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unfortunatly yes. its how SOME people train.
i however refuse to use any equipment on my horses. i have two mares, one is very very well trained in dressage and the other is a younger one in training now and the trainer im paying i will watch and i will not allow any equipment on my mares! My mare in dressage now can out do any dressage horse i’ve seen…My take on it, if you cant do it without the equipment you shouldnt be doing it at all!
that equipment is down right mean and horrible!!! There are other ways of doing it with out forcing them to do things. I have developed such a bond with my mare, and she is SO well trained and will do whatever i ask of her and will do it willingly. my mare in training now is doing outstanding!! no equipment needed. (except for saddle/bridle of course)
its a bad way of training!

Not all dressage horses are trained in that way, but so many are. It goes against what dressage really should be about, but even those at the top of the sport can be guilty of such crimes against horses.
Check out this link to read all about hyper flexion (as demonstrated in your link):
http://www.sustainabledressage.com/

Some trainers are trying to bring Dressage in to the new millennium, and they are to be commended. Check this link out for some wonderful examples of how dressage can be a joy for both horse and rider:
http://www.dressagenaturally.net/

EDIT: For all those who think this is a fair way to treat a horse, go and look at the first link I have provided and get yourself an education.

I train my own horses, and those of clients. Some of ‘my’ horses have gone on to compete, and win, nationally in Dressage. I do not use gadgets, or any form of harsh riding. Many do, and still go on to win. It doesn’t mean that it’s correct, and it’s certainly not ethical. There are better ways to train horses, they take time and patience, and an open mind. Sadly, the only way to open some peoples minds is with a pick axe!

Yes, this lady is doing lunging correctly. Though her equipment could be adjusted I must say overall she is doing an alright job. Lunging is a useful aid in all disciplines and helps the horse ‘use’ itself when the lunging is done properly. It helps with the headset and overall balance and picture the horse presents. I must make a respones to Kid, the second person who answered this, by saying that this headset is actually quite natural and popular with QH’s. Since their neck comes out of their shoulders at a different angle than other breeds (such as warmbloods and arabians) they tend to have a longer, leaner, lower headset. This person is just accentuating that bringing it down a bit more and making the overall appearnace more complete and balanced. This headset is quite natural for the horse and is no way like the extreme western pleasure ‘peanut-pusher’ headset. This headset is quite common in english when the main horse population of the area is QH or QH crosses. Also upper level dressage horses DO NOT have this headset, they have a higher headset, but for what this lady is doing it is correct for the breed and style/discipline she is participating in and they 2 horses you saw trained this way must not have been trained right.I also must conclude by saying to the first person who answered this question that this equipment is by NO!!! means harsh. When correctly in well-trained hands this is a awesome training tool that gives great results. I can understand your concern about if you can’t do it without equipment you shouldn’t be doing it at all. That is true statement that should be used when looking for a trainer, but lunging with side reins helps the horse become more balanced and helps the horse ‘use’ itself, for example if a horse is leaning on its front when it carries itself, draw reins (they have a similiar effect as lunging with side reins) can help ‘lift’ they horse onto its haunches so that it uses a more backward drive. I can see your concern on how this equipment can be used badly but it also can have a positive effect when used with experienced guidance. Even the mildest snaffle bit can be used wrongly in unexperienced hands. But even when a ‘harsher’ bit is used lightly and with lots of leg it can give great results, without the pain of inexperienced riders. I just needed to clarify that and I am in no means saying that beating a horse or using other crude methods to train it is acceptable, just merely pointing out the advantages of lunging and other helpful equipment such as spurs or whips. Please keep in mind these are +1,500 lb. animals and when thus equipment is used correctly it can create a happier well-trained horse.

I have dial up and only viewed the first part, because it is so slow. My impression is that the side reins are a little tight…especially when you take into consideration that the horse is only at "into. level". The first part of tghe video (where the horse is trotting only) shows the horse to be pretty relaxed and working within the frame set by the trainers. He still shows some swing to the neck, which tells me he is not resenting the side reins. Lunging with side reins develops the top line and haunches without having the rider interfere. I think the young lady should be comended for not pulling the horse around her in a a tiny circle. She is moving, with the horse on the circle, the whole time…which is correct for a young horse. I think if she loosened those reins 2 holes, she would be able to ask the horse to go MORE foreward. I think the only mistake here is that the reins are a little too tight for a green horse…their position seems correct to me. I also think the horse is very lovely!

