The Road to the Tevis Cup, Post #8: What to do about a broken rein

A slobber strap or water loop attaching a split rein to the bit.

Fantazia and I finally got back on the trail today, after a few weeks of first heat and then smoke from the fires. I ride in a split ear headstall and split reins with water loops (aka slobber straps). My boyfriend has lent me the bridle for the foreseeable future: he thought Fantazia would like the light, thick snaffle, and she does. But… it’s an old bridle. Even though I’ve oiled the leather, it is still dry. Today, while I was going down a semi-steep hill and talking on the phone, the left rein came loose in my hands. The string holding the slobber strap to the split rein had broken. I hopped off, apologizing to the friend on the other end of the line, and wondered… What to do about a broken rein?

The advantage of attaching your reins with slobber strap is that you can fix them with a leather string. The disadvantage is that those strings do get stiff and can break.

The string attaching my left split rein to the slobber strap broke.

Fortunately I tied some leather strings to my Zaldi saddle when I first rode in it. I also usually carry bailing twine either in a fanny pack or my hydration backpack (Current favorite is Miracol).

What to do about a broken rein: tie strings to your saddle — It’s a good idea to have some leather strings tied to your saddle, even if it’s not Western (they traditionally have strings attached).

How to fix a broken rein (when it’s a split rein with water loop)

My string was fat and fairly primitive, but it did the trick. Later I will get my boyfriend to replace it–and the one on the other rein, which looks bad–with real water loop ties or good latigo leather strings.

To replace the string, you thread a new one through the holes on both ends of the slobber strap and the rein. It is tied on the outside. Fantazia waited patiently for me to finish my phone call and then fix the rein.

Fortunately, I didn’t have to lead her home. It would have been miserable, as we had to ride along some narrow trails with big steep drop offs. I really prefer to in the saddle for those, although Fantazia is very polite on the ground.