Reins are an essential piece of riding equipment, but are often sold separately when purchasing a bridle. Reins can be a personal choice, varying based on the rider’s hand size, horse size, and what style makes you feel the most confident and provides enough grip.

There are many types of reins available, which vary in their length, width, and overall design. This guide focuses on the most popular types that are suitable for use across the disciplines.

Best reins for horse riding: H&H’s quick guide

Best for everyday use: Shires Velociti Rapida SureGrip

Best for beginners: Balanced Support Full Rubber

Best for dressage: Cottage Craft Half Rubber

Best for cross-country: CountryDirect Thumb Best Grip

Best available in longer lengths: Heavy Horse Shop V Grip Rubber

Best reins for horse riding

What types of reins are good for beginner riders?

Beginners who struggle with balance would benefit from Balance Support Reins, while novice riders that find it a challenge to keep even rein contact would benefit from reins with coloured sections.

What thickness of reins should I choose?

The width of your reins should be chosen based on hand size and the type of horse you are riding. For riders with smaller hands, or those using a fine pony, a narrower ½inch width is ideal. This thinner option is also suitable when riding with two sets.

The most popular choice for general riding is the ⅝inch width, offering a slightly thicker feel. Even wider, ¾inch reins are a thicker option, often preferred by riders of very strong horses as the increased material offers a feeling of having more to hold.

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If a rider feels unbalanced, how do they steady themselves? In most cases, it’ll be an unconscious reaction involving their hands. Being aware not just of how we hold the reins, but exactly what we do with our hands is crucial. And it might be that a subtle change in our rein-handling technique could improve our understanding of contact.

“Humans do everything with their hands; they are always in front of us,” says grand prix dressage rider and British Equestrian P3 coach, Charlie Hutton. “Instinctively, we go to our hands to secure ourselves, but when we ride, we have to be more conscious.”

A balanced rider is at liberty, as Charlie says, “to ride from the hindquarters”.

In other words, a balanced rider can deliver aids to their horse using different parts of their body independently to encourage him to travel forward in to the rein from the hindquarters. This isn’t possible if the rider becomes over-reliant on the rein as an aid not just to their horse, but to help maintain their own balance too.

Using the rein for balance interferes with maintaining the ideal feeling of connection in the rein, or contact – and is unlikely to be comfortable for the horse. But horse to horse, it’s hard to pinpoint precisely what the optimum feeling in the rein should be.

“To put it simply, it should feel like you have enough connection to communicate with your horse, but be light enough that you don’t meet with resistance,” says Charlie. “A true contact is one where the horse is comfortable with and following the rein – harmony and self-carriage should always be the rider’s goal.”

While contact and balance issues are best tackled with your trainer, Charlie recommends trying different rein-handling techniques when you’re schooling alone.

“Changing the way you hold the reins gives you a new perspective,” explains Charlie. “It might help raise awareness of an area of tension, for example, or highlight a way you could be using aids more effectively.”

You can use rein-handling exercises to test the quality of your contact, the security of your position and the effectiveness of your other aids.

“Think of them as tools and techniques at your disposal that will help you analyse the quality of your work,” he adds.

How to hold the reins in three simple exercises

Exercise 1: thumb and forefinger

Focus on: quality of contact

Hold the reins so the end attached to the bit comes out of the top of your hard between your thumb and forefinger. The loose loop in the rein should run down through your fist with all your fingers curled around it – don’t put it back through the gap between your ring finger and little finger.

How it helps

“My grandmother taught me this technique,” explains Charlie. “She told me it originated from the Cadre Noir, the French classical training centre.”

According to Charlie, it’s something Carl Hester uses to help horses with lightness and self-carriage. William Fox-Pitt has also been seen using this rein position on some horses during the cross-country phase.

“It also changes the muscles you’re using in your forearm, so it helps you to be more elastic and less restrictive through your elbow,” Charlie explains.

What to look out for

“When you’re not used to holding the rein like that, your arm will fatigue a little bit sooner than usual,” warns Charlie, “so watch out for getting tired and losing form.”

