Romel Reins - At What Point Do You Add Rein Chains To the Mix?

My little morganXhafflinger and I went and showed at a local fair back in August and gave some western classes a shot. Had a blast. He totally had his A Game on.

We got docked points for using romels and not splits (which I wasn’t suprised by because nobody around here uses them, even the Arab riders), but also lost points because we didn’t have rein chains between reins and bit.

I was under the impression that if romels had the button-closure bit ends, chains weren’t necessary? My coach also didn’t feel at the time that we were quite ready to add chains to the mix as pony wasn’t quite “there” yet. But after getting the feedback from the judge, we started second guessing ourselves, and I’ve now finally got my hands on some rein chains.

Pony is now pretty darn solid and is at a point where we can throw him a curveball and not completely blow his little mind. But how does one determine when a horse is ready to add chains to their set up?

My coach has limited experience with romels as she is from the QH world and has only ever used splits herself, but my gelding is built/moves for romels to be the appropriate piece of tack. Plus, I ride better with them than splits, even on her QH. haha

Thoughts?

I would question the judges ability - it is my understanding that romel reins are not required to have chains, they are optional. Plus romels are a traditional show equipment for morgans so the judge should not be docking points. Sounds like poor judging.

Most people I know who show in romals at recognized shows do NOT use rein chains. I would also question the judge’s qualifications.

Unless the rules say something specifically about romals nor being preferred OR you were incorrectly using them, you should not have been docked points.

Rein chains can be added at anytime. They can help add feel to the Romel Reins. As Bugs said, are you sure you were holding them correctly? That is the only reason I would understand a penalty. Usually, it would result in a disqualification. If you are 100% you were correct with your hand, you unfortunately showed under a unknowledgable judge.

It would not let me edit, but I show in romels only. I do not use rein chains. My good friend does, it is personal preference.

The judging was questionable for sure. I was DQ’d from an english class because I used a baucher/hanging cheek snaffle and she INSISTED it was a gag despite me pulling up the rulebook AND an email from Equestrian Canada stating that it is a legal snaffle. Sigh.

Hold was definitely correct. She specifically said I should be using split reins and that I need chains. Half the reason I started riding him in romels is because I need to have something in my non-reining hand or my arm does wonky things. The rest because he’s upright like a morgan (and half morgan anyways) so splits don’t really hang well and make the feel super muddied. Plus, as oppsfelldown said, it’s traditional for morgans.

I guess I’ll just try the chains and see how he feels. Worst that can happen is we don’t like them and go back to what we’ve been doing.

Gotta love riding unconventional horses!

Avoid that judge and carry on as before…

Specifically what class were you showing in?

Rein chains compliment the balance of the bit and can give more pre-signal.

You typically don’t see a lot rein chains used in the show pen, like reined cowhorse, because they want a faster feel.
That is why cowhorse romel reins are much longer than traditional “cowboy” romels intended to be used with rein chains.

Specifically what class were you showing in?

Rein chains compliment the balance of the bit and can give more pre-signal.

You typically don’t see a lot rein chains used in the show pen, like reined cowhorse, because they want a faster feel.
That is why cowhorse romel reins are much longer than traditional “cowboy” romels intended to be used with rein chains.

[QUOTE=Aces N Eights;8977868]
Specifically what class were you showing in?

Rein chains compliment the balance of the bit and can give more pre-signal.

You typically don’t see a lot rein chains used in the show pen, like reined cowhorse, because they want a faster feel.
That is why cowhorse romel reins are much longer than traditional “cowboy” romels intended to be used with rein chains.[/QUOTE]

Pleasure, horsemanship, trail, and showmanship (though clearly showmanship was not with the reins in question). Also worth noting is that we were doing walk/jog as it was our first time attempting western classes (on top of our first fair, first show since my accident 3 years ago, first “sleep away”/multi-day show, etc etc). I didn’t expect to do well, but I, and my coach, also didn’t expect to be pinned as poorly as I was simply due to my choice of reins.

We don’t have things like reined cowhorse around here. I don’t think we even have any sort of cow working around here, period, since the penning club went TU. Other than pleasure/horsemanship/trail/equitation (for whatever reason this particular fair didn’t offer western eq, only english), I think a few circuits offer “suitable to be a reiner”, “suitable for western dressage”, and the biggest fair offers a versatility class for the walk/jog/lope riders.

