Martingale Stops that don't just slide on???

chickeninabun

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Does anyone know of any martingale stops which you don't have to slide onto your reins??
I have some normal rubber diamond shaped ones, but when I push them on they are wreaking my lovely Jefferies show reins, as the stops are so hard to push on that they pull lots of the rubber bobbles off.:(
Anyone know if any other idea??:confused:
 
Pull them on from the other end, so they don't have to go over the bobbles :confused:?

If you pop them in boiling water first, it softens them and makes them easier to pull on.

Alternatively, you can buy reins with the stops on, usually leather but I'm guessing that's not what you're really after.
 
It is true putting them in hot water (stops) will make them a bit more stretchy.
Put stop on your tack cleaning hook & stretch it, then thread rein through & pull rein with one hand & stop with the other. You could also try smearing a small amount of saddle soap on the inside of the rein stop to help it slide.
 
I've no idea if they already exist but if not could you ask a local saddler to make some that are two pieces of bridle leather, pleasingly shaped, sewn together but with a slit to get them on the reins and then a small press stud on a tab to close the slit? Alternative design would be two pieces of bridle leather, pleasingly shaped, velcro backed, each with a slit in and you put one on with the slit to the right, one with the slit to the left and then stick them together, securing them.
 
Not sure about putting them on from the other end, as I am not sure I'd get it over the hook and billet bit.
Could try warming them I suppose to see if they are easier or greasing them up a bit.

I quite like the idea of getting a saddler to make some little bits to either fasten on or that are permanently attached.

Best thing would be to buy reins with them already on, but my reins match my bridle and were pretty expensive, so I don't really want to change them.
 
If you thread two pieces of bale a twine through the stops and then pull them in opposite directions so the hole is bigger you'll be able to thread the reins through from either end.
 
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