Choosing Your Reins

Choosing your reins is about more than matching colours. The material, grip, width and length all affect how they feel in your hands and how they fit your riding or driving setup.

LS Equestrian offers a wide choice of reins for horses and ponies, from SuperGrip and classic pimple grips to full BioThane®, cotton/rope, webbing and reflective options. There are also split and non-split riding reins, dedicated driving reins and options for children.

Whether you enjoy everyday riding, schooling, hacking, trail rides, endurance and distance riding, or carriage driving, this guide will help you compare the different styles and narrow down what suits you.

Why your choice of reins matters

Your reins are part of the communication between you and your horse, whether you are riding or driving. If a rein feels too bulky, slips through your gloves or needs constant readjusting, it can make maintaining the contact you intend more difficult. The aim is a rein that feels comfortable and manageable in your hands, while allowing you to give and release your rein aids clearly.

Think about your usual conditions too: rain, sweaty hands, the gloves you wear and how much time you spend riding or driving. A grip that feels good for ten minutes may feel different after a longer ride.

1. SuperGrip: a dedicated grip section

SuperGrip is one of the choices on our LS BioThane® Choose Your Own Grip Reins. You can select 16mm or 19mm width and choose your colour combination.

This is an option to consider if you prefer a distinct grip section rather than holding a smooth full BioThane® rein. Compare how it feels with your usual gloves, particularly if slipping or repeatedly adjusting your grip is something you notice. Grip preference is personal; the name alone does not tell you which option your hands will like best.

2. Small and large pimple grips: two textured options

Our Classic Pimple Grip BioThane® Reins offer small or large pimple grips. These have a raised, textured surface, giving a different feel from a smooth strap.

The difference is the size of the raised grip pattern. Small pimples give a finer texture, while large pimples give a more pronounced pattern. Neither is automatically the better choice. Think about what feels comfortable against your fingers and gloves, and whether you prefer a subtle texture or a more noticeable grip.

Small and large pimple grips are also available through the Choose Your Own Grip listings. They are grip choices, rather than different riding disciplines.

3. Full BioThane®: simple and easy to care for

LS Full BioThane® Reins use 16mm super-heavy Beta® BioThane®, without a separate grip sleeve. They offer a straightforward, waterproof and easy-clean construction.

These may suit you if you like holding BioThane® itself and want a simple rein to coordinate with your tack. The feel differs from a pimple grip, webbing or rope, so consider how you find it with wet hands or gloves before choosing it for your usual riding.

There are also full BioThane® non-split reins and two-tone non-split options. Two-tone refers to the colour combination, rather than an extra grip type.

4. Cotton & BioThane®: a softer rope feel

LS Cotton & BioThane® Reins combine coloured flat rope with Beta® BioThane® ends. The coloured rope is 12mm, while black uses 14mm marine rope. You can choose traditional buckle ends or clips.

These are worth considering if you prefer lightweight reins and a softer rope feel in your hands. They feel different from a flat BioThane® strap or rubber-textured grip. The BioThane® ends are easy to care for, but these are mixed-material reins, so the rope section should not be treated as though it has the same waterproof finish as full BioThane®.

5. Webbed grip reins: rubber tracers through the webbing

LS Webbed Grip Reins use 19mm coloured webbing with integrated rubber tracers. The construction is non-elastic and offers a traditional webbed rein feel.

This is an option for riders who like webbing with grip worked through it. The rubber tracers differ from a separate grip sleeve or raised stoppers: they are integrated into the webbing. Consider the 19mm width alongside the texture, particularly if you prefer a narrower rein.

6. Webbed reins with stoppers: clear points along the rein

LS Webbed Reins with Stoppers & BioThane® Ends have a soft webbing body with raised rubber stoppers. These provide distinct points along the rein that you can feel in your hands.

They may suit you if you like a reference for hand position. The stoppers feel different from the continuous texture of rubber-tracer webbing or pimple grips. They are a grip feature, not a reason to hold a fixed contact: you still need to be able to adjust the rein and soften your hand.

This listing offers sizes from Mini to Extra Full, plus a custom-length option.

7. Reflective BioThane® reins: visibility as an extra consideration

LS Reflective BioThane® Reins use 19mm reflective BioThane® with stainless steel fittings, with brass available on request.

These add a reflective element to your tack. Consider them if visibility is part of your riding setup, while still choosing a width and feel that suit your hands. Reflective describes the material finish; it is not a separate rubber grip style.

