Why I Always Carry a Spare Set of Reins
There are plenty of things I remember packing before a horse trial: boots polished the night before, safety vest, medical armband, snacks that will probably get crushed in my pocket, and enough layers for three different seasons. Somewhere in that familiar pile is a spare set of reins.
It is a small habit, almost too ordinary to mention, until the day an old rein splits, a buckle fails, or a wet hand loses its grip at exactly the wrong moment. Eventing has a way of turning tiny details into significant ones. A backup pair of reins takes up very little room, but it gives me one less problem to solve when my attention needs to stay on my horse.
That is really why I always carry a spare set of reins. It is not because I expect equipment to fail every time I leave home. It is because preparation is partly about reducing avoidable decisions. When the horse is tired, the weather is uncooperative, and my nerves are already humming, I want the simple solutions close at hand.
The Small Failure That Changes The Day
Riding reins endure a surprising amount of use. They are handled while grooming, tacked up, mounted, adjusted, carried across the showground, and washed after schooling. They are pulled through keepers, exposed to sweat and rain, and bent repeatedly around the fingers. Leather can look perfectly sound while developing a weak spot near a buckle hole or stitched connection.
A rein does not have to snap in dramatic fashion to become a problem. A keeper may slide out of place. A billet can loosen. A rubber grip can separate from the leather beneath it. A buckle tongue can bend, leaving the reins awkward or unreliable. Even a suddenly slippery pair can change the way I ride, especially when I am jumping or trying to maintain an elastic connection in dressage.
At home, these are manageable inconveniences. I can put the horse away, find another bridle, inspect the damage, and carry on later. At a competition, a minor tack issue arrives with a much shorter clock attached to it. There may be a dressage time to meet, a warm-up already underway, or a cross-country start that cannot simply be moved because my reins have become unusable.
Reins Are Part Of The Partnership
Reins are often described as a communication tool, and that is accurate, though the phrase can sound abstract until a horse-and-rider partnership becomes familiar. The reins connect my hands to the bit, but the meaningful conversation also includes my seat, legs, balance, breathing, and the horse’s response. A change in the feel of that connection can affect both of us.
My horse knows the difference between the reins I use every week and a completely unfamiliar set. That does not mean a replacement pair will create chaos, but it does mean I prefer to prepare for the possibility. A spare set should be broken in, adjusted to the right length, and used at home before it goes into the lorry. I do not want my emergency solution to become a fresh source of tension.
The same principle applies to the rider. If the leather feels stiffer, the rubber is thicker, or the reins have different stops, I may spend too much energy thinking about my hands. That distraction matters. When I am schooling a complicated movement or approaching a fence, I need to respond to the horse in front of me rather than analyze unfamiliar tack.
A spare set is therefore part of maintaining consistency, not an excuse to overlook regular inspections. I still check stitching, buckles, keepers, and wear before every ride. Backup equipment supports good horsemanship; it does not replace it.
What Makes A Useful Backup Pair
A reliable spare does not need to be expensive or identical in every detail, but it should be suitable for the job. For dressage, I might carry a plain leather pair that matches the bridle and gives a familiar feel through the fingers. For jumping and cross-country, grip reins or rubber-lined reins can provide extra security, particularly in wet conditions or when a horse becomes strong.
Length is one of the easiest details to get wrong. A pair that is too short can restrict the horse’s neck and leave the rider constantly chasing a comfortable contact. Reins that are too long create excess loops and can make an emergency change more complicated. I measure the backup against the reins I normally use, then test the adjustment while mounted rather than assuming the fit will be right.
Fastenings matter as well. Some riders prefer hook studs, others use traditional buckles, and both can work when maintained properly. The important thing is knowing how the replacement pair attaches to the bridle and being able to change it quickly without needing a full tack-room tutorial from a friend.
| Feature | What I Check | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Length | Similar adjustment range to my usual reins | Keeps the contact familiar |
| Material | Sound leather, secure rubber, or suitable grip | Supports reliable hand connection |
| Stitching | No fraying or loose threads near the ends | Prevents avoidable failure |
| Buckles and keepers | Smooth, secure, and easy to fasten | Makes a quick change practical |
| Condition | Clean, supple, and already tested | Avoids introducing new tack stress |
I also keep the spare pair somewhere dry and easy to reach. A backup buried at the bottom of a crowded tack trunk is technically present but practically useless. Mine belongs in a clearly marked bridle bag, close enough that another person can find it if I am already mounted or trying to make a competition time.
The Competition-Day Comfort Of Being Ready
There is a particular kind of calm that comes from knowing an irritating problem has a straightforward answer. It does not eliminate nerves. I can still feel my stomach tighten before dressage, question whether I walked the right line on cross-country, or lose confidence after an awkward jump. It simply prevents a broken piece of tack from joining the list.
