Title says it all.
Ouch! I sometimes forget mine or my kid “borrows” them. The times that’s happened I’ve liked the reins that have a rubber lining on one side or all rubber ones.
Thinline
I’ll tell you ones I don’t use - Nunn Finer rubber ones. They’re super grippy and soft with gloves, and slicker than snot without. This was in the summer, when your hands get a little sweaty.
These - however I’m going to order a pair of the ones from the h/j forum - much less expensive and look great.
https://www.tackroominc.com/arc-de-triomphe-calfskin-reins-p-24544.html
Lund Saddlery’s rubber grip reins. I’ve used mine daily for the last 2.5 years and they are magical. https://lundsaddlery.com/product/rubber-grip-reins/
I liked my thinline, but they started to crumble and degrade. Shout out for good customer service, they sent a replacement pair. But now I’m nervous to use them. Now I use some kind (sorry, don’t know the brand) that are leather on the outside, rubber on the inside, but not pebbled obnoxiously like normal rubber reins. Those hinterland ones are next on my list though!
$20 says these are the reins endlessclimb is referring to, because her experience is exactly like mine was. https://www.nunnfiner.com/Nunn-Finer-Eventa-Rubber-Reins-p/281.htm Never thought I was going to die on XC before, but yeah.
I use regular rubber reins - with big bumps, preferably - or laced reins, but with laced you have to build up your callouses before heading out on a long ride where you’re actually going to be holding the reins.
I like either my Dobert suede reins, or my rubber-lined calfskin grip-block reins (I have these: https://www.evoequine.co.uk/store/p158/Luxury_Soft_Grip_Block_Reins.html) when I’m going gloveless.
I hardly ever wear gloves, and I use Nunn Finer rubber reins, but the regular, old-school large pimple kind, not the Eventa ones. Mine do get a bit slippery in the summer if my horse is very sweaty, but I’ve never found any reins that don’t, and at that point I just suck it up and wear gloves if I’m going to be galloping and jumping.
My Horse is small and had a shortish neck, and the Pony length works perfectly on him (Regular length reins leave me with so much hanging down that it can actually get caught on the toe of my boot … not something I’d like happening!)
I like web reins with or without gloves. I’m intrigued by those soft notch reins linked above, though.
I’ll take your $20.
The ones that were slick were the knobby rubber ones, like this:
https://www.nunnfiner.com/Nunn-Finer…eins-p/282.htm
Still my favorite reins because of how thin they are, but you MUST wear gloves.
Braided (not laced) reins work for me but yes, I have callouses.
I never wear gloves unless it’s below freezing.
Wow, thank you so much, everyone! I loved a pair of Thinlines with gloves while out hunting a friend’s horse a few times. I now remember hearing a few people say they also like them for not wearing gloves, so I’m going to give those a try to start.
It might sounds silly, but I’ve found that not wearing gloves helps me keep my horse in front of my leg, because he needs to stay forward and light in the bridle for my hands not to bleed.
Webbed reins tore my hands apart, and although I also love the thinness of the NF Soft Grips with gloves, I’ve still had them get incredibly slippery. I do also love laced and braided reins. I agree that those soft notched reins HereComesZach posted are very intriguing! I’ve written down all the suggestions to keep in mind, much appreciated.
Smith Worthington leather stop reins, 5/8" https://www.smithworthington.com/index.php?p=product&id=716
Hate gloves.
Hahaha! Check’s in the mail. In all seriousness, very glad to know that the soft grips are just as bad, because they’d be tempting.
Another vote for Thinline reins!!! Whenever I have to ride with different reins now I miss them- they’re so squishy and stretchy it almost feels like I have a better following hand when I use them. Love them <3
I had ones just like these and they really are great if you dont wear gloves. Grippy but flexible and not too thick at all.
Now I’m really interested in the thin line reins