Splices in driving reins

[Alexis1234]

I'm making driving reins using 15 oz "English" bridle leather. Front and hand parts are approx 80" each. My question is, can I safely skive each strap where they lap (flesh side). I'm paranoid about  safety  while driving and I've read that split leather isn't as strong, but I don't want them getting caught up in rein terrets if the joint is too thick- it appears like it should be as thick as  the overall piece not thicker/bulkier.  Any suggestions on making reins would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Edited July 15, 2018 by Alexis1234
clearification

[Big Sioux Saddlery]

Driving LINES have been skived at the joins for as long as there have been driving lines.  Just don't skive to paper, and leave it a little thicker than single thickness of either piece. Depending on width, you might want to put a few stitches in the center of the lap at the front.  I punch a scalloped pattern on the front part of the line and lap it over the hand part.  It annoys me greatly when I see lines put together backwards, with the hand part overlapping the front part.  The terrets are far enough forward they shouldn't catch on the laps anyway, except when pulling the lines out.  If it's a work harness, and I'm assuming it is because 15oz is pretty heavy, lines stay on the saddle when not in use.  Everyone wants to pull the lines out of the terrets and leave them attached to the bit. Grrr.  Of course with show harness, parts get disassembled down more for storage than work harness.

 

Edit: I should clarify, don't skive to paper at the end of the skives, and leave the join itself a little thicker than either single piece.  Don't skive back from the lap further than the end of each skived piece.  Follow me?  Yes, skiving does weaken the leather somewhat. Just be careful how many holes you poke in it while sewing, and where, and don't skive too much off.

Edited July 15, 2018 by Big Sioux Saddlery

[Alexis1234]

Thank you so much- exact info I was looking for. I kind of figured they were skived but wanted to err on the side of caution. Great info for the  part about being put together  backwards- the ones I have for an  example are made that way.I grew up using " lines" with our drafts and  was instantly corrected the second I started doing " carriage" driving.  

[Big Sioux Saddlery]

You're welcome.  Carriage driving. . . those people have nice turnouts, but they have some goofy ideas about driving horses, some that I consider unsafe.  One good thing is that they WILL spend money.  Years ago I spent several years working for a Saddlebred trainer.  In addition to Saddlebreds, we worked Arabs, Morgans, world champion Hackneys,  and lines were always called lines by the old timers.  "Reins" instantly labeled someone as a newbie, even in that world.  There was just a discussion about this very topic the other day on a FB driving/draft group, and it appears to be a regional difference now as much as anything.  With most of the old timers gone, guys that I considered to be true horsemen, and the people getting into horses and driving now being completely new to horses, terms that were once considered "wrong"  become commonplace I guess.  It still rubs my hair the wrong way, and always will.

[Alexis1234]

Yes, I agree - they do have some goofy ideas... I was around old timers that had a " get it done mentality " , not pussy footing around  the horse   kind of attitude.  I was at a sleigh rally  years ago in Wisconsin talking to a judge and said the word "lines"... she said "lines " were to be used with an agricultural type hitch/ animals and reins were  for carriage driving . Over the years  I've gotten my fair share of odd looks at the words "lines" , when talking to non draft people. I just decided to stick to reins esp online

 

[Big Sioux Saddlery]

 

36 minutes ago, Alexis1234 said:

she said "lines " were to be used with an agricultural type hitch/ animals and reins were  for carriage driving .

That's somewhat like what I told a friend when we were discussing this. . . the carriage people want to disassociate themselves from anything draft/farming related, and come up with their own names and rules.   Whatever, no matter I guess, and as time goes on there will be fewer and fewer people doing things in the old ways.

I am curious though what kind of draft horses you grew up with, and the activities they were involved in.  MN has always had a pretty healthy population of draft horses and groups that are pretty active with different field days and events. A friend of mine gave me a DVD a few years ago of a plowing contest in MN, back in the late '60's(?). Idk if it was state or national, but there were literally thousands of spectators.  An event like that around here now would be lucky to draw 50 people.

[Alexis1234]

I live in Northeastern Minnesota. I had a team of Belgians and a team of Belgian/ Percherons. We just played around with them- hauled hay from the neighbors, etc. I switched to Hackney ponies about 10 years ago.There is a pretty active Draft club up here.