Selecting The Best Horse Reins

Horse reins are a critical part of the bridle as they allow riders to communicate with their horse using their hands. When looking to buy horse reins there are a few things you should consider before making your decision.

First, make sure you are buying horse reins that match your bridle. Often reins will come with the bridle you buy, or reins from the same brand will be an exact match to your bridle. If these reins will work it is often best to buy this option. If you are looking for special reins just make sure they are a similar color to your bridle if you are looking to show them.

Western horse reins come in many different styles. Some of these reins come will lots of bling while others have a more natural look. If you want to use these reins for showing, reins with bling might better suit your needs than more traditional western horse reins.

English horse reins are mostly muted traditional leather colors. If you plan on showing it is definitely best to stick to a traditional style of rein. However, there are also rubber rein options that are great for beginner riders. The rainbow colors of the reins help young riders remember where to position their hands and help them keep track of how to hold the reins.

Frequently Asked Questions About Horse Reins

How do I choose reins for my horse?

Choose reins depending on length, discipline, and color. Make sure to measure the reins using the instructions on the product page. It is also important to pick horse reins that match your discipline and the color of your bridle. For example, if you ride English and have a brown bridle you should buy English horse reins in brown leather color.

How to measure horse reins?

The standard measurement for English horse reins is 54 inches from bit to the middle buckle. You probably won’t need to measure your horse's neck to buy your reins as they generally don’t come in many sizes. Smaller ponies can usually be ridden in standard rein sizes. Extra-long reins are better for the larger breeds like thoroughbreds, warmbloods, and draft horses.

What are the different types of horse reins?

There are mainly different kinds of reins that can be divided into two categories: English and western. Here are the most common kinds of reins:

English Horse Reins:

• Plain Reins: Plain reins with no lacing or braiding. They are simply a long piece of leather with minimal grip.
• Laced Reins: These are leather reins with a laced pattern through them. These offer better grip than plain reins because of the laced pattern.
• Web Reins: These reins are made of leather and cotton and have leather or rubber rein stops at consistent intervals along the reins.
• Rubber Reins: These reins are made from an easy to grip rubber material with rein stops at even intervals along the rein. Colorful rubber reins can be helpful for young riders learning where to correctly grip the rein.

Western Horse Reins:

• Split Reins: These horse reins are made from two separate pieces of leather or sometimes cotton. The two reins are separate from each other hence the name ‘split reins.’
• Romel Reins: Horse reins made with two parts, the reins and the romel. The reins are usually leather and the romel, a leather whip like attachment, is located at the center of the rein.
• Roping Reins: These are simple horse reins that attach to the bit and loop around the horses neck.
• Mecate Reins: These horse reins are used with a bosal and loop around the horses neck. They are usually made from a fabric or rope like material.

What is the difference between English and western reins?

English and Western horse reins are pretty similar. However, the main difference lies in the structure of the reins. English horse reins are designed for riders to use two hands to communicate with their horse and western horse reins are designed for riders to only use one hand.