Ridecamp: [RC] Keeping Reins Together

I'm quite pleased with something I'm trying out, and I wanted to share it.
It's probably old news to everyone, but here goes...

I've always been in a dither about my split reins. I like to ride with split
reins, but on those rare occasions when a rein slipped through my fingers
while riding, it's never been fun trying to retrieve it. (I'm not tall
enough to be able to lean forward on the neck and reach the rein at the
bit.)

Tying the reins together never appealed to me because I worried that if I
came off and the reins went over the horse's head, the horse could get
caught up and have a wreck.

Having a buckle on the reins was too much time and trouble buckling and
unbuckling, and I didn't like the thought of that metal buckle smacking me
or the horse, and again, the wreck thing.

Anyway, one day it dawned on me to sew Velcro on the ends of the reins. I
like this because it's quick and easy to both join and separate the reins,
both for me, and for the horse if it ever came to that situation I described
above.

With that little Velcro holding the reins together, it feels like riding
with split reins, yet if I drop one, for the second or two it takes to grab
it back up, the Velcro holds it for me. I have about three or four inches of
Velcro, so there is more grip than if I had just put a wee bit on.

I know the Velcro will get dirty and be a bit of pain to keep clean enough
to retain its grip, but I think I'm okay with that.
--
T'Lara Joy Freedom - tfreedom@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Calgary, Alberta, Canada


=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
 Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
 Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
 Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=