Legal Reins?

[Mother_of_Arabians]

Weird question and you’ll probably all laugh at me for asking, but does anyone know if paracord reins are legal??? Never even crossed my mind before now but I just wondered cause I just received fun colored ones as a gift that I’d love to use not just in schooling but I didn’t know if they’re allowed. They’re basically just longer barrel racer reins with the four knots towards the middle. Didn’t know if the knots would be considered a hand attachment or if the material and color would be permitted. I was hoping since they’ve changed the coat color rule this year they’d allow colored reins?

Anyone know???

[gardenie]

Insofar as colors, I’ve seen rainbow reins used, and colored rubber reins. My concern is more that the paracord could get you in trouble if it didn’t break if horse was loose.

3. CROSS-COUNTRY TEST AND JUMPING TEST.
   a. The following are compulsory: an English type saddle and bridle or hackamore. Any form of blinkers are
   forbidden.
   © USEF 2022 EV - 15
   b. Only unrestricted running martingales with rein stops or Irish martingales are allowed. Reins must be free
   of any loops or hand attachments and must be attached to the bit(s) or directly to the bridle. Exception: ushaped bit converters may be used so that a bit designed for use with two reins may be controlled with a
   single rein. Gags or hackamores are allowed. Any piece of tack that impairs the ears to move freely is not
   permitted. In the interest of safety, the stirrup iron and stirrup leathers must hang free from the bar of the
   saddle and outside the flap. Any device or gadget that does not allow an immediate and unrestricted
   separation of the Athlete from the horse in case of a fall is forbidden. There must be no other restrictions
   or attachments of any kind. BOD 1/15/22 Effective 2/1/2

[Jealoushe]

I believe they have to be leather, due to safety reasons so they break. Paracord is not safe for XC attire.

[Janet]

@Jealoushe

I believe they have to be leather, due to safety reasons so they break. Paracord is not safe for XC attire.

I can find no rule that says the reins need to be leather (If there is one, please post it). In fact many (most?) people use rubber or other synthetic reins for cross country. The only “leather” restrictions is that, for the dressage phase the NOSEBAND must be made of “leather or leather-like material” (EV 115.2.d.1)

Whether or not “paracord” (whatever that is) is safe is another question.

[Jealoushe]

Isnt the rubber over leather? I thought it was in there, maybe its just for dressage.

[Janet]

Not the ones I use (Tekna).

[Jealoushe]

I see neckstraps have to be leather only, maybe thats what I have confused.

[Mother_of_Arabians]

That’s kinda what I was thinking cause I didn’t find anything about the rein material required. I use rubber reins too so I was trying to figure how they’re allowed since they don’t really break either but paracord wouldn’t be allowed. They’re just braided rope reins and not rubber. I guess I can always bring both sets to an event and ask the show officials.

[endlessclimb]

Can you put a leather piece by the bit so that in a pinch, it will break away there? Like a shear pin.

[Jealoushe]

It looks like they would be but they really aren’t safe for XC. They should be able to break upon getting caught on something, especially on XC.

[Mother_of_Arabians]

The way they’re made I don’t see why not. I was actually thinking about doing that

[Mother_of_Arabians]

Well I was thinking about putting a leather piece at the end that attaches to the bit so it can break away kind of like how the rubber reins are. The way theyre built it would be easy to do

[Jealoushe]

That would be ideal. You can always shoot USEF an email to see what they think.

[Mother_of_Arabians]

That’s probably what I’ll do. I was just wondering if anyone had experience with it and knew anything.

[Mango20]

@endlessclimb

Can you put a leather piece by the bit so that in a pinch, it will break away there? Like a shear pin.

This is what I was going to propose - it’s the Pony Club rule for games reins. You can add a loop of leather between the clips and the bit.

[RAyers]

All I can say is I bet paracord will burn the shit out of your hands if the horse roots and you have no gloves, faster than leather or rubber. Also, how will they grip in sweat and rain? I have a paracord bracelet that after a year of wearing stank like the bejesus due to bacteria from being exposed to sweat, water, etc. in the barn environment. How will you keep the reins clean?

[Xanthoria]

This reminds me of a set of reins from my youth eleventy million years ago. They were brown leather reins but at about the same place the rubber starts on rubber reins, they changed to braided cord. a 5 or 7 cord flat braid IIRC. Just like braided leather reins (which I love) except without the buckle in the middle of the bight. And easier to clean.

We used them for hunting and cross country all the time (in the UK where it’s often wet) and they gave excellent grip. Wish I still had a set of those reins!

[Ergots]

Ohhh, like a slobber strap on western reins?

[Mother_of_Arabians]

Exactly! Just not so bulky and big

[trubandloki]

@Jealoushe

I see neckstraps have to be leather only, maybe thats what I have confused.

I see people using the fun colored web neck straps, those are not legal?

Nunn Finer Nylon Neck Grab Strap