Does anyone hunt with 2 reins?

[Jay89]

As title really. I am considering it, however not sure if it would be too much to handle. Thoughts appreciated...

 

[VoR]

I don't, have anough trouble sorting out one lot, but some do. From what I've read on here there have been varying degrees of success, some saying it gave them the brakes they were looking for, others that they had no brakes at all.
Guess you have to try it and see.

 

[Jay89]

I'm hoping for brakes! Think it has to be worth a try after yesterdays no brakes! Thanks.

 

[spacefaer]

We hunt all the time with 2 reins. In fact, we have a couple of horses we hack in 2 reins, so it comes very naturally.

One is in a double bridle - so no choice at all about it - he's lovely on the bridoon rein MOST of the time - but when you need to pick up the bottom rein, you really need to!!

Most of the time hunting, we find that the top rein of whatever bit we have - Cheltenham gag, Liverpool bit, double bridle etc is fine - as we're pootling about in woods, down the road, on the headlands etc - but when you're out in the open, jumping and cantering across fields, and you need to take a pull, then the top rein is not enough and you need the extra attention that the bottom rein gives you.


However, the bottom rein would be too much for the rest of the time.

Practice makes perfect tbh - we've been doing it for so many years that it's second nature

 

[bounce]

I do.

I use bottom rein on the first line as I rarely have much control but find that is too much for jumping sometimes so revert to top rein for jumping and for when he settles later in the day.

I don't find them too hard to sort out and I only have small hands so just use thin continential reins so I don't have too much in the hand.

 

[LauraWheeler]

I hunt Herbs with two reins. He's normaly a plod out hunting. Infact the first three times i took him the whole field galloped off and Herbs just stood there and refused to move. I think he thought it looked like far to much work.
He can be very unpredictable though so I hunt him in a three ring gag. Mainly using the snaffle rein but with a rein on the bottom ring just incase.

 

[BombayMix]

I think 2 reins are fine as long as you are experienced with them, so if you drop them for whatever reason you don't have to have a massive fumble to sort them out!

 

[JenHunt]

I hunt with two reins on a double bridle and it works fine, but then I don't carry a crop - problem is not with going forwards, but rather with not stopping from going forwards

you have to be comfortable using them when not under pressure of excited horse, busy field and glass of port! it does become second nature to pick them up when dropped after a while!

 

[chestnut cob]

Yes. I hunt in a single jointed pelham with 2 reins. Rarely need the bottom rein but it's there if I do. Using the bottom rein is like putting the handbrake on with my horse, but I don't always have enough brakes with one.

 

[gunnergundog]

Yes, two reins here. I think it helps to have reins of different thickness/type to help identify which is which in moments of madness! Practice makes perfect, so use your two reins for hacking to get used to them....you don't have to use the second rein!

 

[CrazyMare]

I hunt with two reins, and hack with two reins too.

Good quality, supple reins are an essential, but what type you choose is up to you. I have rubber lined and plain leather.

I find mine is perfectly behaved in the pelham with two reins, I very rarely need the bottom rein, but its there when I do!

 

[immoralorchid]

Yep it gives me control when I need it but also means I can ride off the snaffle no grey area. When nutty grey decides she is going to have a mad moment forget all self preservation and try to bolt over taking master disgrace herself or maby run into cars I can stop it and bring her back to earth. On the other hand when she is the perfect sweet natured bold hunter she normally is I can ride off a bog standard loose ring snaffle love it and looks smart too http://www.photoboxgallery.com/surreyunion/photo?photo_id=3274356374&vendor_id=3040523

 

[dcwilliams29id]

I hunt and hack in either a reversible port mouth or a standard mullen mouth pelham with 2 reins. I greatly prefer the level of control and communication the 2 reins give as opposed to trying to use pelham roundings or a kimberwick to slow a horse down. I think its a good idea to ride in whatever you intend to hunt in so that both you and the horse clearly understand what you are asking for. If you ride with light hands and ride primarily on the top rein, I think there is little difference between a pelham and a mullen mouth bit. I don't have an issue with 2 reins, and also generally carry a hunt whip. I would practice hacking in double reins, and riding with the reins both hands, one hand, passing the reins, etc. because, as one poster noted above, you don't want to be fumbling with reins in the hunt field.

 

[Jay89]

Thanks very much for all the advice!