Exercise 2: half bridging the reins

Focus on: stability of your position, effectiveness of other aids

Bridging the reins means looping your left rein into your right hand and your right rein into your left hand, so each hand holds the rein twice. The reins will make a circle shape around your hand. This can be a useful technique when riding horses that tend to pull down at speed.

Alternatively, instead of bridging both reins, bridge one side at a time. For example, bridge the left rein so your right hand is holding the right and left reins, and your left hand holds the left rein only. If you look down, your hands will be connected by the left rein.

How it helps

“Half bridging the reins gives you a bit more stability,” says Charlie. “You’ve added another point of contact to help you keep your hands stable and as a pair.

“Because your hands are paired together again, you must do more with your body,” he continues.

It’s especially good for riders who are over-reliant on their rein aids while neglecting the rest of their body.

“It makes you more aware of how to turn through your shoulders, for example, or the use of your outside aids,” he says.

What to look out for

This exercise might reveal areas to work on in your position, for example if you collapse through your body and don’t turn your shoulders. If using your body suddenly feels difficult, this might indicate a reliance on your rein aids.

Bridging the reins can also emphasise the dominance of one hand over the other. Experiment with which hand forms the bridge and analyse the feeling.

Finally, you might need to adjust your rein length and the carriage of your hands. “Many people ride with their reins too long, which this will highlight,” advises Charlie.

Exercise 3: one-handed lateral work

Focus on: effectiveness of other aids, quality of contact

Take the reins in your outside hand; the inside hand drops to your side. Begin with basic shapes such as 20m circles and changes of rein.

Introduce simple lateral work, such as leg-yield from the ¾ line to the track or shoulder-fore/shoulder-in up the long side.

Ensure you repeat on the opposite rein, switching hands so you’re always holding the reins in the outside hand.

How it helps

This is a good follow-up to the half bridge exercise, which has already established how to hold both reins in one hand.

“Dropping your inside hand helps you open up your shoulders,” says Charlie, “and allows you to turn in the direction of the movement more, which is helpful.

“Restricting to one hand also makes you focus on how to guide your horse. Now that you can’t use the reins as freely to steer, how effective are your leg and body aids?”

What to look out for

“This exercise shines a spotlight on how good your contact is,” says Charlie. “It raises an awareness of what you need to do to maintain the connection now you’re restricted.”

The quality of your lateral work might also be compromised, showing you where to make improvements.

“For example, shoulder-in should be done from the inside leg to lift and engage the horse,” says Charlie. “Then, the outside rein secures him.

“When a rider does shoulder-in one-handed, you often see horses fall to a metre to the inside, which shows they have been using the inside rein to balance.”

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A new design of safety reins have been launched in a bid to further reduce the risk in equestrian sport. The innovative Free Reins feature a quick-release connector that replaces the traditional rein buckle. When sufficient force is applied, the connector is designed to unclip automatically, allowing the reins to come apart and release the horse or rider. Once activated and the risk has passed, the reins can be reassembled.

It’s not uncommon for reins to be accidentally stood on by a horse, caught on a gate or become entangled in the event of a fall. All of these scenarios put horse and rider at risk of injury and tack at risk of damage.

Founder of Free Reins Laurie Williams came up with the concept after witnessing a child becoming caught in the reins during a fall.

“From our recent survey in partnership with Dr David Marlin, 61% of riders had experienced a horse catch his reins on an object,” Laurie said. “There is no doubt in my mind there is a need for Free Reins and I’m so delighted with the product.

“It’s really important to me to make riding as safe as possible for both horse and rider without compromising on style and comfort,” Laurie explained.

Manufactured in the UK, the reins are made of high-quality English leather with a soft grip. They are available in three lengths in black or havana leather, while the connector is available in chrome or gold in three sizes, which is relevant to rider weight.

The Free Reins safety system has undergone extensive testing at an advanced manufacturing research centre in Wales.

Dr David Marlin, Equine Scientist said: “Safety is incredibly important and we support innovation and science-backed products. This appears to be a well-designed product that we hope will decrease injury risk for both horses and riders.”

Elite showjumping coach Mark McCourt said: “Over the years, I’ve seen a lot of riders fall and keep hold of the reins or pull off the bridle. It’s really important that we have safety devices, such as Free Reins, that will help prevent accidents.”

