I have trouble keeping the reins from slipping through my fingers. I’ve wrapped the two rein stops that I usually hold onto with that fabric tape that people wrap baseball bats with. It makes them a little bigger and not as slippery as the leather. Is this legal?
The rules say, “Rein additions or attachments are prohibited.” The section also states, “The material may be rubberized or have a rubber covering and rein stops may be present.” (Page DR-32).
What’s the cause of this? Do you need to practice having a firm grip or do you have arthritis in your hands or are you being taught to ride with an unnaturally heavy grip?
I’d suggest rubber fabric reins and gloves with silicone grip. I have some arthritis in my fingers and this really helps.
have you tried laced reins?
I haven’t in a long time. I just remember them being slippery and without rein stops. I’ll see if I can find some in the overflow tack room!
I really just need to know about the fabric tape to know if I need to remove it before my show on Saturday, then I’ll look into purchasing another option.
Thanks!
How about you leave on and ask the Stewards opinion before your class, if it’s a no no, take it off then.
I would ask the TD but be well-prepared for them to be not legal.
The way to keep the reins from slipping through your fingers is to press down with the thumbs.
You do need to keep the 3rd and 4th fingers closed.
However. I found my reins slid through my fingers through the 1st finger and my thumb, because I kept my thumb flat.
If press the tip of your thumb into the second joint of your first finger, it will secure the rein.
Now, I do not have arthritis in my thumb and fingers, but I can tell you that there is no gripping and thus no tension
I saw this tip in either a dressage web page or it may have been a magazine, but it does work.
Hope this helps.
I am 99% sure adding anything to the reins that they didn’t already come with is illegal. But as others suggested, ask the TD first and be prepared to remove tape quickly. Downside is in the meantime you keep practicing with something you’ll likely need to change = last minute adjustment. Not something I’d like to deal with going down centerline when I’m already a bit tense!
Lusoluv makes a good point. continuing to use the tape, only to find at the show that it’s not legal could be a recipe for disaster. I agree with Anastasia - you should hold the reins in such a way that your thumb on top holds the rein against the base of your forefinger. No slipping. If you still have slippage, I think you may not be riding with your fingers closed as they should be. Good luck!
What kind of gloves do you wear? I find that makes a big difference.
I use thin line reins. They are thick and squishy, very grippy. Sounds similar to what you are creating with the tape. Very forgiving on the hands. They come with and without stops.
^^ This! 100%!!!
I live in a fairly warm climate and wear gloves every ride no matter the weather. My faves are a mesh-back glove with a thin suede-like palm/inner fingers. No matter how hot or humid it is, my reins don’t slip with these. I want to say they’re Noble Equestrian Cool Mesh gloves but I’d have to check.
My spring/fall faves are fully synthetic that block the wind but are very thin with elastic panels at the finger joints. Got these in Europe but there are likely U.S. analogs.
My winter faves are thin, well-fitting fleece with rubber grippies on the palms and inside fingers. Roeckl Warwick.
Also, make sure they are the right size. Since I was a medium in everything else, I thought I was a medium in gloves. As in size 7. Nope! I have wide palms and it took me decades to figure out that size 8 is my size. I can grip reins much better in the correct size. Who’d have thought?
OP - I have smallish hands and thus looked for reins that were not quite so wide. But I do have a problem with reins slipping, particularly when I’m using double bridle and holding a whip. And my boy is known to take advantage of his “stallion neck” now and then. 
So on a whim, I ordered these:
https://www.statelinetack.com/item/tory-leather-rubber-grip-reins/E006413%20BLK/?srccode=GPOSLT&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=OrganicPLAs
They have helped a lot, and also make it very easy to differentiate the snaffle rein from the curb. I like the fat, bumpy feel in my hand. Also, Kavalcade makes a squishy sort of rein that I find is also better than plain leather and rein stops.
SO if you have to go shopping, a couple of ideas to consider.
Thank you for everyone’s responses. For those who suggested that my contact wasn’t quite right - you were correct. I had a breakthrough lesson and now I don’t need the crutch of the fabric tape. For those who gave me ideas for reins and gloves - I’m still exploring these options. I did remove the tape for the show, and we had an awesome outing.
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