My coach would like me to get some new reins. All
Leather with hand stops. They can’t have a change in material, like not mixed with rubber or whatever.
Any suggestions?
I ride in the havana Schockemöhle Durasoft reins with the covered hand stops and like them a lot. I had purchased a pair of rubber-lined black ones last summer to go with my new black bridle but didn’t care for them and went back to using the Schockemöhles.
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I like my Bobby’s although I know several on the board don’t care for Bobby’s. My hands must not be discerning enough. 
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Yeah I love these too, I do wish they held up a little better but I’ll live because the width/stop placement is just right for my hands.
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I used to have Bobby’s reins and had zero problem with them. They’re perfectly nice reins. The reason I ended up going to the ones with the covered stops is because the stops always tend to rub on the second knuckle of my ring fingers really bad. Even with the covered hand stops and gloves, I have issues. That’s why I really hoped I’d like the inside rubber-lined reins that I got last year. Ideally the solution would have been increased grip, but I found that they didn’t offer as much as I’d hoped.
@soloudinhere how long have you found that they last? I’ve had mine for about 5-6 years, I think, and they’ve held up pretty well. But then again, I realize that everyone’s mileage can vary. I’ve been pretty happy with mine considering all the negative feedback I’ve heard about the bridles not lasting, which did cause me some initial hesitation on purchasing a pair of the reins.
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I had mine about two years? They were okay, the edge of the rubber lining started to fray a bit and some of the stitching came loose. It was fine, they just started to look ratty so I bought a new pair.
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I also have the Schockemöhle Durasoft reins and really like them. Have only had them since Christmas so cannot speak to durability.
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I have the Schockemohle rolled with stops (for both my snaffle bridle and the snaffle rein on my double) and the plain (for the curb rein on the double) - not the durasoft or rubber lined, just the plain leather. I have small hands and am allergic to rubber so better be safer than sorry. That said, they were a little slippy at first but after cleaning and oiling, they’re nicely pliable without slipping.
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I use rolled reins with leather hand stops. I love the rolled look, I honestly can’t remember the brand, as I’ve had them for so long. My bradoon rein is similar. I purchased them from Dressage Extensions. I’ve never had problems with grip.
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I like the calfskin wrapped ones with the covered stops, Red Barn or Arc de Triomph make them. A bit softer on the hands than the raised stops. (Which may not matter if you haven’t shattered and dislocated a bunch of fingers on the past couple of years, but I liked them before, too.)
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These are fantastic and all I use. Honestly, trainers who mandate any particular rein, without consideration of the rider’s hand, make me nuts. My own was a hard-liner about all leather with stops. My arthritic, painful hands just can’t even. Once she rode in these, she changed her mind and started recommending them to other clients.
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Thank you starsandsun. I appreciate and agree with your response. I don’t think she is really insisting , just recommending. Currently I have rubber Eventing type reins with no stops and now that my mare is really getting the whole connection idea, my coach just wants things to be as good as they can in terms of my hands. She absolutely loves my mare!
Which reins do you like?
The Schockemohle durasoft … I have a pair on my bridle now, and a spare just in case.
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My favorite reins are Thinline! They are all I use now.
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@ jellybean2
These ones?
I have a pair from Five Star Tack that are fantastic.
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Yes! They are super cushy and wonderful if you love a thicker rein (I do). They also make them with hand stops!
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I use thin rubber reins… very soft. Count me as one of the trainers who ask for these from my clients…
It is due to medical reasons not just because. Riding multiple horses daily with rein stops literally makes my hands unusable for the rest of the day. I can tolerate one ride maybe two before I physically can’t hold reins anymore.
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Same here. Love my ThinLine reins. Have a couple of pairs.
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