Rein lengths?

[saddlesore]

Well I splashed out on the zilco bridle and reins (see is this bridle tacky ) but I went for solid red. I love it! Haven't tried it on my boy yet but the reins seem
Really short. Each rein is 51"/130 cm. Is that a standard size? Is it cob? Full? Please help!

 

[WelshD]

My pony reins are around 48 inches, my ponies are both under 13hh

 

[cobgoblin]

I think full size is 54".

 

[HaffiesRock]

I have 48 inch pony reins on my stubby Haflinger, so id say they were cob size.

 

[saddlesore]

Great thanks how big is the stubby haffy lol? My boy is a 14.3/15hh stubby cob do you think they'll be big enough then?

 

[tallyho!]

It's hard to find long reins these days.

 

[Tnavas]

According to the BHS Manual of Stable Management and Hartley-Edwards reins are
Full length 5' - being the longest that can be cut from a hide
Racing Length 4'6"
Pony length 4'3" or shorter.
Zilch are primarily produces of synthetic tack for the Racing Industry so I'd guess the length of the rein reflects this

 

[fawaz]

I have XL reins which are 60".

 

[Tnavas]

I have XL reins which are 60".

That's the standard 5' length or 60"

 

[only_me]

I use pony sized reins on my double for billy, who is 17h
Means a tidier picture for showing and less to hold.

But the rest of my reins are full size

 

[saddlesore]

Turns out they also do a 57" in a different style... I'll try the ones I've got on the bridle tomorrow and see how they look. Don't want washing lines either ha ha.

Ps pony reins on a 17hh must be quite a feat!

 

[fawaz]

That's the standard 5' length or 60"

Frank Baines says that full size is 56".....

 

[Tnavas]

Frank Baines says that full size is 56".....

60" is the maximum length you can get from a hide so I guess it depends on the size of the hides that Frank Baines can get.

 

[fawaz]

60" is the maximum length you can get from a hide so I guess it depends on the size of the hides that Frank Baines can get.

No as in standard as set out/trained by master saddlers association etc.

 

[cremedemonthe]

You can get much longer reins than 60" if you use rein back, longest I've made for a Belgian Draught mare was about 66".
Cob size should be around 54"

 

[tallyho!]

I use pony sized reins on my double for billy, who is 17h
Means a tidier picture for showing and less to hold.

But the rest of my reins are full size

Crikey.... he must have a really short neck! I used 54" on my cob and that was too short for showing.

 

[only_me]

Nope just a normal neck! Of course I had planned to buy full sized but when billy chewed through a set the day before the show I hadn't a lot of choice lol. The curb is full sized reins just the bridoon which are pony, which does actually work really well!

 

[cobgoblin]

60" is the maximum length you can get from a hide so I guess it depends on the size of the hides that Frank Baines can get.

Now I'm confused.
I have 96" western reins made from a single strip of leather!

 

[Auslander]

I use pony sized reins on my double for billy, who is 17h
Means a tidier picture for showing and less to hold.

But the rest of my reins are full size

I've always had pony reins on my double too - and Alf is 17.1hh. I like them so much that I've taken them off the double and put them on my hacking bridle - far easier to pick up a contact fast during a Code Red situation!

 

[HaffiesRock]

Great thanks how big is the stubby haffy lol? My boy is a 14.3/15hh stubby cob do you think they'll be big enough then?

He is 13.1 and they are more than fine for us.

 

[cremedemonthe]

Now I'm confused.
I have 96" western reins made from a single strip of leather!

They used rein back to make your reins, it can go to 8-9 feet in length, full length of the cow.
Used mainly for driving reins but can be used for very long riding reins, show leads or extra long dog leads.

 

[cobgoblin]

They used rein back to make your reins, it can go to 8-9 feet in length, full length of the cow.
Used mainly for driving reins but can be used for very long riding reins, show leads or extra long dog leads.

What is rein back? I'm interested. Do you mean they use all the way down the tail?

 

[saddlesore]

Rode in them today , they're ok but shorter than I'm used to. I suspect they'd be ideal for schooling but for walking out a just backed baby on a long rein I'm literally at the buckle end! Is this normal?!

 

[cremedemonthe]

What is rein back? I'm interested. Do you mean they use all the way down the tail?

It's the cut of the hide, you have shoulders, butt, back and belly edge etc. All various lengths,shapes and sizes, shoulder is measured in square inches, butt and back are measured in length. All are measured in millimetres for thickness.The back as you have said is the whole usable length of the hide, one end to the other.
Usable length of bridle butt is about 58 ish inches, varies of course but maximum length from bridle butt using buckled up billeted ends will be about 60 inches. Use rein back and you can go 8-9 feet! Enough for use on a giraffe!
Oz

 

[tallyho!]

Well there you go! Learned two things today!

Rein back... and...

I was always led to believe that rein lengths were all about allowing the stretch without losing the rein but I guess if you are showing and for short periods it could be more useful to use shorter ones for the short term... so interesting.

I haven't ever had to fiddle around with my longer reins and have now grown used to it like some security blanket but it is certainly food for thought!

 

[cobgoblin]

It's the cut of the hide, you have shoulders, butt, back and belly edge etc. All various lengths,shapes and sizes, shoulder is measured in square inches, butt and back are measured in length. All are measured in millimetres for thickness.The back as you have said is the whole usable length of the hide, one end to the other.
Usable length of bridle butt is about 58 ish inches, varies of course but maximum length from bridle butt using buckled up billeted ends will be about 60 inches. Use rein back and you can go 8-9 feet! Enough for use on a giraffe!
Oz

Thanks for explaining that.

 

[cremedemonthe]

Thanks for explaining that.

Welcome