Willesdon has great advice (“Avoid that judge and carry on”)

As does Aces N Eights , about the difference in feel/signal between reins with or without chains.

The other reason that you would Need Rein Chains (as opposed to wanting them because they look cool) would be because you have very good reins, you are riding outside, and you will need for your horse to drink water while bridled.

Out on the trail, you would likely want rein chains so that your good rawhide didn’t get soaked with water if the horse drinks from a trough, creek, etc.

This wouldn’t be a concern for a show, where you would likely untack the horse and could water him when he’s in a halter.

And I want to see a picture of your Morgan/Hafflinger, sounds like a great pony.

Thanks everyone.
Yep, will certainly be avoiding that judge again. My coach intends to do the same. Which is a shame, because it was a really great environment for the green horses and nervous riders, but if that’s the judge they use every year then forget it.

This is the chunky little monkey - all 14 hands of him. Haha https://photos-1.dropbox.com/t/2/AABVoz76YoOGkzcwPtpGQGfixra0eBs4BGiXJdk5jjXZNA/12/414469480/jpeg/32x32/3/1482202800/0/2/java1lrg-28.jpg/EJ-xh6kDGN_LAyACKAI/gw6ySTbn4WjRypS4hvRzE4AGYgMZaovpiRSAJU-ZqxA?size_mode=3&dl=0&size=1600x1200

Apparently that link won’t work. Try this one: https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-0/p480x480/15380502_1293788697339766_9135533489638709109_n.jpg?oh=b26e880b944d34b638450c96757f76e7&oe=58E9C96D

What a cutie! Looks like he has loads of personality.

I’m chiming in to agree with the others that you don’t need the chains. Carry on!

I would agree that from what you say, the Judge was not qualified for the Western Classes. She is talking thru her hat about chains, romel reins and split reins.

I am not a romel rein user, want a different feel for my horses, but have been educated in the “etiquette” of proper using them, bitting horses showing with such reins and the chains too. Old style stuff. Kind of like styles for each of the English disicplines, where Proper varies, though it is “all English”. The Experienced watcher can see if you mixed styles on your show horse, what is wrong or right about it. If your right hand wanders, go for the Romel style to hold the hand still.

I personally would not add rein chains because first, they weigh more on his mouth. Chains can get to swinging while riding along, makes his rein signals “muddy” by the time it gets to his mouth. I want a straight connection from hand to bit, giving him clear signals. Lift my hand a touch, head comes in, he shortens so he is ready for the next request from leg to move out. He is not heavy on my hand, can feel me touching the reins if he moves his head. Of course this is the more finished horses, not a young one in progress still. But that is the goal you work towards.

Not mentioned is his Western bit being used. I kind of expect to see a nice curb or spade looking bit on a horse with Romel reins, it is part of a package towards being a Bridle horse when finished. Various types of curbs work differently on horses build in different body styles, so there are numerous bits that go with Romel reins well. I would not like seeing a plain stainless curb, narrow shanks, just not the “look” of a Bridle horse. Might gig you a couple points, but certainly not a DQ for it.

I guess I would send a not to the Club that puts on the shows, the certifying group that licensed this Judge and point out the problems. I would include some photos of our horse and you, dressed to show, so they can see what Judge saw. Perhaps they will not hire her again, or make her retake the test to be licensed for Western Judging. I would not let it slide, people are hiring Judges now for the season.

And personally, I would CONTINUE going to that show for all the reasons you gave. Consider it “training time” in getting your boy more settled, easier with travel and in groups. What would a Clinic or Lesson with an expert cost you? You have to put in time ANYWAY with a learning horse, this place is close, sounds fairly inexpensive for classes, so you benefit a lot by going. I spent MUCH money and time going to small shows while horses were learning, never expected ribbons, though we did get a few then. But HORSE improved by leaps and bounds, all was a great travelers, got much more dependable on all their classes with this kind of exposure. The mare was rock solid for my kids later, did everything well when they asked it right.

You have had a learning experience. Life is not fair, you keep going. Horse sounds like a champ with no ribbons that day! GOOD BOY, he gets his apple anyway. Some Judges like you and horse, some will NEVER like you, even if you buy them lunch! Ha Ha That is the game, take it or leave it. As your horse gets closer to being finished, then you can spend the big entry money and expect to get winning rides. Better judges too! He looks like a cutie in the photo.

