Specialised Reins

[Rarah]

Does anyone have experience using reins such as these

http://www.deboiz.com/html/reins_0.html

or anything similar?

I'm having increasing difficulty in gripping my reins

[casey]

Yes I have a pair or Ernest Dillon reins. Good for short term corrective use, but I wouldn't jump in them as its not easy to slip the reins if needed.:)
Ignore the lack of hat....
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y207/casey2312/291105017.jpg

[Rarah]

Thanks Casey. Do you find it easier to keep a grip on the reins using these?

Can you still give and take with the reins if you need to.

I don't have problems gripping all the time. Sometimes I'm fine, but when I had my lesson yesterday I had to give up after 20 mins and hand Logic over to my instructor.

[PonyGirlAsh]

I've always liked riding in rubber reins like this: http://www.doversaddlery.com/rainbow-training-rubber-reins-/p/X1-03313/cn/1700/ Especially if you are riding in gloves, they are much easier to grip in my opinion than leather reins (especially if said leather reins have been recently cleaned and oiled!!) They should sell them at any tack store (lots of times they are rainbow colored) or online, ebay, etc. Or you could ask your barn if there is a spare pair handy that you could try out! Hope that helps!!

[coss]

i have seen a disabled rider using those reins as she can't hold the reins as easily, she competes elementary+ dressage so she must be able to give and retake, not sure how the canter on a long rein works (cant remember).
how about putting a bridge in your reins temporarily as that will get you holding the reins better.

[Rarah]

i have seen a disabled rider using those reins as she can't hold the reins as easily, she competes elementary+ dressage so she must be able to give and retake, not sure how the canter on a long rein works (cant remember).
how about putting a bridge in your reins temporarily as that will get you holding the reins better.

Coss - what do you mean by a bridge? I've bridged my reins (jockey style I think) to give more support when galloping out on a hack before, but not sure how it would help me grip my reins?

I have switched from leather reins to rubber ones and always wear gloves.

Main problem is inability to clench my fingers around my reins to maintain a good contact doing dressage, so Logic gets strong, pulls the reins out of my hands, learns that she can do it all the more, so she does, and the more she does it, the more pain I get in my hands. :cool:

[casey]

Thanks Casey. Do you find it easier to keep a grip on the reins using these?

Can you still give and take with the reins if you need to.

I don't have problems gripping all the time. Sometimes I'm fine, but when I had my lesson yesterday I had to give up after 20 mins and hand Logic over to my instructor.

They are good indeed. You can still give and retake the reins, but the just teach you to have a consistent contact.:)

[coss]

Coss - what do you mean by a bridge? I've bridged my reins (jockey style I think) to give more support when galloping out on a hack before, but not sure how it would help me grip my reins?

I have switched from leather reins to rubber ones and always wear gloves.

Main problem is inability to clench my fingers around my reins to maintain a good contact doing dressage, so Logic gets strong, pulls the reins out of my hands, learns that she can do it all the more, so she does, and the more she does it, the more pain I get in my hands. :cool:

its hard to explain...
you pick up the reins, then the loose bit coming out of your right hand is held in the left (as well as the left rein) and the loose bit coming from your left hand is held by your right, you set the width of this to about 5 inches (or the width of your horse's bit) and it sets the length of rein you will be working with. i also have/had the problem in that i quite easily let the reins slip.
i focussed on holding the reins between by thumb and index (like you normally hold the reins) but made sure i really held it there and picked up the subtle contact with the rest of the fingers. the bridge makes sure you don't just slip the reins as its more difficult to, it makes your move your arms instead of your fingers more.
i don't think it would help everyone, but it would be worth a try, it is VERY frustrating at first as it feels like you want to keep lengthening and shortening the reins but it helps you to move more, i would say its worth a try.

or you could get continental reins with the notches on...
http://www.horseweb-uk.com/store/images/pc210.jpg
as this gives you a notch to hold on to so you can focus on grippig the notch rather than just holding the reins where you are sometimes unaware that you have let it slip a bit. it also has the effect that you hold one section of rein and you are less likely to let go.

[Silvia]

I use "double reins" - two layers of webbing reins sewn together every 10 cm so they form loops. I slip my fingers into the loops so I don't lose the reins. With my good hand I sometimes don't use the loops but I still like the double thickness, which makes them easy to hold. I can let the reins slip pretty fast in an emergency, but i don't have to concentrate so much on holding them.

[Silvia]

Just thought these might work for you. I tried similar ones and found them very easy to grip.
http://www.thetackstop.com/mjparachuterein.htm

[MrDCBags]

when Small Boy had probs with where to hold reins and slippage I bought some martingale stops and threaded them onto the reins in sections- they were a very snug fit on reins and so stopped them from slipping through is fingers. Also they only cost 80p each and 3 on each side was a bargain at £4.80 !!!

[Rarah]

I use "double reins" - two layers of webbing reins sewn together every 10 cm so they form loops. I slip my fingers into the loops so I don't lose the reins. With my good hand I sometimes don't use the loops but I still like the double thickness, which makes them easy to hold. I can let the reins slip pretty fast in an emergency, but i don't have to concentrate so much on holding them.

Thanks for your suggestions / help.

Finally received my new reins today - they sound very much like the ones Silvia uses and for the first time in weeks Logic dropped straight into my contact and worked very nicely and I managed a full hours schooling without any significant pain in my hands.

I practised my dressage test that I've got on Sunday and it was brill. Only problem I had was the walk on a free rein - I struggled to pick up my contact again smoothly but we'll either get better after a couple more sessions or we'll switch to our normal reins for our actualy test.

:)

[ShariN]

I use the heavier rubber reins.
But since this accident I really need grips on my reins.

Right now..the rare times I have ridden.. have been using my Lodge Ropes Enduro bridle. Is a very nicely made bitless rope bridle.
I have contacted them about making special reins for me so I would have a easier time holding the reins.. we talked and let them know what I needed. But they never got back to me about what the cost would be so I could send them funds.
Am hoping they see this here and get back to me!

I like the weight and thickness of the LR round reins..perfect for weak arms and hands..but it does need some special knots to hold onto.
Am pretty sure they could make what ever kinds of reins one needs.

[andreaB]

hi sarah

the ernest dillon reins look great but can't imagine them being dressage legal , shame

have you tried dressage reins , leather with rubber on inside

i have problems with grip & get quite painful joints in my hands from riding

i find dressage reins better in that they do not have the bulk of full rubber reins but still help with grip