Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Home > Tack Tips > Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Q: My horse isn't very big. I don't need a 35 ft lungeline do I?
A: If your horse is a regular horse size, as opposed to a pony, you can get by with a shorter length lungeline. But consider this, even a smaller horse can have lameness issues if he is made to work constantly on small circles. Why not have the options of working on a full size (20 meters) circle and smaller figures, instead of being limited to one small circle?

Q: What size side reins do I need for my horse?
A: Start by considering the breed and size of the horse you are buying for. In general, our sizes fit horses who are:
Ex-Long: LARGE horses over 16.1 h.h. Long: 15 h.h. to 16.2 h.h. Medium: 14.1 h.h. to 15.2 h.h. Pony: horses and ponies under 14 h.h.
When in doubt: Horses with longer necks should go to the longer size. Horses with shorter necks, shorter size. Example: A 15.3 h.h. horse with a short neck may do better with a Medium size. Confused? Call or e-mail us!

Q: Which lungeline is better, Cotton or Nylon?
A: Your choice will depend on what you plan to do with your horse. Most people prefer a cotton lungeline in order to avoid “rope burn” when a horse is playful on the end of the line. But, if your horse is good at breaking lines, then a nylon lungeline is a good choice for its strength. To learn more about this subject, go to Tack Tips and read the article: Webbing: Do you want Cotton, Nylon or Polypropylene?

Q: My horse needs help getting round. Which side reins should I buy?
A: Traditional side reins help the horse to keep his head and neck in line with his shoulders. For many horses, the traditional side reins, whether plain, elastic or with rubber donuts, are all that is needed to introduce him to contact at the bit. But for the horse who loses his balance, gets stuck on the contact, leans on the side reins or resists taking any contact at all, we recommend the ReBalance™ sliding side reins. In fact, we recommend the sliding side reins for all horses, resistant or not, because they encourage the horse to find balance and self carriage without causing panic or tension. To learn more about the ReBalance™ sliding side reins, go to Tack Tips and read the article: ReBalance™ Sliding Side Reins: Instructions for Use. Also see the article: Side reins: What Do They Do?

Q: Do I want cotton or nylon side reins?
A: Nylon side reins are stronger and long lasting, but the nylon is heavier than cotton and can be droopy or floppy if not adjusted snugly. Cotton side reins are somewhat stiffer and do not droop even when adjusted loosely. Unless your horse is a big puller, cotton side reins are strong enough and last for many years of normal use. For the trainer, cotton side reins are softer in the hand and easily adjusted. Most of our customers prefer cotton, but if you are planning on lungeing multiple horses each day you may want nylon for durability. To learn more about this subject, go to Tack Tips and read the article: Webbing: Do you want Cotton, Nylon or Polypropylene?

Q: I need to buy side reins I can use on more than one size horse. What do I do?
A: Most people DO have more than one horse to lunge in side reins. And, NO, there isn’t one size that will fit all. But the measurements on the sizes of our side reins do overlap each other by approximately 4 inches. And if you need a medium side rein for your cob sized horse but would also like to use them on your 16.2 hand horse, then purchase a set of Girth Loops (GA). In addition to being a handy place to hook things, the girth loops will add 9 inches to the total length of a side rein.

Q: I bought the wrong size side reins from a store/catalog. Can I exchange them through you?
A: If you are exchanging your side reins to get a different size, we will do that for you. Simply send us the side reins with your name, address and phone number. Tell us what size you want and we will send them to you. If you want a refund, you will need to contact the store or catalog where you purchased the side reins.

Q: The catalog doesn't carry the size I need. Can I buy side reins directly from you?
A: Yes, you can order them directly from us, using the secure order form on our website. Or call us at 509-853-5556 to order by phone.

Q: There’s an extra snap on the ends of my Custom-Tack side reins. What are they for?
A: All styles of Custom-Tack Side Reins have an extra snap at the girth end of the side rein, making them even more versatile to use. The side reins can be attached to the pommel of the saddle to approximate a rider's rein contact, or to the girth buckles instead of looped around the girth. Donut side reins may be attached with the donut at the girth end, avoiding 'bouncing Donuts' near the horse's mouth. If a loop around the girth is preferred, the extra snap can be parked on a specially placed D ring to keep it out of the way. Side reins can also be looped through the bit ring for further adjustment. That extra snap makes Custom-Tack’s side reins more versatile and easy to use!