I’m pretty young (39) but I’ve been diagnosed with an autoimmune arthritis (not RA) and it’s attacking my right hand especially. I’ve always used rubber reins but I’m finding they are too stiff and I just can’t grip anymore.
I’m looking at the nunn finer rubber (which are much softer) and the thinline. Any better ideas? How to pick?
I have both and like the Thinline. The NF get slick when wet, even from neck sweat, so you have to wear gloves with them, always, but they are really soft so might be good for you (you probably should wear gloves anyway to help grip easily). The Thinline reins are a little bigger but they are cushiony and I find them easy to hold even going through the water cross country or on a puller over fences.
I use braided leather reins for dressage. They are very easy to hold IMO and look classy. They are very soft once broken in. you can oil them and then roll the leather a lot to get them soft. http://www.sstack.com/english_reins/joseph-sterling-plaited-reins/
Is thickness also an issue for you? I have both of the reins you mention above -the Nunn finer soft grip reins are really soft, grippy and thinner than the thinlines. The Thinlines are nice though, thicker, but in the winter they can be not so soft.
My only real complaints about the soft grip reins are:
the normal horse length is OMG long…and the pony length is short…an in between length would be awesome for the 15.1-15.2 hh variety 
hand stops on the reins. I did buy the package of stops to add on to them, but I haven’t actually put them on yet, so no idea if they will work/stay put, etc. It would be nice to have them already/permanently affixed as an option, though.
I do know that the thin line reins come in different lengths and they do make a hand-stop version.
I love the Nunn Finer reins. They are very flexible but not too thick, and they are grippy. I also have a pair of Thornhill Pro Trainers that are very similar, but last time I tried to buy more I couldn’t find them.
I prefer of all things the micklem reins, which you can now buy separately. They’re very similar to the Nunn finer reins but they are super cheap, riding warehouse carries them though last I checked they were backordered in black. I also have the Schneider’s version which are $60 and like those very much.
I can’t stand hand stops and the thinline reins are too thick for my taste.
Wintec Cushion Grip reins are nice.
www.ridingwarehouse.com/Wintec_Cushion_Grip_Reins/descpage-WCGR.html
I haven’t used the Nunn Finer reins but I know people who like them. I looked at some Thinline reins and they were too thick/stiff for my short stubby fingers. Ended up getting some reins from Five Star Tack (“Super grip reins” I think?) and I love love LOVE them. Very soft and easy to grip.
I had the NF and found them too soft for my taste, like holding a rubbery noodle. The bight would wiggle and flounce around annoyingly. I gave them to a trainer friend and she loves them. I like the TL reins myself. They are soft, though they are quite thick. I find myself fidgeting less with them, but you may find them too thick for your needs.
I too found the NF reins became slippery when dampened with neck sweat.
I had a pair of the Thinline reins that I loved the feel of. But I did not find them terribly durable. I think they lasted about 2 years tops. And that was with only using the (expensive) thinline cleaning wipes as well.
So I’d say that ultimately they were too expensive for how long they lasted.
I love Jeffries Bio-grip reins http://www.doversaddlery.com/jeffries®-bio-grip-reins/p/X1-03025/#ProductTabs, they have the gripability of rubber reins but the flexibility of leather reins.
I think that tends to be the case with the NF reins–you either love or hate them. I love them, and have them on the bridles I use for dressage/hacking. They are very very soft and flexible, so I’d think they’d be good for you.I didn’t like how thick the TL reins were, which is often my problem with rubber reins. But I know people who hate how thin/soft the NF reins are and like the more substantial TL reins.
OHhh and at those prices if I hate it no problem just selling them on.
I hate the Thinline reins. Way too thick! The NF are good and the KL Select and Red Barn pimple grip reins are even better. I’ve tried a lot of reins and those are my favorites.
Exactly! I had the Wintec Cushion Grip reins and loved them. Another option, if you want to try some of the soft rubber pimple grip reins on the cheap, is http://twohorsetack.com/p-60-riding-…-biothane.aspx. These folks are good, and the price won’t break the bank. If you like more substance in your hand, the Equus Eventa reins are nice, but pricier, though sometimes they can be found on ebay for half price.
I have bad arthritis in one hand and my favorite reins by FAR are my calfskin-covered web reins that came on my horse’s Albion KB bridle. They are thin, grippy, flexible, and look fabulous. Previously, the easiest reins for me to hold were the Sure-Grip type nylon web reins but they always looked like hell after I rode in them a few times and would never come clean. I got my bridle from Saddle Fit by Diane in Wellington.
The TL as stated are thick to hold and don’t last. A friend with hand/finger issues at my barn really likes the pebbly ones like the NF listed but hers are Red Barn. With a few poorly healed broken fingers I like the rubber/web woven ones with no stoppers or well conditioned braided reins.
becky
http://www.bahrsaddlery.com/exselle-grip-reins-with-stops.html
I have no idea what those things are made of and I wish they had buckle ends instead of hook studs, but I love them so much I have a pair in waiting for when my 4 year old pair die. They feel like rubber, but are thinner, softer, and they don’t get degraded by flyspray and sweat. Some sort of miracle material. I find them heavy enough that the bight doesn’t bounce around. The leather parts on them are nice quality too that also hold up to sweat and flyspray and, er, intermittent cleaning and conditioning.
Any suggestions for soft grip reins in XL? I’m currently riding in the calfskin reins but they’re too slick—I have to use a death grip so they don’t slip.
Nunn Finer soft grip reins, no question!!! I’ve ridden in Thinline reins, NF, and at least 4 other off brands and the NF are outstanding. You either love them or hate them. I have arthritis in my hands and the NF reins are fantastic but the first few times I rode in them it was different and I wasn’t sure how I liked them. They are very soft and noodley which, once used a few times, really becomes fabulous for my aching and uncooperative hands. In the dead of winter they are STILL soft as butter! I always wear gloves when I ride.
I have them in blue and after 2 years of being used hard and put away wet, the color is still bright and they wear like iron. The pimples are slightly worn down but I do a LOT of riding. The one problem I do have with them is they are a bit long for my 15.1 mare but fit great on normal/bigger horses. In fact, I just ordered a pair for the draft I ride because his grip reins are horrible and I found the NF’s on super sale - normally $96, on sale for $86, during the checkout after I entered my info I entered a coupon code of “springtime” and it took the price down to $77.80 and free shipping. They’re basically giving them away for that price!!
I’ve had the TL reins for about 5 years and they are doing great. I do wipe them down after each ride with baby wipes.
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