Dressage reins are a very important part of your tack set. We strongly recommend you avoid compromising quality to save a couple bucks as durability and performance are incredibly important. This guide will help you select the best reins, and you can also compare the quality of different products on the basis of these features.
Below is a list of dressage reins and a detailed buyer’s guide so you can compare and select the best one for yourself.
- SilverFox Raised Rubber Grip Reins is the best value for your money.
- SilverFox Raised Rubber Grip Reins – Best Grip.
- JT International Silver Fox Rubber Grip Schooling Reins – Best for Beginners.
- Henri de Rivel Pro Extra Long Flat Laced Reins – Best for Extra Length.
- Nunn Finer Soft Grip Rubber Reins – Best for Flexibility.
- Half Rubber Leather Show Reins – Best for Wet & Dry Conditions.
Our Top Overall Pick
- SilverFox Raised Rubber Grip Reins is our pick based on value, durability and utility.
Table of Contents
| Image | Name | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| SilverFox Raised Rubber Grip Reins |
| Check Price |
  | JT International Silver Fox Rubber Grip Schooling Reins |
| Check Price |
  | Henri de Rivel Pro Extra Long Flat Laced Reins |
| Check Price |
  | Nunn Finer Soft Grip Rubber Reins |
| Check Price |
  | Half Rubber Leather Show Reins |
| Check Price |
Top 5 Best Dressage Reins
1. SilverFox Raised Rubber Grip Reins – Best for Secure Grip
- Crafted from high quality conventional raised leather material
- Comes along with matching rubber grips
- The length of the rein is 54 inches
- It is available in a variety of colors
- It has 1/2 inches wide raised leather and ¾ inches wide rubber grips
- Price: Check Price
SilverFox Raised Rubber Grip Reins are the best choice for beginners or novice riders. Its ideal 54-inch length makes it a suitable choice for all types of riders.
It is made from premium quality conventional leather material that is soft and supple on hands. It also comes along with complementing rubber grips that ensure firm and secure grips. Leather material is extremely durable and will last longer. Hence, it is the best choice for wet weather conditions and humid areas.
- Made from high-quality leather that ensures durability
- Strong rubber grips render a secure grip and prevent slipping
- It is suitable for humid conditions and rainy weathers too
- Best choice for training purposes
- An ideal length makes it handy for all riders
- The length is not suitable for horses of larger breeds
2. JT International Silver Fox Rubber Grip Schooling Reins – Best for Beginners
- It is a multi-colored rein that provides visual assistance
- Multi-colored rubbers grips ensure a strong and firm grip
- Comes in with buckle bit ends, which are easy to change
- Has an ideal length of 54 inches
- A perfect choice for new riders
- Price: Check Price
JT International Silver Fox Rubber Grip Schooling Reins are the best choice for novice riders or beginners. It has rainbow-colored rubber grips that provide visual ease in adjusting lengths.
This product also has buckle bit ends that make it easy to take on and off. They render a strong and secure grip in all weather conditions. It has an ideal length that most riders prefer.
- Best choice for beginners
- Rainbow colored grips allow easy length adjustments
- Rubber grips prevent slipping
- Buckle bit ends are easy to put on and off
- The multi-colored reins only appeal to beginners
- Do not offer class and elegancy
3. Henri de Rivel Pro Extra Long Flat Laced Reins – Best for Extra Length
- Has extra 60-inch length for larger breeds
- Made from premium quality leather material
- The flat-laced design adds class
- High-quality stainless steel hardware that is rust immune
- Beautiful tone on tone stitching makes it stand out
- Price: Check Price
Henri de Rivel Pro Extra Long Flat Laced Reins have an extra 60 inches length and are specifically designed for riding larger breeds. They are made from a high-quality leather material to ensure durability.
The traditional flat lace design renders a hunter-style look. It has delicate tone-on-tone stitching that delivers finesse. Furthermore, the stainless steel hardware is rust-resistant. It is available in many different colors to match your bridle.
- Extra length offers ease in riding larger horses
- High-quality hardware is rustproof; therefore, it will last longer
- Tone-on-tone stitching adds finish
- Flat-lace style is classy and chic
- The good quality leather is a sign of endurance
- Will not be preferable for normal horses
- Many riders prefer a shorter length to have more control
- Most riders prefer rubber reins over laced reins
4. Nunn Finer Soft Grip Rubber Reins – Best for Flexibility
- Provides extra flexibility
- High-quality leather reins are supple on hands
- Rubber grips provide a secure and strong grip
- Finished with American leather buckle
- Contains quality stainless steel hardware
- Price: Check Price
Nunn Finer Soft Grip Rubber Reins are the best quality reins, made from premium leather material. The best feature of this rein is that it is extremely flexible. This feature allows the rider to have more control and send better cues to the horse.
This rein contains import-quality leather buckle and stainless steel hardware that prevents rusting. It is available in much variety of colors to match your bridle.
- High-quality leather is soft in the hands
- Leather is durable
- Stainless steel hardware is rust-resistant
- Extremely flexible
- Available in many colors
- Not the best choice for beginners
5. Half Rubber Leather Show Reins – Best for Wet & Dry Conditions
- Crafted from high-quality leather material
- Nylon core provides maximum flexibility
- Comes in with a billet hook
- It is best for dry and wet weather conditions
- Available in two colors black or brown
- Price: Check Price
Half Rubber Leather Show Reins are the best dressage reins. They have high-quality leather on the outer surface and rubber on the inside to provide maximum strength and secure grip.
