New headstall with ridiculously short split reins

^^ I thought the same thing. Maybe an exchange for longer reins?

I bought it off Craigslist (the people I bought it from actually board at my barn), and they said they got it as a gift, so no idea where it came from originally. They own a 17hh TB and even on the smallest setting it was too big for their guy's head.

As for reins, I'm going to talk to my tack shop guy and see if he can make me a nice set to match.

On another note, I really don't care for the conchos that are on it. Any idea where I can get nice replacements (preferably in red and black)? They slide on.
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So, because I'm a wee bit OCD, I've been thinking about the whole saddle/bridle/reins/pad set up and everything matching. I want to be well-turned out, even if it is just a schooling show.

So, now I'm stuck on the pad. Our normal colors are red and black. However, somehow I'm not picturing red or black going well with the lighter oil of the saddle. Plus, if I were to coordinate my shirt with my pad, red isn't the best color on me (I am rather pale with medium brown hair and blue/green eyes). I know any color will look good on Aires (yay for black and white pintos!), so I'm worried more about it looking good with the saddle and me. One color that I love and that looks good on me is deep teal. Not sure how hard that'd be to find in a saddle pad, though.

So, opinions? I know about the Hobby Horse color wheel, but that doesn't match with oil color, does it? I thought it was just horse color.
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The good news about natural leather saddles is that they tend to go with just about any color as well. I do agree that a green or blue or teal would look much better than red (just cause I don't particularly like red ).

5' reins sound like a good length.
I gotta ask--Why do you want those reins to hang down so long?
I was watching a Chris Cox program recently. He helped someone with a talented, but stiff cowey mare. I was pleased when I saw him on her and he had tied a knot in each split rein so that it was only hanging down by her knees, instead of dragging on the ground. Personally, I'd be afraid of my horse stepping on the reins and yanking his or her head over by the bit.

I ride a 16.1hh draft cross. 5' reins mean that I would be holding the end of the reins in order for there to be the proper amount of slack in them. There might be 6" of excess, but nowhere near the right amount.
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I guess I didn't think that MY English reins are over 5' long. Sorry.
Still, I gotta ask, why ARE the splint reins about 10' long?

They're not each 10' long. They are each individually 5' long. My English reins are 10' long from end to end. With 8' split reins, I should have about 3' of excess, which would hang partway between his shoulder and knees. I've never seen 10' split reins before.
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Look up "ridle rosettes" on eBay. Or sometimes they are misspelled as "bridal rosettes." Those are the conchos with the loop backs like your bridle has. I really like the Jeremiah Watt variety, although they are not red/black.

Well, if I can find them inexpensive enough, I'll get multiples in different colors (red/black and whatever I decide to show in).

Oddly, this ad is from the same people I got my bridle from.http://prescott.craigslist.org/grd/3639580628.html
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