Old Style Plaited Cotton Reins

[Miss_Millie]

Can you still get the old style plaited/braided cottons reins from anywhere? I think cottage craft used to do them. The closest I can find now are continental webbed reins.

 

[PaulineW]

I loved them. Nearest I found was soft rope ones from Kramer, but not plaited.

 

[rabatsa]

Not a clue but I remember going hunting on a pony with some and came home with reins nearly 18" longer than I set our with.

 

[TPO]

Not exactly what you're after but would something like these work?

https://cinchupuk.co.uk/shop/ols/categories/reins

 

[paddy555]

lightrider-reins-cotton

I asked this questions a few years back
the only ones I could find in the UK had no centre buckle. I wanted a buckle for safety

I got mine from the link above. They were OK. Can't say the leather was of the highest quality but they worked OK.
The site was good to d/w. I ordered 2 pairs because of the shipping costs. I think it took about a couple of weeks delivery. Not sure if that is the case now with Ukraine and everything else going on.

 

[MotherOfChickens]

Not afaik, have been looking for some for ages.

 

[Miss_Millie]

Thanks for the links everyone, I'll check them out Maybe it's worth looking in a 2nd hand tack shop too.

 

[Keith_Beef]

I seem to remember that there's a member here who makes some stuff out of paracord...

 

[Tiddlypom]

I'm quite bemused that people still look out for these reins? In my book they belong firmly in the past along with jute rugs and canvas nz rugs.

Horrible slippy things. Not at all fondly remembered from my Pony Club days.

 

[paddy555]

I'm quite bemused that people still look out for these reins? In my book they belong firmly in the past along with jute rugs and canvas nz rugs.

Horrible slippy things. Not at all fondly remembered from my Pony Club days.

because they are lovely comfortable reins to hold and perfect in very wet weather as there is no slippyness just good grip. I think we have about 5 pairs of them on various bridles.

 

[Miss_Millie]

I remember them being very comfortable too

 

[Miss_Millie]

Are these them? They look right from what I remember.

 

[Rowreach]

I still have some which are around 60 years old now. The buckle and billets have been restitched a couple of times, but the leather is original and the reins themselves are still perfect, flat and tightly plaited. And they are brown so they don't show the dirt.

 

[Maddie Moo]

What about these ones? These look like the same ones but cheaper.

 

[Miss_Millie]

What about these ones? These look like the same ones but cheaper.

Those look nice, I like the green ones

 

[MotherOfChickens]

were the cottage craft ones nylon, I thought they were cotton? They were very comfy and not slippy at all. I still prefer cotton continental reins over everything else.

 

[paddy555]

Are these them? They look right from what I remember.
View attachment 90802

I think those may be nylon, the link above are cotton (but in Aus)
your reins have no buckle in the middle of the reins. Some may be happy with that. I am not because if the horse trod on them or got loose the breaking point would be on the bit ring which may be uncomfortable in the mouth/head. I prefer then to just break the buckle in the middle.

I think the ones on Maddie Moos link are nylon.

 

[AnShanDan]

Def. do still get used for mounted games in pony club and MGA.

 

[fiwen30]

Surely they’re a safety hazard these days? Especially vintage/older ones? There’s no way to maintain cotton like there is with leather, and I’m not sure I’d trust them to be secure at the points where the 2 materials meet.

 

[ozpoz]

My pony had these in royal blue, perfectly matched to his string girth,in the early 70’s! I don’t do matchy anymore and remember them being horrible in the wet but don’t remember them wearing or fraying.

 

[Rocky159]

I'm quite bemused that people still look out for these reins? In my book they belong firmly in the past along with jute rugs and canvas nz rugs.

Horrible slippy things. Not at all fondly remembered from my Pony Club days.

Nothing wrong with a jute rug and a good old Witney blanket ?

 

[Kodak_TBT]

I have some black ones you are welcome to if you want

 

[Miss_Millie]

I have some black ones you are welcome to if you want

Oh, yes please! I'll send you a PM