I bought these https://www.hinterland.net.nz/collections/reins/products/soft-notched-leather-reins after hearing good reviews on COTH here. I LOVE them, they feel great, and have helped me cure my habit of slipping the reins, now I can keep better, and even contact.
Yes, they’ve been great! I am in the US and the shipping from the UK was reasonable for me, especially at their current cost. However, I believe there are quite a few brands making this style now, if you search for ‘calfskin block reins,’ or ‘notched calfskin reins,’ etc, you will more than likely find some in Canada as well :yes:
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I do have the stops. They are super soft, clean well and are not too wide for my stubby fingers. Also they do not slide easily, wet or dry.
I really like smaller reins (5/8") and like my rolled leather reins (cut off the bit guards) with stops. I bought them ages ago from Dressage Extensions and they still are going strong.
I like laced reins and plain leather reins (without stops – I have small hands and they’re never placed quite right for me) just about equally. My favorite pair of laced reins so far are some older Stübben reins, but I don’t believe they sell them anymore. I’m sure they could be sourced used off ebay or facebook though; that’s how I got mine.
My current favorite plain reins are, alas, just some random reins I found in the used tack store. But goodness they’re nice.
You can get the Schockemole reins in Canada that are similar to the ones that Chestnut_Mare posted. You can get them with or without them being rubber lined. I bought a pair of these in the sping to replace my Nunn Finer soft grip reins because I needed brown ones for my new bridle. I absolutely love them.
https://www.applesaddlery.com/Schockemohle-Sports-Durasoft-Reins---Brown/1619549713630212592/Product
https://equestrianfashionoutfitters.com/products/schockemohle-durasoft-grip-leather-reins
I ended up buying the Schockemole reins with the sewn in “bumps”. I’m very happy with them so far.
I used reins like this for years. LOVED them. Last year though, in the heat of the summer, the reins would get wet from sweat, and my hands would sweat, and it was like trying to hold onto a greased piece of leather. I could not, for the life of me, hold onto them.
So, just beware if they get wet. It could be that my reins are 10 years old and lost any grippiness they had, but I’ve now moved onto rubber reins with stops. The mare I have now can be ahem “challenging” at times, so holding onto those suckers is important!
I agree. Best feeling reins ever. “noodley” describes them perfectly. The grippy part may be biothane but there are leather parts. Once I found these I replaced the reins on every bridle I own.
Same, I can’t remember the reins I used for my single bridle, but horse just moved up to her double and my trainer swears by the PS of Sweden reins. Will be down next weekend and report back if I remember.
She uses PS bridles with the reins on almost all of her horses and swears by them.
Lucas’s. I just looked at this at the Dover store! They are really nice, wish they came in cob size. They also look very similar to the ego equine reins.
Nope, they are leather and rubber. And they are my favorite too! I find the thicker rubber reins hurt my hands, and anything with rein stops in it - the rein stops are NEVER in the right place, so they are useless. And some of them pinch my fingers. So I love the Nunn Finer (or the more expensive KL Select ones) for a snaffle bridle. I have even used them with a double bridle, with a plain flat rein for the curb.
Agree with Lucas, it is very individual - depends on your hands, your fingers, and your riding style! But I’ve tried almost every kind of rein, and I know what I prefer!
Well I can tell you what reins NOT to get. The dressage reins by Lund Saddlery. Less than a year old with white strings coming out along the entire year. Also shreds your hands and your gloves, lord help you if you forget gloves one day. Wish I could get my money back.
KL Select Italia Soft Grip reins with stops
I third (fourth?) the Hinterland reins:
https://www.hinterland.net.nz/collections/reins/products/soft-notched-leather-reins
They are amazing
I love the Schleese calfskin wrapped reins with stops. They are quite thick but have a spongey sort of feel. I have large hands but I can see how these might be “too much” for a smaller person.
Thinline, hands down.
I have small hands but borrowed a pair of reins from a friend at a clinic that I really loved but would never have considered until I actually used them. They’re the Albion 3/4" with hand stops. They offer better grip than even my Thinline reins - especially in the rain! Also, I had issues with the Thinline material cracking and deteriorating over time.