Final consideration about rein chains, is that romal reins are made for a particular length, to fit a long necked, average, or small horse…

Or for an intended use with, or without, rein chains.

A person would often be able to use one size of reins intended for chains, on different horses by using longer or shorter chains.

But, what you REALLY don’t want to do, is have your hand(s) on the proper carrying point on the romal and reins, and have too much (or too little) rein length to be effective with your cues or unable to give a proper release.

In other words, if you went back to your trailer and put chains on your romal reins, you would have come back into the ring with your reins too long to be effective.

And goodhors had a good point, too- that you are going to put romal reins (and chains if you choose to) on a more traditional Californio type, half-breed or spade type bit. The independent cheek type bits so common today would be a signal nightmare to the horse, with romals and chains.

And I LOVE your little bay chunky monkey.

Good point, any type of loose jaw or independent side piece bit is not going to be a great choice to add chains to. Possibility of adding too much unintended movement to the bit. I found the same with any broken mouth (jointed) bit adding chains back in my Western days.

I was taught back decades ago in So Cal the chains were added to Romel reins to protect the rawhide from slobber, horse trying to chew it or drinking water. The button type connection braided into the rein was preferred unless there was a specific reason for the chains. And the fancier loose jaw and independently moving cheek pieces were not really out there yet with the exception of the broken mouth Quick bits, which were a nightmare with chains on a fussy type.

When I moved to South Texas and converted to split reins, never used chains. You ride with more slack in the split reins and, unless you ride with pretty stout weighted reins, the chains will bounce around more which bounces the bit and can piss off the horse.

Chains are just not something to add for looks or because others do it. That judge was really showing a high degree of ignorance. But you need to use it as a learning experience, look, you learned about rein chains because it made you post on here asking. It’s all good and part of the horse show game.

The bit is a solid copper mouth with low port, but it hinges where the sides connect to the shanks. The shanks are solid, though, and flatter/heavier: https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/13925687_1186967294688574_2829859470579027666_o.jpg?oh=9f3f90567ca3bd276a7b9f2b8e7d049f&oe=58E19849

I had him in a lighter/looser shank as we were working from snaffle to curb, but were using gaming reins with the lighter bits/broken mouthpieces, and switched to proper romels when he “graduated” to the heavier/unjointed curb. I realize that sounds like a lot of extra steps, but he’s a complicated pony at times, and we’ve had to do a lot of unconventional things to get us to where we are today, haha.

To clarify, the issue with the show/judge was not that we were pinned “unfairly”. The issue was that when she was confronted with the rulebook, she was adamant that she was correct and the rulebook was wrong. I did not approach her with the rules in hopes of changing my placing. I did so in an attempt to educate about my snaffle (that is a snaffle, NOT a gag) and prevent future issues. Unfortunately she refused to believe me or the rulebook, and I was forced to borrow a correction port kimberwicke from my trainer (the only english bit we had in the trailer that fit his fat face), which wasn’t fair to my pony, but was the only way we were going to be allowed to continue riding.

I don’t show for the ribbons, I do it for the experience. But everything about that judge was unpleasant and not worth repeating. The club that put it on has been notified by all of the riders that went up with our trainer, but it sounds like she is the only judge that they can get to do that particular show for whatever reason. Oh well, there are other shows!

I gave the chains a try this morning, and neither pony nor I were overly impressed with the feel. It wasn’t bad walk/jog, but he has such a thundering up-and-down canter/lope that the reins just swung erratically and pissed him off. Guess they’re just not for us after all.

Thanks folks!

Never apologize for taking extra steps trying to get the best fit for your horse and situation. And never hesitate to try something different even if all you learn is why they aren’t a good choice for your horse and situation. It’s all about learning and that never stops.

The typical length of romel reins is 52 or 54 inches (one rein length) If you want to add rein chains, then you need to find romels that are about 42 inches or so. Reins chains are different lengths, but somewhere from seven to 12 inches long. Either way, reins longer than 54 inches are too much rein, and just get in your way.
Many of the traditional spades have rein chains on them, attached to the bottom of the cheek piece… The reins attach with a short leather hobble connector from rein to chain. You should take detach the reins after every use and hand them so they stay straight.