Rein lengths?

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saddlesore

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Well I splashed out on the zilco bridle and reins (see is this bridle tacky :-p) 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!
 
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
 
I use pony sized reins on my double for billy, who is 17h :P
Means a tidier picture for showing and less to hold.

But the rest of my reins are full size :)
 
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!
 
only_me said:
I use pony sized reins on my double for billy, who is 17h :P
Means a tidier picture for showing and less to hold.

But the rest of my reins are full size :)
Click to expand...

Crikey.... he must have a really short neck! I used 54" on my cob and that was too short for showing.
 
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! :)
 
only_me said:
I use pony sized reins on my double for billy, who is 17h :P
Means a tidier picture for showing and less to hold.

But the rest of my reins are full size :)
Click to expand...

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!
 
cremedemonthe said:
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.
Click to expand...

What is rein back? I'm interested. Do you mean they use all the way down the tail?
 
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?!
 
cobgoblin said:
What is rein back? I'm interested. Do you mean they use all the way down the tail?
Click to expand...

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
 
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!
 
cremedemonthe said:
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
Click to expand...

Thanks for explaining that.
 
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