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Does this work?

2K views 13 replies 12 participants last post by  .Delete. 
#1 ·
This is a dumb question, but can you use english type reins (not spilt reins) with a western headstall and bit? :oops:
I assume you can but i've never really seen it.

Thanks. :)
 
#4 ·
I don't see any more problem with it than riding with barrel reins :). The thing to remember is that a lot of western shanked bits are designed for neckreining and can send confusing signals of you try to direct rein with them. If you're using a snaffle, no problems! :wink:
 
#7 ·
I know what you mean, 1111aqua. My sister fights it by claiming that she rides "Weenglish," :lol:. For everyday practice she sits in a western saddle, and the horse wears an English bridle and low port Kimberwicke.
 
#9 ·
Sure you can. Use any type bit you want on any headstall with any reins. Just looks a lil funny but personally I don't care. I bought a couple english headstalls from a friend. They just hook on differently. Bits are bits.. The only problem some english bits headstall ring is too small for some western headstalls. Like the kimberwick for instance. A D or O ring, about any snaffle should work just fine with either type headstall. I currently have a ported curb bit on an english headstall. I just like to not have to switch bits when I want to use something else so I tend to have a lot of bridles set up.
 
#10 ·
Come to think of it, I have a lot of mixed disciplens in my tack wardrobe!! Lol.
 
#11 ·
I got a handmade western bridle and reins you are talking about as a present from a friend several years ago. While I wasn't impressed with the one-ear bridle (donated it eventually), the reins are absolutely amazing. They are made like English, but have a "western look" in them, and just SO nice to touch. I'd LOVE to get a 2nd pair like that for my other horse, but I couldn't find anything like that (that was a special order I believe).
 
#12 ·
Yeah, you can interchange them. Unless the english bridle is a snaffle bridle with a flash band there's really no difference in the mechanics of either headstall. I think it's the trend right now for western headstalls to have browbands instead of the old one-ear or two-eared bridle. What makes the headstall behave the way it does is the action of the bit. If you put a direct-rein bit in the horse's mouth, there's no pressure on the headstall. But if you use a leverage bit, it pulls down on the poll. So, either way I think the headstalls are interchangeable. (and you can always take the flash band off...I use a low-port Kimberwick and did that when a snaffle bridle was all I had)

Reins are reins. My daughter uses a hot pink nylon set. lol. But like somebody else said, make sure that when you change to english reins or barrel reins that you make sure your hands work the bit the way the bit was designed to be used, regardless of what style the reins themselves are. If it's a snaffle (no shanks) you can use 2 hands, but if the bit has shanks (leverage) you should probably still neckrein.
 
#13 ·
You can if you want to, there's nothing wrong with it I've done it recently, but don't try showing like that.

My gaming bridle has an english bit, and western reins. The headstall itself could be used for either discipline.
 
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