Horseware Saddlery
Reins
Micklem bridles, reins, headcollars and saddle pads.
Horseware Reins
Which Horseware rein should you buy? If you jump or hack in all weathers, pick a rubber-grip rein — the Horseware Jumper Reins With Stoppers (from £52.95) give you the most secure hold and are in stock in Full and Pony, black and brown. If you want a smart, traditional look for showing or flatwork, the Horseware Plaited Reins (from £49.95, black in Full and Pony) are the pick. Riding in a double bridle? The Horseware Curb Reins (from £38.95) are the narrow second rein you need. This collection holds 9 Horseware products in total, covering reins plus two hunter cavesson bridles that come complete with matching reins.
In a hurry?
- Best all-round grip: Horseware Jumper Reins With Stoppers — from £52.95, Full and Pony, black or brown.
- Best lightweight web rein: Horseware Rubber Grip Continental Reins — from £47.95, rubber woven into the webbing plus grip stoppers.
- Smartest traditional look: Horseware Plaited Reins — from £49.95.
- Double bridle second rein: Horseware Curb Reins — from £38.95.
- Bridle and reins together: Horseware Hunter Cavesson Bridle W/Reins from £124.95, or the pony version from £95.95.
- Cheapest way in: reins in this collection start at £38.95.
How do the Horseware rein styles compare?
| Rein | Best for | Grip level | In stock now | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horseware Curb Reins | Second rein in a double bridle | Plain and narrow, no rubber | Full and Pony, black and brown | £38.95 |
| Horseware Rubber Grip Continental Reins | Schooling and hacking, adjustable hand position | Rubber woven into the webbing, with stoppers | Full brown, Pony black and brown, Small Pony brown | £47.95 |
| Horseware Plaited Reins | Showing, flatwork, a soft classic feel | Plaited, no rubber | Full black, Pony black | £49.95 |
| Horseware Jumper Reins With Stoppers | Jumping and cross-country | Calf skin outside, rubber grip inside, with stoppers | Full and Pony, black and brown | £52.95 |
| Horseware Thumb Grip Rubber Reins | Dressage and schooling, consistent contact | Rubber with a nylon interior | Pony black | £52.95 |
| Horseware Pony Hunter Cavesson Bridle W/Reins | A complete pony bridle set | Supplied with matching laced reins | Pony brown | £95.95 |
| Horseware Hunter Cavesson Bridle W/Reins | A complete horse bridle set | Supplied with matching laced reins | Full brown | £124.95 |
Sizes and colours listed above are what is in stock at the time of writing. If the size you want is not showing, get in touch and our team will help.
Rubber or leather — which grip is right for you?
Rubber-grip reins are the safest choice if you ride in the rain, sweat a lot through a lesson, or jump. The rubber keeps working when it is wet, so the rein does not slide through your fingers at the worst moment. That is why the Horseware Jumper Reins With Stoppers and the Horseware Rubber Grip Continental Reins are the two to reach for if you jump or hack through a British winter.
Plain and plaited reins feel softer and more elegant in the hand, and look the part in the show ring or in front of a dressage judge. The Horseware Plaited Reins (from £49.95) sit in that camp: the plaiting adds a little texture so you still get some purchase, without the workmanlike look of rubber.
What do the stoppers actually do?
The raised stoppers on the Horseware Jumper Reins With Stoppers and the Horseware Rubber Grip Continental Reins give your hands a physical reference point. You can feel where you are on the rein without looking down, which makes it much easier to shorten to the same length every time between fences, or to lengthen for a canter round the field.
Why is a curb rein narrower?
In a double bridle you hold two reins in each hand. The Horseware Curb Reins (from £38.95) are made narrow deliberately so both reins fit comfortably in your fingers and you can tell them apart by feel alone. They are the second rein, used alongside a wider bridoon rein.
What size Horseware reins do I need?
Match the rein size to the rest of your bridle. Full is the standard horse size, Pony suits ponies and small cobs, and Small Pony is for the smallest ponies — the Horseware Rubber Grip Continental Reins are the option here that runs down to Small Pony. As a rough guide, if your bridle is Full then Full reins will be right; if you have a long-necked horse or ride with a very long rein on hacks, consider whether the extra length of a Full rein suits you even on a smaller pony.
How do you look after leather and rubber reins?
Wipe reins down after every ride to lift sweat and mud, then condition any leather parts every few weeks so they stay supple. Do not soak rubber-grip reins or scrub the rubber hard — a damp cloth is enough. Check the stitching and the stainless steel buckles or billet ends regularly, and stop using any rein where the leather has cracked through or the stitching has pulled. Reins are a safety item; replace them before they fail rather than after.
Horseware reins: your questions answered
Which Horseware reins are best for jumping?
The Horseware Jumper Reins With Stoppers, from £52.95, are the jumping choice. Smooth calf skin on the outside is paired with a texturised rubber grip on the inside, so they hold when your hands are wet or sweaty, and the leather stoppers let you shorten to a consistent length between fences without looking down. Martingale stoppers are included. They are in stock in Full and Pony, black and brown.
What is the cheapest Horseware rein in this collection?
Reins here start at £38.95 with the Horseware Curb Reins, available in Full and Pony, black and brown. Bear in mind a curb rein is designed as the narrow second rein for a double bridle, so it is not a like-for-like replacement for a single everyday rein.
Do Horseware reins come in pony sizes?
Yes. Pony sizing is currently in stock across the Horseware Curb Reins, Horseware Jumper Reins With Stoppers, Horseware Plaited Reins, Horseware Thumb Grip Rubber Reins and Horseware Rubber Grip Continental Reins. The Continental reins also come in Small Pony, in brown.
Are plaited reins or rubber reins better for schooling?
It comes down to feel. The Horseware Plaited Reins, from £49.95, give a soft, traditional contact that suits flatwork and showing. The Horseware Thumb Grip Rubber Reins, from £52.95, are built for grip and control with a nylon interior for strength, and Horseware recommend them for dressage riders wanting even hand placement or for horses that pull. If you ride outdoors in wet weather, rubber is the safer bet.
Can I buy a Horseware bridle with the reins included?
Yes. The Horseware Hunter Cavesson Bridle W/Reins comes complete with matching laced reins, from £124.95 in Full brown, and the Horseware Pony Hunter Cavesson Bridle W/Reins is from £95.95 in Pony brown. Both are soft leather cavesson bridles with a lightly padded headpiece and hunter-style contrast stitching on the browband and noseband.
How often should reins be replaced?
There is no fixed timetable — replace them on condition. Check the stitching, the billet ends or buckles and the leather either side of every hole before you ride. Cracked leather, stretched holes or pulled stitching all mean it is time for a new pair. If you are unsure whether a rein is still safe, get in touch and our team will help.
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Last reviewed 2026-07-24 by the Just Horse Riders team.