That emotional benefit is larger than the cost or effort of carrying the spare. Eventing asks me to move through several disciplines, each with different demands on balance, rhythm, and control. The more mental space I can preserve for the actual work, the better. I want to think about my horse’s relaxation in the warm-up, the shape of a turn, and the pace between fences—not whether a worn rein will hold for one more round.
This is where small routines become valuable. I pack the spare reins with the same deliberate attention I give to my number bib, gloves, and protective equipment. I make a quick checklist before leaving home, then another visual inspection at the venue. Repetition turns preparation into muscle memory, which is especially useful when a competition morning is busy and everyone seems to be asking where something is.
The habit also helps when I am supporting someone else. At a horse trial, equipment problems rarely affect only one person. A friend may need a spare rein, a second pair of gloves, or a hand while adjusting a bridle. Good preparation creates a little more generosity within the group because I am less likely to be scrambling for my own missing essentials.
Backup Plans Belong Beyond The Tack Room
Carrying spare reins has made me more aware of the value of a wider competition plan. I think about what happens if the weather changes, a boot rubs, the horse loses a shoe, or I arrive later than expected. None of these possibilities deserves panic, but each benefits from a calm response prepared in advance.
Course walking is a good example. I have learned that looking at the fences is only part of understanding a cross-country track. The lines, terrain, footing, and questions between obstacles can look different when I am riding them. A thoughtful course-walk mentor can help me notice details I might miss when nerves narrow my focus. The same attitude applies to tack: inspect early, ask for another opinion when needed, and do not wait for a crisis to discover a weak point.
This does not mean packing the entire contents of a saddlery shop. Too much equipment can create its own disorder. I aim for useful redundancy: spare gloves, a second girth option when appropriate, extra safety pins, basic first-aid supplies, and those reins. The kit should reflect the horse, the venue, and the work planned for the day.
There is also a practical difference between being prepared and being superstitious. I do not believe the spare reins prevent anything from going wrong. They simply give me an option if something does. That distinction keeps preparation grounded. I can respect the uncertainty of horses and competition without treating every backup item as a charm against bad luck.
Replacing Reins Without Losing Focus
If a rein does fail, the first priority is safety. I would not continue riding with equipment I cannot trust just to avoid inconvenience or embarrassment. Depending on where the problem occurs, that may mean dismounting, asking someone to hold the horse, or returning quietly to the lorry. The correct response depends on the situation, the horse, and the severity of the damage.
A replacement should be fitted with care rather than rushed blindly. I check that both sides are attached correctly, the buckle is secure, and the reins are even. Then I take a moment to feel the contact at walk before asking for anything more demanding. If the horse reacts to the altered feel, I give us time to settle rather than turning the equipment change into a training battle.
It helps to tell the people around me where the spare is kept. A groom, family member, or fellow competitor may be able to retrieve it while I deal with the horse. This is one of the understated strengths of an equestrian community: practical knowledge and spare hands often matter as much as the equipment itself.
Afterward, I do not simply put the damaged reins back in the bag and forget about them. I identify what failed, decide whether they can be repaired, and replace them if they are no longer trustworthy. The backup pair then becomes the working pair only if it remains sound, and I buy or prepare another spare before the next outing.
A Simple Kit For More Confident Riding
My approach to show preparation has become less about carrying everything and more about carrying the right things. A compact, familiar kit supports better decisions and leaves room for the unpredictable parts of horse sport.
- Inspect the regular reins before every competition, including stitching, buckles, keepers, and areas near the bit.
- Keep a tested spare pair at the correct length, cleaned and ready in an accessible bridle bag.
- Match the backup to the discipline and conditions, especially when grip may be affected by rain or sweat.
- Tell a trusted helper where the spare reins and other essential tack are stored.
- Replace or repair damaged equipment promptly instead of allowing the backup system to quietly disappear.
These habits take only a few minutes, yet they make competition mornings feel more orderly. I still expect plans to shift. Horses will have opinions, weather will do whatever it likes, and my own nerves will occasionally arrive early. Preparation cannot remove those realities, but it can stop a small, solvable problem from becoming the story of the day.
Writing about these details is part of what I enjoy about Mania in the Middle: the sport lives in the big moments, but it is built from ordinary choices made before, during, and after a ride. A spare set of reins is one of those choices. It is inexpensive, unglamorous, and easy to overlook until it matters.
I carry them because I want my attention available for my horse. I want to feel the rhythm, listen to the canter, make the turn, and stay present when the plan changes. Pack the backup, check the bridle, and give yourself one less preventable problem to solve when it is time to ride.