Does anyone have suggestions for reins that stay soft/supple? I have a very hard time switching out reins/bits (even with using a good conditioner) due to arthritis. I’ve tried reins with buckles and the regular hook in hole ones. I have a nice quality pair of rubber reins I love but for the life of me can’t get them off the bit because the leather is too thick and hard to move. I don’t care for web reins. I prefer to stick to either rubber reins or leather/leather-rubber mix. Also looking for reins that allow for a nice contact like my current pair do. Any advice is much appreciated!
Well, I think I would first try Dunkin what you’ve got in a little bowl of neatsfoot oil, or using a paintbrush to really get the oil in all the crevices. Maybe do it twice. You may find that that renders the leather much softer. Also use a screwdriver to help get things wiggled loose. It helps with both Hook-in stud and buckles.
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Heat can help soften the leather temporarily, too, such as with a hairdryer.
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I highly recommend Comfort Connect Reins/Intermittent Padding from the website Correct Connect. I too have arthritis in my hands and struggle with maintaining a good connection with my original reins. I love these new reins. They stay soft, and because of their unique padding, allow me to better maintain a steady even contact without gripping. My trainer loves them so much, she as recommended them to other riders in our barn. Check them out.
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Are you looking just for schooling reins? Would putting little snaps on them help?
https://www.bigdweb.com/scissor-swivel-snap-solid-brass-5-8-inch
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I recently got these and am very pleased with them:
https://www.ridingwarehouse.com/Kavalkade_Softgrip_Reins/descpage-KSGRS.html?color=BK
They have many options like rubber, rubber and leather, stops/no stops, etc.
The buckle to the bit has a “long runway” before the “turn” at the bit. I think this makes the buckle infinitely easier to undo. The leather is soft and has not gotten stiff at the “turn”. I wipe down with a damp cloth maybe every other ride and condition if needed.
I bought them based on price…but I think they are nicer than what I paid. Nicer than the original reins on my bridle.
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If you otherwise like the ones you have, I second trying to soften them with an oil soak and/ or adding clips the ends for easy changing.
This may not be what you’re looking for, but I’ve found that the easiest reins for me to unbuckle are these beta ones from PHS saddlery: https://bitlessbridle.com/product/flat-super-grip-english-style-beta-reins/
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I added clips to the end of my reins. So I clip them on and off. I’ll take off the clips for shows, out in public, but super helpful when changing out reins.
Also take some neatsfoot oil, warm it up in an old pot, then dip your reins in for a couple minutes. It will soften them up.
You can also use a hoof pick to get them to loosen vs fingers hen changing them out.
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I sometimes have to use a pliers and screwdriver to get the hook/loop ends off the bit. I stick the screwdriver under the leather behind the hook and work it up to get the hook loose. Sometimes this is enough and I only need the pliers when I put it back on (to pull the end through the keeper and get the slot to catch onto the hook. You might want to go to buckle end reins, but I have found a screwdriver is immensely helpful.
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The reins on this bridle have loop ends. No buckles or tabs. These particular ones are web reins and you can’t buy them separately, but this must be a thing elsewhere, right? I am not sure how to find them, though. Searching for loop reins just serves up hand loops…
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Schockemöhle has some that are semi similar. I think they have a few models like these: https://schockemoehle-sports.com/en/Grip-Reins/1103-00028.3
If someone wanted to, they could use “water loop” attachments to connect their english reins to bit without using metal clips and still have them be easy to change out.
Scroll down to the bottom to find just the water loop connector without the rein.
(they are called water loops because in western riding, if you let your horse drink, only your water loop gets wet, not the expensive mecate reins)
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Thank you all, this gives me a lot of different options!
This is what I do for my schooling reins. Makes them easy to remove.
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I bought these reins and tried riding with them maybe half a dozen times but unfortunately, I don’t like them. Another piece of tack in the “almost new but not being used” pile. 
If they’re black and you want to sell them I’d buy them!
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I have reins that are sometimes difficult to get off, so I’ll take a hoofpick and use the pick to lever the leather piece out of the keeper. Some people said use a screwdriver but we all know how hard it can be to find one in a barn! I would recommend reins with a big buckle instead of the small square one, easier to undo
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My Correct Connect reins arrived and I’ve ridden with them once… so far so good! I like them a LOT better than my Dyon reins but I don’t know yet if I like them better/the same/less than my old (broken 
) PSoS Super Softy Grip reins.
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I’m in the hoofpick camp too. I’ve done it for years. If you decide to go with the current reins and want to soften them, I would advise against neatsfoot oil. It can rot the stitching. Instead, this is what I use, and you get buttery soft leather every time. You’ll never have an issue getting the reins off the bit in the future.
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