Driving reins: options for horses and ponies

If you drive, start with the dedicated driving rein range. Rein length needs to suit your horse or pony, harness and carriage setup, so compare the driving options separately from the riding reins above.

16mm Super Heavy Beta® BioThane® driving reins

Our LS Beta® BioThane® Driving Reins use 16mm Super Heavy Beta® BioThane®. They offer a smooth, waterproof, easy-clean option with custom colours, in Shetland, Pony, Cob, Full and made-to-measure lengths. The range also includes black and bright green listings.

19mm BioThane® driving reins

The 19mm BioThane® Driving Reins in Coral provide a wider, waterproof strap. They are available in Shetland, Pony, Cob, Full and made-to-measure lengths. Compare the feel of 19mm with 16mm rather than assuming a wider rein will be more comfortable.

Reflective BioThane® driving reins

Our Reflective BioThane® Driving Reins use 19mm reflective BioThane® with stainless steel fittings and brass available on request. They combine an easy-clean strap with a reflective finish, with custom colours and Shetland, Pony, Cob, Full or made-to-measure lengths.

Webbed driving reins

LS Webbed Driving Reins use 19mm coloured webbing with integrated rubber tracers. The construction is firm and non-elastic, giving a different hand feel from smooth BioThane®. These also offer custom colours and Shetland, Pony, Cob, Full or made-to-measure lengths.

Choose the material you prefer holding, then check the length and fittings for your particular driving setup. If you need a custom length, tell me what you use now and the measurements you need.

Children’s reins: with or without handles

Children’s reins with handles

Our Kids Reins with Handles offer defined places for little hands to hold. Made from Beta® BioThane®, they can be adjusted in size and made in your chosen colours.

Children’s reins without handles

Kids Reins without Handles offer a thin rein for small hands, with adjustable sizing and a choice of colours. Both children’s listings include a grass rein attachment; discuss its fit and use with your child’s instructor.

Choosing reins for your riding or driving

Everyday riding, schooling and hacking: compare the material and grip you like holding, then choose a width and length that suit your hands, horse or pony and usual contact.

Endurance, distance riding and longer trail rides: comfort over time matters. Consider how the reins feel with your gloves, in wet conditions and after a longer session. Compare grip styles on shorter rides before choosing a set for a full day out.

Carriage and pleasure driving: choose from the dedicated driving range, checking rein length, width and fittings for your harness and carriage setup.

Young riders: compare the children’s options with and without handles, with help from an instructor to choose suitable sizing and use.

Split or non-split riding reins: a separate decision

Once you have considered the material and grip, look at how you want your reins constructed.

• Non-split reins form a continuous rein between the two sides. Our range includes grip and full BioThane® options.
• Split reins have two separate lengths. Our Choose Your Own Grip split reins and Cotton & BioThane® split reins are approximately two metres per rein, with longer lengths available on request.

Choose the arrangement you are comfortable managing. Material, grip and split/non-split construction are different choices: a rope rein can be split, and a grip rein can be non-split.

Width, length and attachment ends

A wider rein may feel fuller in your hand; a narrower one may feel less bulky. Neither is automatically more comfortable. Where 16mm and 19mm options are offered, think about your hand size, gloves and preferred feel.

Length matters too. Your horse should have room for the head and neck movement you allow while riding, without you having an awkward amount of spare rein to manage. Use a rein length that works for your current riding or driving setup as a starting point, and ask about custom length if needed.

Check which end fittings are available for the particular rein and that they suit your bridle or harness setup. Before riding or driving, check attachments, stitching and the rein body for damage or wear.

Where should you start?

• Want a dedicated grip? Compare SuperGrip with small and large pimple grips.
• Prefer a straightforward waterproof strap? Look at full BioThane®.
• Like a softer, lightweight rope feel? Consider Cotton & BioThane®.
• Prefer traditional webbing? Compare rubber tracers with raised stoppers.
• Want a reflective finish? Look at the 19mm reflective BioThane® option.
• Driving a horse or pony? Compare the dedicated BioThane®, reflective and webbed driving reins.
• Choosing for a child? Look at the children’s reins with and without handles.

Then choose your length, construction and colours. Give yourself time to get used to a different rein in a familiar setting before using it for a longer ride or drive.

If you are unsure, tell me whether you ride or drive, what reins you use now, what you like about them and what you would change. That gives us a useful starting point for choosing a pair that suits you.