05/29/2026
I talk about rein length all the time. Here’s some good info.
If you’re looking for a new pair of reins, head over to Rockstar Reins and get yourself a pair of 6.0’, double laced, dark dyed reins. Code Shelby for a discount.
Watch your riding change by just changing your rein length!
Two of the most common mistakes I see when riders are trying to ride the front end of the horse:
• reins too long
• hands too high
And both usually create the very problems riders are trying to fix.
When the reins get too long, the outside rein becomes almost useless. Once that happens, we lose the ability to control the outside shoulder. Then riders start pulling harder with the inside rein, trying to hold the horse in the turn… while the shoulder continues to drift away from them.
A horse can’t stay connected to an outside rein that doesn’t exist.
The other common issue is riding with the hands too high. High hands often create elevation in the wrong place. The horse gets “up” in the face and shoulders, but disconnected through the ribcage and feet. You end up with a horse that feels stiff, short-strided, heavy in the turn, or like they’re climbing up instead of reaching forward and through their body.
A lot of riders think they’re creating collection, when really they’re just lifting the front end without controlling the rest of the body underneath it. Elevation is necessary for collection, but not the kind of elevation this creates.
Remember: the purpose of the reins and the bit is not to hold the horse’s head somewhere. It’s to help the horse understand where you want their feet to go and how you want their body shaped.
Your hand position directly affects the way a horse travels. If your hands are high, you create elevation. Your rein length directly affects your ability to guide and organize the front end of the horse. Too long = less shoulder control.
Sometimes the fix isn’t more training for your horse. It’s shorter reins, better biomechanics, and proper muscle memory for you.
