How to Tie Reins With Slobber Straps
Leather split reins can be attached to a bridle’s bit by leather fobs or “slobber straps,” which keep the horse’s saliva (and water when a horse drinks) from discoloring or damaging the reins. They also add weight to the bit end of very lightweight reins for quick bit release. A different slobber strap is used with mecate reins. Mecate length needs to be long enough to work well as reins while leaving 12 to 15 feet of running line or tail to use as a lead rope. How you tie slobber straps depends on which kind you’re using.
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Things You'll Need
- Horse headstall attached to bit
- 2 leather split reins
- 2 slobber straps
- Leather shoelace
- Bit with 3-inch rings for mecate use
- Mecate rope
Instructions
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Split Reins
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1
Lay the headstall and bit on a flat surface. Push one end of the slobber strap through the back (horse side) of the bit ring, tanned leather side facing out. Fold the strap back so the first strap meets the strap’s other end. Repeat on the other side.
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2
Place the attachment end of one split rein between the two ends of the folded slobber strap and loosely align them. (Slobber straps for leather split reins have small holes in each end. When folded, the strap holes line up with those in the reins.) Repeat for the other rein.
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3
Slip one end of the leather shoestring through all aligned holes and back around again, tying rein and strap together and knotting firmly. Cut excess string (leave enough to hold the knot) and use it to tie the other slobber strap to the other rein.
Mecate Reins
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4
Pass the leather mecate slobber straps through both bit rings as for split rein straps, folding the straps over the bit ring so the ends face back (toward the horse).
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5
Attach the mecate rein starting with the ride side of the bit (horse’s right side). Slobber straps for mecates have one large hole in each end to allow the mecate rope to be pushed through and tied. Secure one end of the mecate to the slobber strap, using an overhand knot.
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6
Allow 8 to 10 feet for your one-piece mecate rein. (Try the headstall on your horse to get a more accurate measurement of the length you’ll need for a loose rein.) Just beyond that length, attach mecate rope to the slobber strap on the other side, securing that strap with an overhand knot but leaving the tail end free.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Originally stiff and woven from horsehair, modern mecates can be made from flexible Sampson line.
The tail of the mecate can be used as a longe line for groundwork.
If you use the mecate to tie your horse—traditional, but not recommended—use the running lead or tail to form a loop around the reins just under the jaw, to minimize any pull on the bit.
