Spirit Reins

I've just received a pair of spirit reins that I ordered after following a thread on the Yahoo group. I contacted E Allan Buck and this is what he advised [The Cook and Barefoot bridles are not engineered to provide
constant light contact between horse and rider. The rein connectors are
a dangerous dead spot, horses can get away from a rider because of that
lack of contact.Also these and other bitless bridles do not allow the rider to
obtain lateral and longitudinal flexion. Also the increased padding is
really a detriment to contact.
My advice is simple, obtain continious rolled reins and get rid of
the rein connectors.
Maintain light constant contact with your fingers laying in the
plain of the withers...not thumbs up!
Soften your hands, wrists, elbows and shoulders as if you were
dancing.
Gentle shakes of the reins with gentle hold then release is the way
to school the horse....if it does not listen increase the shake and
pressure of the hold....the third time shake the head, hold firmly and
stop the horse.]
I wasn't expecting to notice much difference, but in fact I was delighted to find out that my schooling session went really well and my pony, Connor, responded to much lighter aids. I know it's just the first time, but so far, so good.

Very interesting! So, you have the Spirit Bridle along with the reins? Would like to see pics, because it's hard to find any info on-line besides drawings.

Glad that things seemed to go so well for you and Connor!!

Hi cyndi, you can see pictures of the spirit bridle if you follow this link, http://cgi.ebay.com/Spirit-Bridle-Blk-LEATHER-original-BITLESS-BRIDLE-Horse-/300389501702?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item45f09c0b06. I don't have the spirit bridle, I use a Dr Cooks and a Barefoot (which has more padding on the noseband and poll). Now that I have used the spirit reins a bit more, I do prefer the feel they give. It's just a little difference but it suits me.

I would think that the rolled leather would release nicely. Very interesting.

Hi - I havent been on for a long long time.... and just catching up - this is really interesting as I recently purchased 2 barefoot pony bridles - at the moment they are lead rein ponies but will look into this - thanks Fin

Those pony barefoot bitless bridles are so cute! The spirit reins are well made and workmanlike, but a bit crude if you are used to English leatherwork. They look great on the barefoot bridle but a bit clumsy on the Dr Cooks. They weren't that expensive ($55) but the postage added a lot to the overall price. I have thought of converting the leather cross under straps from my barefoot bridle into spirit reins by removing the rings and stitching them to an ordinary pair of reins. I really do prefer these reins to the other crossunder straps and think they are a great improvement on the flat crossunder straps of the original Dr Cooks as the release is much faster.

Fin;
I am glad the reins are working for you.
If you have any questions on operations you know you can contact me direct.
Allan

Thanks for your advice, spirithorse. I've been using the spirit reins alot, mostly for hacking, and would not go back to the reins with the connectors.

Very interested in this, can you get them to go on a dr cooks and can you get synthetic ones?

Hi Fin,
the bridles are cute - as are the saddles - We have a pink saddle for Lucy and a blue one for Ginger...... which go with the pink and blue bridles!!!

Hi Elmayco. The spirit reins work on any form of crossunder bridle including the dr cooks. You just have to specify the size of buckle to attach the reins to the headpiece when you order.

Hi Jo. I bet those ponies look really cute in their matching saddles and bridles!

Thanks Fin Where can i get them from?

If you use the Spirit Reins with a Nurtural bridle, can you still use the "circle X", or would you have to remove it?

good question. I think you would have to remove it .

I found someone in Canada who makes a rein attachment in leather that looks like it's rolled, but it's not, so I was going to buy it and see if it felt "lighter" to use. However, I was measuring the existing rein attachment that is on my bridle this morning and discovered that in order to change it, I'd have to cut it, because there is no way the buckle can make it through the "circle-X" of the bridle I really don't want to cut my bridle or the circle-X, so that means that I can't use Spirit Reins either. Guess that makes up my mind for me.