File - Yosemite on Horseback Suggested Day Rides in

PRODUCT IDEA FOR MARCH 2016
REINS
This month I wanted to talk about reins I’ve owned, and in particular, my favorite reins I have now. I’ll save
those until last. As with all things, it seems, needs change with time. The kind of horse that suits, saddles,
distance of rides, and gear all seem to change for our various phases of life. So it is with reins.
1. Julie Goodnight Rope Reins:
Once my horse graduated from slobber straps, I was looking for some reins for the trail. I like reins to have
some weight to them, and I like them long. When the horse stops to drink, I don’t like to have to lay on his
neck in order for him to put his head down. I also don’t like to use clips for a bit attachment. Every trainer
I’ve worked with has told me don’t use clips, so I listened. These rope reins fit the bill. They are 5/8” thick
and come in 9 foot or 10 foot lengths. They also come in various colors, for people who like that sort of
thing. They attach to the bit with an easy rope attachment. The second photo
shows the type of attachment the
reins use. You can also buy these
“clips” in a large size to use on a
lead rope. I have found that nice
for the lead rope I carry on trail
rides. It reduces the weight of
having a big snap.
Another nice thing about these reins is that any product with Julie Goodnight’s name on it (or Clinton
Anderson) can be resold without much trouble. I enjoyed these reins for several years. Then arthritis in my
hands got worse, and I had to rethink my reins. Sometimes I carry a quirt, and with the thick reins, that just
got to be too much thickness.
2. Buckaroo Leather Reins:
I started to look for some leather reins that have some weight to them, and some length. I don’t handle
split reins well. This was hard to find. Finally, Buckaroo Leather (www.buckarooleather.com) made a
headstall and reins for me. They put some buckle-on extensions on the reins to make them long enough.
They are very nice reins, and I thought they would be my long term choice.
Nice Reins from Buckaroo
Leather
3. Ann Bates’ Mohair Reins:
Ok, Ann Bates is one of my riding buddies. She makes a lot of beautiful tack. However, I don’t feel the need
to buy all the things she makes. She showed me her mohair reins. They were really nice looking, but so are
her Rommel reins, which I admire, but don’t need. She asked me if I would use them on a ride so she could
take some photos of them in use. Sure. Happy to do so. I had no idea I would fall in love with these reins.
First, I thought they would be too light. Ann said that she could add buttons for weight. I was wrong. They
weren’t too light. They are VERY soft on the hands. I’ve always worn gloves, but with these reins there is no
need.
PROS: Soft on the hands, not too thick for hands with arthritis, can get in whatever length you wish, they
attach with a rope knot (similar to the reins in #1 above), Ann put a button at the mid-point, they come in
various attractive colors, and they are really pretty to boot.
CONS: They could pick up stickers, but last fall I only had to pull out a few stickers. Biggest con is that
they have a little give to them, so I don’t like to use them when practicing dressage, and putting the horse
on the bit. They don’t have as solid a contact as I like for that purpose. But, I didn’t buy them for that. They
are terrific trail reins.
If you are interested in these reins, you can contact Ann at [email protected].