The nylon core enables extreme flexibility. Additionally, the billet hooks make it safe and secure to use. It is comfortable to use in dry, wet, and humid weather conditions. Plus, it is available in two colors: black and brown.
- High-quality leather material guarantees durability
- Nylon core provides extra flexibility
- Best to ride in wet or dry weather conditions
- Provides a secure and firm grip
- Has billet buckles
- Not the most suitable rein for beginners
- Not an ideal choice for larger breeds of horses
- Available in only two colors, black or brown
Buyer’s Guide
Quality of the Leather
Reins are the most important part of the dressage. A good quality rein is the one that is crafted from premium-quality leather that adds weight to it. Heavier reins do not only feel good in the hands but also help effective communication with the horse. The best dressage reins are made from high-quality hides. You should often oil your leather reins to maintain their quality. Also, make sure the leather is soft and supple in the hands.
Weight
When you are looking for the best dressage rein for equestrian, you might get confused with the weight of your rein. Weight is very important when it comes to horse training. As an experienced equestrian, you would know that rein should always be heavier. Heavier and good quality leather reins play an important role in training your horse and help it feel your signals more intensely. It helps it sense even the slightest cues; therefore, it is easier to tame its movements.
If you tend to use many light-weighted or low-quality reins, it is more likely that your horse is unresponsive towards your cues, and you need to exert unneeded pressure to guide it. Resultantly, it will be strenuous for your horse to maintain balance. So when buying a new rein, weight is an important element to keep in mind.
Length
When it comes to the length of the reins, many riders might prefer to go for shorter reins to have more control and better grip. Actually, you should not have reins that are too long or too short. A shorter rein adds benefit to the rider; he has more command. Nevertheless, it is more stressful for the horse to bear so much pressure.
Having longer reins will provide more comfort and ease to the horse, and the rider can also make slight movements to guide his horse. Hence, this totally depends on how your horse is trained and what you prefer. You should make sure that your rein is not too long that it presses into your stomach nor too short that it keeps your arms in an outstretched position.
Grip
The last thing any rider wants to happen is to have a loose grip while riding. Every rider has a different preference when it comes to grip. You have three different types to choose from: rubber reins, leather reins, and laced rein.
As the name suggests, rubber reins consist of simple rubber. It is very common among equestrians as it provides maximum grip and command while riding your horse. Meanwhile, leather reins are a choice for those who are experts and also want to add some style. These reins are not usually preferable because leather is slippery during wet weather conditions.
Laced reins are also made from leather and are very classy and outstanding. For the best dressage reins, you can go for half-leather and half-rubber reins. They have good quality leather on the outside for show, and the inner side has a good rubber grip.
Matching Color & Style
Many people prefer to choose a rein that matches with their harness and headstall. You can choose many different styles of reins depending on the discipline you choose. English bridles are usually laced or braided and made from leather material. They come along with rubber grips to prevent slipping in wet weather conditions.
On the other hand, western reins offer a variety of styles. One of them is the split reins; they are made from high-quality harness leather to add weight. You can use them single-handedly. They have greater chances of slipping through your hands; therefore, they are not the best choice for beginners. Other types are romal reins; they consist of hide. You don’t slide your fingers between the romal reins. You can ride it with two hands; one hand can send the signal while the other holds the reins. These types of reins offer limited communication with the horse.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best dressage reins for my horse?
Silver Fox Raised Rubber Grip Reins are high quality raised leather reins and also come with matching rubber grips. These allow you to have maximum grip. They are best if you are looking for training purposes.
Another excellent choice would be Half Rubber Leather Show Reins. They have a high-quality leather exterior that enables a strong grip. The nylon core is undoubtedly the key element that provides extra flexibility. Hence, they are the most suitable reins for both wet and dry weather conditions.
You can also choose Henri de Rivel Pro Extra Long Flat Laced Reins as they have a traditional lace design and beautiful tone-on-tone stitching. It is the best rein, too, for horses of larger breeds due to its extra 60-inch length.
Can you use rubber reins in dressage?
The best reins to use in dressage are half-rubber and half-leather reins. These reins have an exterior surface of the leather and have rubber grips on the inside. These types of reins have showy leather and also have a secure grip in all weather conditions.
What color dressage reins should I use?
When it comes to choosing the color of your reins, it is entirely up to you. There are no rules for selecting the color. If you have trouble maintaining the length of the reins, you can go for multi-colored reins. They provide visual guidance to adjust your reins. If you want something more traditional and classy, you can choose some decent colors like black or brown. For a change, you can also experiment with some brightly colored reins like purple, red, pink, and turquoise. It looks perfect if you match your reins with your bridle.
What length should dressage reins be?
The length of the reins largely depends on how you have trained your horse and what type of horse you are riding – English or Western. One thing to keep in mind while adjusting the length of the reins is that it should not be too short that you have to keep your arms outstretched in a forward direction, and neither should you have your arm pulled back to maintain the balance. Your reins should be slightly loose so that you can communicate with the horse with relaxed arms.
Many people prefer shorter reins to have more command and to send in more precise cues, but having shorter reins may exert much greater pressure on your horse.
Horse riding is an intense sport; you have to think about your performance and also take care of your horse. Reins are an essential part of your tack set. You must choose them wisely; otherwise, it can harm your horse, and you can ruin your overall riding experience.