The reins are available at freereins.co.uk, priced from £159.99, and will be available at retailers in the near future.

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We recently spotted something a little unusual on top French showjumper Simon Delestre's Instagram feed: what looked to be a pair of beautiful, fluffy reins...

There’s no denying that the equestrian world is susceptible to a trend: from matchy-matchy numnahs and leg wraps to diamante browbands for the dressage divas amongst us.

Social media is rife with the latest ‘must-have’ piece of kit, all at the swipe of your phone, meaning you don’t even need to leave your stable to find the next trend from your favourite riders.

Recently at Horse & Hound H&Q we spotted something a little unusual on top French showjumper Simon Delestre’s Instagram feed: what looked to be a pair of beautiful, fluffy reins. Had we just stumbled across the trend for 2018?

Whilst looking extremely comfortable and cosy for both horse and rider (your hands would never be cold again holding the reins…) it does appear that on closer inspection Simon’s “fluffy reins” are in fact wool noseband covers that have been used to cover the reins. Genius.

Savvy riders are using the nifty covers to prevent reins rubbing particularly sensitive-skinned and clipped horses.

Continued below…

What is a Dually halter and how does it work?

The Dually training halter, designed by Monty Roberts can be used in a number of different situations from leading, loading

So we went on the hunt to find out how you can fluff up your reins…

You can buy wool noseband covers from a host of equestrian brands including Le Mieux (from £9.95) and Griffin NuuMed (from £13.50), who both have their own range of luxury wool products in a variety of colours.

Buy sheepskin noseband covers from £5.90 on Amazon.co.uk >>

Blend in with black, cream and brown or stand out and take your matchy-matchy to the next level with bright red or blue. A handy solution for horses having their final winter clip of the season and who are prone to rubbing.

“The great thing about wool is that it is totally natural and you’re not introducing any foreign elements,” says Rosie Pocock, managing director of Griffin NuuMed. “Wool has various attributes that help with protection — it is a soft gentle material that works very much with the horse. The material is able to spring back when compressed so you get a continual and very even protection that doesn’t become rigid against the horse’s neck.”

Just remember — if you warming up in them, do remember to remove them before heading into the jumping arena or trotting down the centre line in your dressage test…

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

A selection of reins that are a great alternative to your standard rubber reins, with added flexibility and grip when you need it most.

NB: The shopping links below are provided to help you buy these items. We may earn a small commission from some of these links.

Felix Bühler Web Italy Reins

Web reins with leather hand and martingale stops from premium Italian leather in black, with silver-coloured fittings or brown with brass fittings. They attached to the bit using buckles.

RRP: £24.90

Visit: www.kramer.co.uk

Cottage Craft Supergrip reins

These reins, available in Pony or Full length and in 5/8in width, are made or rubber webbing for superb grip. They have leather stoppers and come in black or havana at a great price.

RRP: £15.99 (pony) £16.99 (full)

Visit: www.cottagecraft.co.uk

Showmaster Web Reins

These great value web reins are very suitable in any discipline particularly is the weather gets wet. Included leather hand and martingale stops.

RRP: £9.99

Visit: www.kramer.co.uk

Mark Todd Continental Reins

Classic continental rein design with soft, supple leather and stainless steel buckle and billets.

RRP: £26.00

Visit: www.olddairysaddlery.co.uk

Claridge House Rubberised Clarino Leather Reins

Real leather reins with concealed silver-coloured buckles, extra soft Clarino trim on the topside and fine non-slip rubber coating on the underside. Leather hand stops every 6 cm, for perfect handling. L 280 cm, W 1.5 cm.

RRP: £34.90

Visit: www.kramer.co.uk

Equipe Webbed reins

Crafted from premium Italian leather, Equipe’s continental webbed reins feature a ‘steady hand’ non-slip system of raised notches and textured cotton grip, to ensure riders have complete control and to aid a ‘no stress’ line when riding. They are available in brown, red/brown and black, and in full and cob sizes.

RRP: £69.99

Visit: www.equipe-uk.shptron.com/c/reins_cotton-reins

BR linen reins

These 19mm, non-skid, webbed reins with rubber grip are great in all weathers. Other features include rein stops and secure hook stud billets.

