately, for improving collection."
The EquiBalance® Training Rein ensures a comfortable, consistent and perfectly even connection, allowing the horse to find relaxation and confidence to fill the frame in collection.
A GAME CHANGER
WHY LUNGING WITH A CAVESSON IS
The Cavesson offers a reliable point of contact for the lunge line:
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to protect the horse's mouth from undesired pressure
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to prevent the excessive rotation of the poll
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to facilitate correct lateral and forward-down flexion
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to improve weight distribution and coordination
It is recommended to attach the lunge line to the cavesson ring rather than the bit to preserve the horse’s comfort and the undisturbed function of the EquiBalance® Training Rein, both of which are essential for encouraging the horse to confidently fill the frame.
Why Riders Choose
®
EQUIBALANCE
Across different countries, disciplines, and training goals, riders found the EquiBalance® System beneficial for improving contact, flexibility, posture, self-carriage, healthy muscular development and the overall performance of their horses.
Riders find the EquiBalance® System an effective training aid for:
✔ Starting young horses
✔ Re-schooling horses
✔ Relaxing competition horses
✔ Supporting the posture of school horses
HOW EQUIBALANCE
MADE IT POSSIBLE
1. PRINCIPAL PULLEY regulates the rope rein's length ratio based on the direction of flexion to maintain the balanced connection on the bit, while it ensures the unrestricted lateral movement of the horse's neck.
2. SIDE PULLEYS regulate the angle of the rope rein to maintain a comfortable and correct point of contact on the bit, while they ensure the unrestricted forward-down movement of the horse's neck.
3. REGULATOR ELASTIC provides the flexibility and the safe position of the rein system to adapt to the horse's dynamic movements.
4. NECK PIECE
The position of the neck piece and the length of the adjustable breast strap DETERMINE THE SIZE OF THE FRAME.
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Moving the neck piece towards the poll creates a wider frame
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Moving the neck piece towards the withers creates a shorter frame
A WIDER FRAME is recommended for those:
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horses who have a tendency to go behind the vertical
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horses who have difficulty stretching forward-down
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horses who have just been started
A SHORTER FRAME is recommended for those:
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horses who have a tendency to go against the bit
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horses who have a tendency to raise their head too high
How to determine the correct size of the frame?
Should be set according:
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to the horse's neck conformation
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to the horse's physical condition
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to the horse's training level
Most importantly the training rein should be set long enough to allow the horse to stretch forward-down to be able to relax the topline.
MEET
EQUIBALANCE Alexa
Over the course of thirty years of riding, I have traveled to many countries to learn from excellent trainers—yet the most meaningful lessons have always come from the process of re-schooling and rehabilitating horses.
In my experience, discomfort, confusion, negative behavioral changes, and even the potential development of lesions in horses often result from the improper use or inefficiency of auxiliary rein systems.
Traditional side reins and draw reins are primarily focused on controlling the horse’s head position while overlooking the importance of mobility, balance, and a correct connection.
The EquiBalance® System was designed to overcome these limitations, and to offer riders an effective solution which can genuinely help with the horses' healthy progression.
I trust that the efforts in providing guidance ensures that the EquiBalance® System will be
~ used as intended and only when needed ~
as there is far more to lunging
than is generally expected
What Riders Say
