Horse Training Aids

Lunge aids, side reins, and schooling tools that help horses build the right way of going. Stock from Equilane, Pessoa, and other trusted training brands.

Aids build a way of going

A training aid is a tool for building correctness: a horse that pushes from behind, lifts its back and takes an honest contact. Used toward that, the right aid shortens the work. Used to force an outline, the same strap costs more schooling than it saves. Everything on this page assumes the first reading.

What each type does

Draw reins are the biggest group: CWD's German draw reins in rope or leather, Trust's Monaco draw reins and Dyon's draw reins. In an educated hand they suggest flexion to a horse that sets itself against the rider, and they yield the instant the horse does. The CWD Gogue encourages the horse to lower and stretch rather than hollow, on the lunge or ridden. The QHP bungee training aid and the Rein Rite are the groundwork pieces, there to keep a lunge session building the topline instead of just spinning circles.

Tools for experienced hands

None of this equipment belongs on a green horse with a green rider, and no honest shop pretends otherwise. If a coach has named the aid, this page probably carries it or its close equivalent. If you are choosing without one, describe the horse and the problem to info@equijumpltd.com before you buy; selling the wrong aid helps nobody.

Frequently Asked Questions

We carry CWD draw reins (rope and leather German patterns), the CWD Gogue and Howlet, Dyon draw reins (leather/nylon and rubber-lined leather), Trust Equestrian Monaco Draw Reins, the QHP Bungee Training Aid, the Agrihealth Padded Lunge Rein and the Rein Rite training device.

Training aids are short-term tools to help a horse develop a specific skill, balance or carriage - not a long-term substitute for proper training. Common use cases: introducing draw reins for a few sessions to help a horse learn to round through the topline, using a Gogue to encourage a green horse to stretch and seek the bit, using a bungee or Pessoa-style aid for lunging work. Always work with a trainer or coach if you're new to a specific aid.

It depends on the aid and the horse. Lunge reins are routinely used unsupervised once the horse and handler are comfortable with the work. Draw reins, Gogues and bungees are usually best introduced under a trainer's eye - they can do harm if fitted too tight or used with a horse that isn't ready. If in doubt, ask before you fit.

Draw reins run from the girth, through the bit rings, to the rider's hand - they encourage the horse to lower the head and round through the back when the rider takes contact. Side reins run from the girth to the bit rings on the lunge cavesson and are fixed length, used for lunging work. Lunging aids (like the Bungee, Gogue or Pessoa) are systems specifically designed for ground work to encourage carriage development. Each is a different tool for a different job.

Start with the aid loosely fitted, work the horse for 10-15 minutes, and observe the response. The horse should look more relaxed and balanced, not hollowed or fighting against the aid. Build up time gradually over multiple sessions. If the horse shows signs of resistance, distress, or sustained tightness, stop and reassess - the aid may not be the right one, or the fit may need adjustment.

For a young or green horse, the gentler aids - the CWD Gogue, the QHP Bungee Training Aid, or a quality lunge cavesson with the Padded Lunge Rein - are safer starting points than a draw rein. The Gogue in particular is often used for ground-stretching work before any ridden contact training. Tell us your horse's age and stage and we'll point you at the right aid.