RRP: £24.95

Visit: www.br.nl

Amerigo Vespucci web reins

These reins feature high quality cotton webbing with premium leather hand stops for ultimate grip. The buckle studs are stitched into the leather, to allow for greater strength and durability. They are available in full length, in black or brown.

RRP: £78

Visit: www.amerigo-uk.shptron.com/c/vespucci_reins_web-reins

Our initially sceptical reviewer is now a massive fan of these reins, which have become her rubber reins of choice for jumping, hacking and schooling.

Having ridden a friend’s horse in reins similar to these and not been too keen on the feeling in my hand, I was a little sceptical when these were passed to me to test. However, I have been totally converted by riding in them regularly and now far prefer them to other rubber reins in my tackroom.

The reins are extremely light and flexible in your hand, which does give a different feel if you are used to riding in traditional rubber reins with leather running through them. The rubber grip has a nylon core, which is securely stitched on to quality English leather at both ends.

When riding on the flat, my horse can drop behind the contact at times and when he did this the rein went complete slack in my hand. With my traditional rubber reins, the weight of the leather used to hide this slightly. The clear and immediate feedback in my hand offered by these reins has helped me to focus on keeping him forward to the bridle and I believe his general way of going has improved as a result.

While out hacking in poor weather, the reins have provided me with excellent grip during fast work (when my former Flat racer has absolutely no problem taking the contact forward!) and I also find them very easy to gather up quickly if necessary. I have quite small hands (size 7 glove) and find the lack of bulk makes them extremely comfortable in my hand.

The reins are a good length for me and my horse. Whether working in an outline, or relaxing on a long rein, I do not find myself holding on to the area where the rubber joins the leather. I haven’t yet been cross-country schooling with them, but I believe they are long enough to allow my horse to use his neck off a step or drop without my hand accidentally interfering with his mouth, but the slack doesn’t gather down around my stirrup when I have my stirrups and reins short during fast work.

I’ve now been riding in the reins for schooling, jumping and hacking five days a week for 10 weeks and there is no sign of wear on the grips. The leather is of good quality and cleans up well. If the rubbers become dirty, a quick scrub with a tooth brush brings them up like new. As yet they haven’t rubbed my horse’s clipped neck, while he is showing some hair loss in other areas where his tack fits closely. It will be interesting to see if this continues to be the case as his coat changes.

These reins are available with buckles, hook stud fitting or clips to attach to the bit, plus leather martingale stops. I had a pair in black leather with hook studs, which is my preference, and leather martingale stops. Personally I would have prefered the buckle at my hand end to have been silver coloured, rather than brass, because it would then have fully matched my bridle, but this is my only issue and it’s purely a matter of asthetics.

Due to the leather martingale stops, which could be cut off if necessary, I wouldn’t wear these reins in competitive dressage (and I don’t show), but I will use them for any jumping competitions I attend in the future, as well as at home.

Update: twelve months on and these reins are still going strong. The leather work is in excellent condition. The rubber bobbles on the reins have worn down where I hold them, but I still find I have a fair grip. I’m using them for schooling at home and competing in all three phases when eventing. I haven’t changed my original verdict: these are a great pair reins that are well worth the investment.

Verdict

I would choose these reins for all my riding at home, plus while out competing in showjumping and cross-country. Not cheap, but good quality and worth the investment

Details

Bit fastenings: Buckles, hook studs or clips

Colour: Black or Chestnut

Kate Negus Saddlery has launched a new addition to its rein range – “Eventa Grip reins”, featuring “Equus Eventa grips”.

Made from English leather, Eventa Grip reins feature a smooth rubber grip covering and are 5/8″ thick. They are finished with buckle ends.

“We’ve been trialling these reins with one of our sponsored riders, David Doel,” says Julia Andrews from Kate Negus.

“We’ve also had them tested by a hunt enthusiast who has been using them on a strong horse who gets sweaty, and he thinks the grips are really effective.”

Eventa Grip Reins are available in black and chestnut and cost £85.00.

For more information visit: www.katenegus.com

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now