An advantage of using a chambon is that it encourages a lower head position, and this will encourage the horse to stretch through its back, developing its back muscles and improving suppleness. It will also develop the muscles in the top line of the horse. However, the chambon does limit the horses head movement and some horses can feel restricted in a chambon.

 

Williams, J., 2020 ‘Equine training aids: can they really improve performance?’ UK-Vet Equine, 4(6), 196-200.

 

 

Affects over biomechanics and locomotion while in training - The lower head position of the horse when using the degogue enables the horse to stretch through its back which encourages an increase in strength of the back muscles and the ability to release the pressure through the back instead of having it building up in one area as it can flow through the back and down to the tail. 

Advantages - Helps lower a horse's head

Encourages the horse to use their back and neck when being worked

Enables suppleness through the back  

Encourages a lower frame

Develops muscle across the back and loins

Due to suppleness of the back looseness of the paces is achieved. 

Disadvantages - 

If fitted too tight it can pull the horses neck down and back causing it to be overbent and unable to work up from the hindquarters into the bridle 

If fitted too loosely there can be little to no effect as the horse is able to keep its head up and maintain a “nose-out” way of going.

1 journal to support the information - 

Williams, J., 2020. Equine training aids: can they really improve performance?. UK-Vet Equine, 4(6), pp.196-200.

They are traditionally used to encourage more variety in training as well as to provide a rein contact for the horse to work into. 

They use negative reinforcement, so when the horse ‘raises or twists’ his head beyond a desired point, the rein applies pressure to the bit. Pressure is applied on the bars and corners of the mouth, encouraging the horse to resist the pressure and work as its intended. 

(Admin, 2016) Side Reins - Your Horse 

Instructor and top dressage rider Tara Osborn. Explains that she uses side reins to help her horse build topline.

What else can it be used for?

 Establishing the initial contact with young horse
 – Developing topline muscle
 – Developing different frames progressively
 – Establishing acceptance of contact
 – Improving suppleness through the back
 – Encouraging a consistent and steady outline
 – Achieving looseness of paces through suppleness (Admin, 2016)

However other uses of side reins are simply only used to stabilise the horse’s position (Zsoldos, 2015) or to position the horse's head so that the nose was nearly vertical.

 ‘The movement of the neck is based on intervertebral locomotion and the muscle surrounding.’ The side reins could potentially jeopardise ad restrict the movement of the horse horses neck thus the movement throughout the horses entire locomotory system. (Zsoldos, 2015)

Other contradictions of the use of side rein,s are discussed in a study by Pospisl who looked into the ‘consequences in the nose band’ being tighter than necessary whilst using the side reins, The conclusion showed the tight nose band to have influence on the tension of the side reins. (Pospisl, 2014) Using the side reins incorrectly can lead to negative behaviour as the horse wont understand what is being asked of him. Negative reinforcement if used wrong can lead to punishment.