[QUOTE=MSP;3647729]
My condolences on the split rein purchase! I hate them but the keeper must make them manageable. Split western reins are meant for a finished bridle horse and I found them down right dangerous to use when direct reining and being on a trail or working with any kind of rope while mounted.
Odds are you would drop one rein, if they are split that means you have only one rein left and the loose one is on its way to the ground. If they are buckled you can just simply pick up your rein again because it is attached.
I say try the keeper and see if you like it and if you are riding with split reins practice your one rein stop! :winkgrin:[/QUOTE]
I would recommend putting the keeper behind my hands. In front of the hands keeper would interfere with rein handling, adjustments needed during drive. I still would prefer a single driver having reins buckled, then sitting on the ends. But for experimenting, try the keeper, tell us how it goes.
In riding, my split reins are always apart, no keeper on them. Even on the finished horses, riding all day, I use two hands on them. This keeps my body in better balanced postion, both shoulders even, both hands even. Less tiring, and keeps body even over the hips, so sitting on my rear equally. Too many horses with riders twisted in the saddle using one-handed riding techniques. Give horses a sore back with so much weight on one hip over a long day.
I use long reins, 8ft, and fairly solid but not extra heavy. My current favorites are the braided nylon training reins with poppers on the end. Easy on, easy off the bridle, wash in the machine. I cross them on the withers, behind my hands or put hands on the crossed reins on withers, while riding. Hands can control and halt, or change quickly from that postition. Allows plenty of room for direct reining of young horse, neck reining on the trained horses. Rein ends stay down on horse shoulders, weighted so they are not flying up or flipping across. I NEVER run out of rein if running my hand down them for bending a baby, some length left to swing behind the saddle for forward encouragement when needed. Again, I have found this riding postion, rein hold, to be quite comfortable during all day rides. Reins stay in postion hanging down, give good grip in hands, heavy enough they don’t flop during faster work. Horses don’t seem to mind any swing or touch from long reins during riding. On a short horse, the length can be down by the knees, but taller horses like mine, usually ends about by the elbows. I couldn’t ride the way I need if I had a keeper on these split reins.
Long nylon reins have come in handy for other odd uses. I had to make a halter and lead to haul home when we got picked up at the end of a long ride. My horse went in one section of huge trailer, while the other folks horses went in the other section with bridles off!! All were still saddled. Horses knew each other, my horse was a stranger, and NOT what I wanted to put her into!
I do ride one-handed to keep horse tuned, preparing for a show. I am a lousy roper, mostly use rope to make noise on chaps or drag something in like firewood, so reins aren’t a problem there. I do carry a lariat for emergencies on trail rides. Works for pulling horses out of mud holes riders WERE NOT supposed to be watering from. I use One-Handed rein hold much less as I age, because I want the more balanced body postitions I normally use. I catch myself leading with the rein hand and shoulder. Have to be careful so horse is not confused by my wrong or twisted positions in one-handed riding. Doing a constant body check to stay correct. You can ride one way in a ring to show, tend to get body stiff staying correct for western. Ring pretty is not going to be comfortable for long rides over an hour or all day on the horse. Ring equitation is getting a very long way from practical riding, in any real using situation, English or Western. The manniquien riders I see would be helpless outside the ring, without their perfect ring horse beneath them. They are just Equitation riders, not really skilled at riding. Pretty sad to see.
