Search the Community

Padded bridle and reins for a special gelding from our breeding program. Hermann Oak bridle leather, stamped steel bridle buckles from Weaver, and lots of nylon thread. Hand sewn.

"I only want to see you riding in the purple reins." Couldn't resist. Yesterday's project was replacing the buckle ends of a friend's reins. Torn in two. Got a pretty good color match with existing - that's dark brown Fenice Colorfast dye. These rubber grips are nylon webbing coated with rubber. A piece of web inserts into a split in the leather strap and is sewn in place. I prefer grips that slide over a continuous leather strap. The cuffs covering the junction of leather strap and rubber grips are a little different than existing but I think they'll pass inspection.

A little bit of Hermann Oak bridle leather, and a lot of thread.

Hi all, I recently made myself a new pair of reins to use for themed photoshoots and last weekend a friend of mine visited to make some photo's of me and one of the horses with my handmade outfit. Now onto the task of making a matching bridle for this set! So happy how they turned out! The quiver, ridingskirt, saddlepad, reins and armbracers are all selfmade. Bridle by Woodenwulf.

Hi again all! hopefully this is an okay place to ask this, as I’ve exhausted all other options now! Is there anyone out there that has experience making twisted mecate reins? I’ve been braiding them for a few years and would love to learn how to twist them by hand. any and all information/advice welcome!! thanks again !

Does anyone have any good tips- with legitimate reasoning why you use one or the other for the type of leather you use to make 8' split reins with water loops? I have used both- latigo seems to be easier to get heavier sides (thicker reins) and I am always impressed by the durability, but I like the way bridle/ harness finishes and is much more pliable. I have thought about doubling up lighter weight latigo and stitching but together but I also feel this is a somewhat unnecessary step especially when there isn't much of a return for spending a lot of time on reins. If I were to double and stitch say something in the ball park of 7/8 oz. H.O. latigo- should I apply barges in between? Or add anything in the ends for weight? Do you hot dip? What temp do you like to put your oil at? Thanks in advance

I've sourced bulk mecate rope (8 strand square braided paracord) from the same supplier for quite a few years, but I'm getting concerned about their quality given their last two shipments. Does anyone have any good sources for bulk mecate rope? I usually buy 200-600' at a time. Thanks for your help!

I have been a visitor of this site for many years and can usually find the answer to my question without having to post (seems like everything I come across someone else has already figured out) but this one doesn't seem to have been answered before. My father bought a set of rawhide romal reins out of Mexico. The rawhide appears to have been bleached and he can't stand the color so he asked if I could figure something out. I have never worked with rawhide before so I'm unsure of the best way to go about this. I know a lot of people use coffee to dye their strands but this is done before the braiding begins. We both agreed that a similar color would be good if we could get it to take without destroying the reins. My concern is that if I soaked them in coffee the braid on either the body or the buttons would loosen or curl and the reins would be ruined? I also thought spraying or wiping them down might be safer and producer a good result? Lastly, I thought maybe I would dye some rawhide cream then work the conditioner into the reins (since the conditioner is supposed to be safe for finished products)? Has anyone ever tried something like this before that could lend some advice? If not maybe some insight as to what could be expected if I follow any of the outlined ideas above? Any advice would be very much appreciated. I have attached a few pictures of the reins so you can see what I'm working with. Thanks in advance.