Why do these reins have slots in them?

Hi everyone,

I just bought a pair of Reinsman Sharon Camarillo competition reins just like these:

Competition Rein | Reinsman

Can anyone tell me what the small slots are for, that these reins are shown tied together with in the photo in the link above? (you will need to enlarge the photo)

I don't mean the reins stops, I know what they are, but I can't figure out why they would take a good set of reins and punch these funny holes in them just so they can tie them together in the photo? Surely there must be a good reason for the holes? The only thing I can think of is that it has something to do with the use of the rein stops. Any ideas?

I just bought them for trail riding (they are nice and long and great quality leather, and I got them super cheap) so I will just ignore those funny slots, but I am curious what they are there for???

The only thing I can come up with is maybe instead of a knot in the reins where you would want to hold them, you could just tie them together like that and not ruin the leather, but that looks like its way to far down the rein for that type of use. Not to mention they aren't split reins which are generally the type some people tie together. That's very weird.

Ah ha! Found it: 7301 Split Reins, Quick Change Ends :: Reins :: Horse Tack :: Sharon Camarillo's Barrel Racing Superstore

"The button slots and diamond shaped stopper allow for conversion between the running and german martingale."

So, the "button slots" are for a german martingale attachment. I guess there is a western version of a german?

Here it is.
7762 German Martingale :: Curbs, Nosebands, Martingales, TieDowns :: Horse Tack :: Sharon Camarillo's Barrel Racing Superstore
They don't how to use it though....??

I am impressed Luvs2ride! Because I had been to that website and didn't see that information.

I can't imagine quite how it would look in use. I thought I had seen most everything tack-wise, but I am totally clueless on how the "button slots" would work with any type of martingale.

I even went to Sharon Camarillo's website and didn't see anything like that. I could have missed it though. But if you are selling something like that, as sort of a training device, then you would think you would find something that showed how you are supposed to use it correctly, right?

Weird!

But I am just going to use them as a set of nice trail reins. I like reins that have some length to them, and these puppies are surprisingly long. They are well over 8 feet (which is what I usually use). I haven't measured these yet, but I bet the are 9 1/2- 10 feet. Pretty impressive for a contest style rein!

The tack store labeled them as "English reins, " even though they were stamped Camarillo and they were priced at $12, brand new! So of course I had to bring them home. They are nice heavy harness leather too. I think I got a good buy.

I guess this is how it is meant to be used as a "cowboy German martingale"

Cowboy Martingale


I learn something new everyday!

Very interesting. I got a "western style" german martingale set at one point, but it was like the english in that the reins had d-rings, and the martingale part, had clips on both of the fork ends, so you could adjust how loose or tight the reins were. I second the learning something new every day.