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Eric Thomas Chambon & Reins: Training Aids for Lungeing and Ridden Work | Emmers Equestrian
Eric Thomas, part of the French Ekkia equestrian group, makes a practical range of training aids built around a simple idea, shaping how a horse carries its head and neck to encourage a rounder, more engaged way of going, rather than forcing a fixed headset. The range covers two genuinely different tools for two different situations: the chambon, used only while lungeing or free schooling, and running (sliding) reins, used while riding.
A chambon runs from the girth or surcingle, forks at the chest, and passes through rings at the poll down to the bit. When the horse raises its head above a certain point, it creates poll pressure; the horse learns to lower its head to release that pressure, which over time encourages a relaxed back and better hind-leg engagement. Running reins work on a different principle: they run from the girth through the bit rings back to the rider's hand and only come into effect once the horse raises its head above a length you've set; they're a boundary, not something used to actively pull the horse into a frame.
Tips for Choosing
- Use a chambon only for lungeing or free schooling, never while mounted; it's not designed as a ridden aid and works on a different principle than running reins.
- Make sure your horse already understands how to give to poll pressure in hand before introducing a chambon, since a horse that doesn't understand the pressure can panic or react badly.
- Don't rely on a chambon for impulsion on its own; it shapes head and neck position, not hindquarter engagement, so you'll still need a whip or voice aids to keep the horse moving forward.
- With running reins, set them generously rather than short, especially early in a session, so your horse can find its own balance before the rein limits how high it can raise its head.
- Treat both as tools for specific, supervised training sessions rather than everyday equipment, since overuse of either can lead to sore neck muscles or resistance instead of correct muscle development.
Frequently asked questions
What's the actual difference between a chambon and running reins?
A chambon is used only during lungeing or free schooling and works through poll pressure, while running reins are used while riding and simply set a maximum height the horse's head can reach, rather than actively pulling it into position.
Can I ride with a chambon fitted?
No, a chambon is designed for lungeing and free schooling only and isn't intended to be used with a rider in the saddle.
Does a chambon force my horse's head into a fixed position?
Not directly; it applies poll pressure only when the head goes above a set point, and the horse learns to lower its own head to release that pressure, so it shapes behaviour over time rather than holding the head in place.
Do I need to prepare my horse before using a chambon?
Yes, your horse should already understand how to give to poll pressure in hand, since introducing a chambon to a horse that doesn't understand this can cause it to panic or rear.
How do running reins differ from draw reins?
Both run from the girth through the bit rings, but running reins are generally used as a passive limit on head height, while draw reins are more often used actively to bring the horse's head into a specific position; it's worth understanding the difference before choosing between them.
Are these training aids suitable for a young or inexperienced horse?
Both are considered more advanced equipment best introduced with an experienced trainer, since using either without the right groundwork can create resistance or tension rather than the correct way of going they're meant to encourage.
Find Eric Thomas Chambons and running reins at Emmers Equestrian.