Rope Reins

Yup, reins.

To be more specific, yacht braid rope reins, 1/2". I use the same brands as the big names. The usual lengths are 9', 10' and 12', with 10' being the most common. I add leather slobber straps which buckle onto the bit and reins (no chicago screws!), as the reins are finished with eye splices for strength and a clean, finished look.

Most of the reins I make are black w/black slobbers, but other colors are available. I have made white (which has a blue tracer in it, as seen in the picture), white/gold, purple, and red so far. The colors depends on the availability of the rope.

My current price is $35/set, which includes shipping to the lower 48. For shipping to other places, contact me privately to see what it would cost.

I need to get better pictures, but since both of my bridles are back in IA for the time being, this is the best one I have illustrating the look of the reins/slobbers.



And just for kicks... (Yes, that's Ivonne on my boy Mars playing 'jockey'. He looks so enthused, doesn't he?)

I have two sets of Carmen's reins and can vouch for her quality. Very nice!

I like the leather straps on your reins. I notice some come with clips held in place with a looped end and conway buckles. Do conway buckles hold those well? I'm just curious. I just purchased a new bit and headstall for Nautti. Looking at reins now.

I just have a personal aversion to conway buckles, so I honestly can't say how well they can work. (I just don't like how they look, so I don't buy tack that has them. *shrug*)

Hi Carmen!
Question for you about your reins.....I see that you put the rope through the slobber strap and then loop back and attach the rope to itself again....how are you attaching it? Sewing it? Can't tell from your pic.
Thanks! I made reins that Heidi is using on Wyoming now, but I want to make some new ones for Scout and am not sure if I'll do it the same way or try something else!

wjminwi It looks to me as though the loop in the rein is the way it's made. It's fed into itself with a fid. The slobber strap is through that loop.

Conway buckles- I avoid them as much as possible I hate the things. They are difficult to manage and yes they can and do fall off. Carmen's reins have regular buckles on them.

The rein end does indeed have a looped end through which the slobber strap is placed. I don't know how she did it either but its a smooth seamless joint, not sewed in looks like probably what PMVR describes.

I have been using these reins for two years or so now. Still in great shape.

PMVR wrote:wjminwi It looks to me as though the loop in the rein is the way it's made. It's fed into itself with a fid. The slobber strap is through that loop.

What's a fid???

fid-rope splicing tool

http://www.fid-o.com/the_fid-o_splicing_tool.htm
http://www.lehighgroup.com/ropespliceend.htm

Yup, I do a full eye splice with a fid to make the 'loops' at the ends of the reins. A good splice is VERY strong (as evidenced by Mars busting both a solid brass and solid stainless steel snap on his lead rope without even budging the splice).

Plus, I just like the nice, clean look of the splice over one wrapped with twine.

And using the slobber straps I do, if they break, they're super easy to replace without having to replace the reins (and they can be taken off to wash the reins, which is nice with white reins).

The first set of reins I made was about 4-4.5 years ago, and they're still going strong with Meteor (the same ones I used at the clinic) with the original slobber straps.

Oh I had wanted to ask that. Are they safe to wash in the laundry? Mine could use a good cleaning.

OK! I learned what a fid is!
And now I understand what you did with the reins too.
Thanks for posting the websites, Shadowfax!

Shadowfax wrote:Oh I had wanted to ask that. Are they safe to wash in the laundry? Mine could use a good cleaning.

They most certainly are! Mine would look DISGUSTING by now if I didn't wash them 2-3 times a year (being white and all). After last year's labor day weekend (Meteor got ridden 2 long rides, 2 days in a row), the parts that touched his neck were BLACK... blech!

Hi Carmen!

Okay, I may have a couple of orders for you from clients here at the barn.

Can you make a pair of reins without the slobber straps but with clips instead? These would be for Dr Cook's bitless. 10ft.....the person wants these in brown.

The other reins (10 ft also)...I forgot what color they wanted (I think red, but lemme check tomorrow).... they do want slobber straps.

So...how does this work? You want money first or when you finish the reins? How long would it take you to make the reins?

Thanks!

Ivonne wrote:Hi Carmen!

Okay, I may have a couple of orders for you from clients here at the barn.

Can you make a pair of reins without the slobber straps but with clips instead? These would be for Dr Cook's bitless. 10ft.....the person wants these in brown.

The other reins (10 ft also)...I forgot what color they wanted (I think red, but lemme check tomorrow).... they do want slobber straps.

So...how does this work? You want money first or when you finish the reins? How long would it take you to make the reins?

Thanks!

I can't really do it without the slobber straps, but I can make the slobber straps super short for less movement between the reins and slobber straps.

The colors I have available to me are:
Black
Purple
Pink
White w/blue tracer
White/Gold

Oh, and money first (for ordering supplies). It usually takes me 1-2 weeks to make/ship them after I receive the supplies. With it being the end of the school year and the horses coming up soon, it could be 2-3 weeks (just depends on when I get the supplies in, really).

Cool. Thanks for getting back to me so quick. I'll talk to the people tomorrow. And I'll also post a flyer at the barn incase anyone else wants em. These 2 people saw my JL reins and really liked em and I remembered you make em so...

I'll post tomorrow, colors and all.

Thanks again!

Thanks!

I have one pair ordered now, so the sooner you can get back with me, the better. I like to order as much rope at one time as I can to help defray the shipping costs.

Ugh. They need to make up their mind! Might have one more to order. Once they found out you can get pink and purple, too! Well.... I'll push em tomorrow to gimme a definite as to which and the $ so I can get that sent out to you asap, too.

What's your Address to send the check? If you don't want to post it here, send it by private message.
Thanks!

Say, gimme a good picture of the reins and I can post em on my website. That way, people can just go there and order em directly from you...good idea, no? I can put the picture there of the reins with some info. Let me know if you'd like to do that. It seems that every time I use my JL reins people really take an interest and at least one person wants a pair or two. So, I can then tell them about you and send some biz your way. I'll be starting up doing clinics and I'll mention you there, too.

Oh wow, I love the idea of being on your website

Once I get my reins again, I'll get a good shot of them. They're currently on the bridles with the horses in Iowa.

I'll PM you the addy.

For reference, if anyone's seen them, the pink and purple are the same as what Clinton Anderson uses. The purple is a nice, royal purple color. I haven't seen the pink in person, yet, so I can't describe that one.

Cool!

these people are still making up their minds. They're a definite, though. They do want em. Just are thinking about the pink and purple and white and gold. I'm betting they'll order one of each. One lady loves purple. Has everything in purple and wears purple every day. The other has pink tack...

Gimme til Thursday. I'll also put up a flyer at the barn, maybe others will want some, too. Gimme a PICTURE!

Ivonne wrote:Cool!
Gimme a PICTURE!

The horses will be here in about 2 weeks, so I'll be able to get a picture then.

Cool! That'll be awesome. Be sure to take pics from all angles against a dark background (side of a barn?) for the light reins and a light background for the dark reins to really show them off.
I got the money for 3 orders right now. I bet soon as these people ride with their new reins, others will ask em about it. Most people around here are riding with the split or the english....but they seem to like the look and feel of the rope reins. I know I've gotten spoiled with them.
I sent you a PM just telling you that I got the money
1-black
1-purple (CUT THE SLOBBER STRAPS SMALL) it's for a bitless bridle.
1- white/gold
all 10ft regular size. please!

Finally, some pictures.

First up, black.





The splice, a little closer.


Second, gold/white.

Nice pictures! gimme a short time and I'll post em on my website.

Took me forever, but I finally got em on my site. Let me know about contact info. I sent you a PM about that. Thanks!