Rubber Reins and Humane Girths

[Bertie]

Hi all, I was wondering if I could ask 2-questions please: -

(1) Would you mind if your sharer changed your plain leather reins to rubber ones?? I share a 14.3hh arab x who hasn't been ridden for 6-years and she's really snatching her head at times when out, the plain leather reins aren't helping this as no grip - I'm the only one that rides, owner doesn't ride.

(2) Humane girths - what are peoples thoughts?? I'm not sure about them to be honest but would welcome others opinions.

[Mehitabel]

if owner didn't ride then ask, but i'd expect them to say yes. i hate rubber reins so wouldn't want them on a horse i rode, but if she doesn't then i would think it would be fine. make sure you give her the original reins though, and they don't get lost.

[Bertie]

I have the Mountain Horse SCS3 safety stirrups and boots and she had no problems with me using them and would always ask beforehand.

Out of curiosity why don't you like rubber reins?

[Mehitabel]

i have small hands and find them too bulky and quite uncomfy - also on a hot day they get very sticky. i also have roeckl super grippy gloves, and if i'm wearing them my hands get stuck on rubber reins and i can't shorten them!

[mayoguinness]

Just out of interest what are humane girths and how are they any different to any other ones??

[CurlyWurlyRach]

my main prob with humane girths is that when you undo one billet to tighten it/one billet snaps etc etc, the whole girth goes slack.
If anyone wants a black 48' aerborn humane girth, pm me. its just sat smelling in my bedroom.

MG - they are supposed to eliminate over-tightening and they allow the horse to breath apparently.
http://www.tds-saddlers.com/ProductDetails.asp?PCLinkID=6328

[mayoguinness]

Oh right, Look interesting:)

[joshes mum]

I use a humane girth never had any problems.

[mayoguinness]

Do you find its better for your horse than any other girth??

[martini55]

I don't like humane girths. I find them too easy to over-tighten and if you are doing them up whilst on-board and say your horse spooks and you let go, the whole girth goes loose!!

[Roxy Sew]

I don't like humane girths. I find them too easy to over-tighten and if you are doing them up whilst on-board and say your horse spooks and you let go, the whole girth goes loose!!

I agree, I find that they over tighen too!!:confused:

[Bertie]

the easily overtightening thing is my problem and never thought about the whole spooking thing :eek: good point though :)

[Bebe]

I've used humane girths for the last 6yrs without any problems at all, both GP and dressage versions.

Overtightening is down to the person doing it up, elasticated girths are just as easy to overtighten but most people seem to love them. By contrast I loathe them and would never use one.

I've got a fussy mare and the only girth she doesn't pull faces at is the humane, and I have tried others. I've let go of a strap when doing the girth up and never had the girth go loose either, once one billet is done up you do need pressure on it before it'll pull through, so it's not as easy as some people seem to think to have it go slack on you. I tend to have to tighten the girth "on the go" when my mare gets excited and haven't had problems doing that either.

[HollyD]

ihave a humane girth for my youngster as he has learnt very quickly to bloat his stomach out, therefore i can lengthen one of the straps to get it onto the first hole, then can easily do up the other side. For a young horse i think its good as it allows the girth to be done up much easier and tightened half a setting at a time if needed, it also moves with the horse making it more comfortable aparently. however as i progress with my horse i will want to get him used to a conventional girth, and i deffinately would not recommend a humane girth for jumping/cross country, hacking etc because if one of the girth straps on the saddle should snap, then the whole girth will go slack, at least with a conventional girth it will hold the saddle in place until you can get off safely!

[lor]

I'd find out why the poor thing is snatching at the bit, she may be quite uncomfortable.

[Trewsers]

Don't know much about humane girths - so can't comment on that. However, I love the rubber reins - so does OH - his original ones were plaited leather and he didn't realise what he was missing when he changed to rubber ones! I certainly wouldn't mind if you changed them if I were sharing. Specially if I didn't even ride the horse! I don't find they get slippery in hot weather as I always wear leather gloves anyway. I got mine from Robinsons.

[Bertie]

Thanks guys, I'm going to ask tonight if I can get some rubber reins as much prefer them. With regard to snatching the horse has not been ridden for over 6-years and everything is new and exciting again and she is just eager to go, as fast as possible everywhere she possibly can, she's not running away from pain - tack, back teeth all checked recently and she walks calmly when on roads just anything remotely feeling like fast ground :rolleyes:

I find the reins very slippy which is probably making the snatching feel worse than it probably is :)

[Siogfinsceal]

Hi,
If she doesnt ride cant see why she would mind? They are only very minor changes that you are making if you were changing bits and saddles it may be a whole different story. I hate plain reins, cant get a grip on them and my horse is prone to sweating so I need to use rubber ones. Cant comment on the humane girth never felt the need to use one my berneys leather and elastic one works great