I’ve only known of 2 other horses trained this way, and when they do compete in dressage events they look so unnatrual. Dressage horses often have that natrual headset so trying to force a quarter horse into it is a bit odd.

The side reins are really hard to get a good look at in the first portion, but later it is obvious the horse is carrying itself below the topline- the poll should not be lower than the withers even with a QH, which can have a long, low topline that may look very odd to those not used to seeing this trait. Also, it appears the reins are too short in the second portion. The horse is gaping at the bit, is not able to move out into the bit. This is an important aspect of the side rein/longe line work. There should be enough room in the reins to allow the horse to stretch its neck. This frees up the body for a nice, long trot. This is not what I see here at all. More of a tense, choppy movement with the canter as a compensation for the restriction of forward movement- a common sight with too short reins. Each horse is built differently. Placement of reins should take that into account, but never so as to cause a too low/too high head set. The horse should feel comfortable and relaxed at all times and it’s the rider’s goal to ensure this. We train for dressage with judicious use of longeing in side reins, trotting over poles and saddle exercises in a program designed to let the horse come slowly to its full potential in both body and mind. This woman looks to be leaving out a few steps, at the least.

its how you must train some horses that refuse to bring their heads down. they have to stretch down and low on stretchy circles and in the freewalk. its not cruel at all. when they give, so do the reins. think about it, their heads can naturally go low and stretched, how else would they eat grass?

This is very common. I actually showed the hunter/jumper circuit for many years and had a qh that would not lower his head. The side rains are fine. They are not too low at all. they hook from the bit to the top of the girth.

This is incorrect. She isn’t even lunging with side reins properly. I have ridden dressage trained horses that were trained with no equipment and they get the proper frame with out being trained with reins that hold their necks down and give them a "fake" head frame. If you take time and patience in training a horse instead of using a quick fix (like in the video) you will get a much better result. After all that horse is only four, no need to rush, they have got lots of time to train her properly.

The side reins are not in the correct position for dressage. It looks more like she’s training for western pleasure or like the horse was previously trained for it and hasn’t been trained to get a comfortable position. I’m not sure were she had them attached but it almost looked like they were on the irons. Either way when she tried to get her head in a proper position the reins pulled her lower. They also had some slack because she wasn’t taking up the bit properly and they were jouncing her in the mouth with almost every stride. If you want proof that this mare isn’t happy or comfortable working in this frame check out her ears and her expression. They don’t move, my mare makes unhappy faces while working but her ears swivel as she listens to what I’m saying and as she passes things and just in general.

While this is one way people train dressage, this is not the correct way. Forcing a horse’s head into the position you want will not help the horse be round throughout. It will build neck muscles, mostly because the horse is resisting. The fact that the horse does not want to canter or walk is further evidence that this type of training is incorrect. The horse is ‘running’ because it is not able to balance correctly and the restraints keep her from moving up a gait.

To properly train your horse in dressage, classical training is required and initial work at ‘long and low’. Through bending and flexion exercises, the horse gradually starts carrying its head low, stretching and using the muscles throughout the back and engaging the hindquarters more. Then the horse is asked to start collecting. No additional aids, other than bridle, snaffle type bit and saddle are used. This is the most correct way to teach a horse proper carriage and to work on dressage.

OK this is what I am seeing with my many years in horses, having years of experience with QH’s and Dressage.

First off from a Dressage view point:

These side reins are too tight placing the horses head too low and behind the vertical.
The saddle is set too far forward making the mare uncomfortable because she is slamming her scapula’s on the saddle trees fork with each stride.

It is also my observation that when asked to change gait, she is so uncomfortable that she opens her mouth in avoidance of bit contact.

Additionally she is on her forehand which you can observe in her transition from trot to canter going to the left.

Furthermore, you can not train a head set from "front to back",
Horses learn to carry them selves and their "frame" being ridden from "back to front".

This mare seems very kind and tolerant and is deserving of a better trainer.

Secondly, this mare would make a splendid western pleasure horse and is not being given her due as such.
Her confirmation, hindquarters and low set tail tells me she has a western pleasure genealogy.

So to answer your question, no this is not Classical Dressage training in anyway.

All this is is a training aid. It should not be abused although a lot of people do. the side reins are very low I must say but the horse looks pretty well balanced to me and I have been a co trainer/ working student for the past 9 years. The point of dressage it to have the horse be come up but light in you hand but with the willingness to stretch down when asked.

Looks like common sense would tell you the horse keeps breaking into a canter to re-leave being tired and stressed from such and uncomfortable position for such a long time.

Oh wow. I felt like I could feel his pain!