I bought some reins from you a few months ago now and must let you know how pleased I am. Although you mainly advertise for the jumping scene, I only hack, school and do dressage. My horse had this canny way of gratually pulling the reins through my fingers however much I tried to anchor with my thumbs!

She now knows that this is not possible so we are getting on much better, even the large stops on the reins I think helps. Before I had bought the continental and tried to keep hold of the 'stops', even tied knots in them to no avail, somehow I would realise that they were suddenly longer!

Thank you for your idea and being so helpful when I telephoned you.
Iris Read

Having had a very late start taking up riding, I had a series of challenges, actually still continuing, to be able to ride.

Like many riders, I've been told "outside rein!" and"shorten your reins!" hundreds of times. In addition, I had a serious challenge of body co-ordination. For a woman in her mid-thirties, who has no pony/horse background, learning a completely new set of co-ordination was not easy.

Last year I started learning jumping. My jumping instructor is kindly teaching a new trick to an old dog. Of course, I suffered from not being able to keep the reins short, losing balance by trying to get those reins right, then forgetting the leg aid because I get too busy doing something with my hands.

I borrowed one of the Mailer bridging reins for jumping lessons, and realized that I could concentrate on keeping outside rein without astruggle, and still use the leg aid.

I still have lots to learn, but I found the Mailer bridging rein helped keep my hands in position. My horse seems to be happy without me fiddling about with my hands.

Now I have my own bridging rein, and bought another one for my 9year old daughter for the right start.
Sincerely,
Reiko Anderson

I have already worked with them with a few pupils. One lady I have been teaching for 20 years has always found it difficult to keep her reins consistently short. Presto, with the Mailer Bridging Reins her problem is fixed - they work! Magic!
~Barrett

I must say I have found my riding very much improved. As soon as I got on the horse and picked up the reins, everything felt right. The length of the rein was easy to adjust (this can be done while sitting on the horse). It was great having my first lesson using this rein as there was not a consistent voice saying "Shorten up your reins." As my hands were in the correct position, I felt I was sitting better and was feeling much happier with my riding. I was also getting a better response from my horse. With my hands being in the right position, my horse's head softened which helped me with my dressage.
~Sharon Holmes

My ability to slip my reins had been perfected over many years and saved me from 'eating dirt' on many occasions.

When the arrival of my new hunter coincided with the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease, I needed to get to know her outside the hunting field, which is why I went back to jumping class after a break of about 20 years.

Now jumping in a competition differs from jumping out hunting in many ways - on the plus side, you always know what's on the landing side, the minus side is extensive. You have to steer, you have to kick, and you have to keep hold of your reins.

The theory was simple, and it didn't take me long to realize that I couldn't do it - but I was determined to learn. My biggest problem was that if anything went even slightly wrong, or when if I thought it had gone wrong when it hadn't, my basic instinct kicked in and I slipped my reins!

Even if all was going well, I quietly let my reins get longer and longer the further round the course I went. So I would find myself at a fence with my elbows stuck out like wings trying to take up the slack in the reins because by the time I realized how much I'd lost it was too late for me to gather it all up in time.

My problem is now solved - just like that! - the beauty of the CM bridging rein is in its simplicity - you cant see how it can possibly work so effectively until you try it. When you are actually riding its just like a normal pair of reins - it only comes into action when required. If your horse is quietly stealing the reins from you, the bridge tells you. If your horse over-jumps or jumps awkwardly and you slip your reins, they stay exactly where they should be so you have no 'gathering up panic', you just put your hand down and there they are. If your horse trips on the flat, you don't lose your reins - particularly useful if its on the flat and in front of a fence!

Watching our top riders, it becomes apparent that they are particularly adept at picking up their reins at the speed of light. Those of us with lesser talents can now be grateful that the CM bridging rein can give us the advantage that we wont lose them in the first place!

An essential aspect of this reins is that it is not dangerous - if you find yourself in the unfortunate position that you and your horse are both on the floor, there is nothing restrictive in this rein that will prevent the horse from getting up. From a personal point of view, this rein has made jumping so much easier. There is so much to think about when jumping competitively that one less problem makes a huge difference. It can be adjusted to fir any horse - one of mine has a neck so long it would win prizes, whilst the other one could almost tickle my face with his ears!
~Val Palmer

My reins are always the right length which allows me to keep my mind on other things. My impulsion has grown enormously while being in full control over my horse. The rein has greatly improved my riding and jumping, it allows my instructors vocal chords to have a rest.
~Flurry Wright

I bought a pair of your reins at Your Horse Live and am absolutely over the moon with them. I saw an instant improvement with my heavyweight show cob.

He can no longer pull the reins through my hands!! He can't tank off in cross country!! He works in an outline because my hands are in constant contact!! We have perfected gates!! and when I'm teaching my friend to ride on him, his hands are in the perfect place!

I spotted your article in Your Horse magazine and will definitely be showing it around.

Many thanks for this great product and wish you every success in the future.
Beth Thornton

but that's what happened the first time I used the Carol Mailer Bridging Rein. I'd been struggling with my approach to jumps. My horse was leaning on the bit, putting his head down and pulling me out of the saddle. This had the effect of pulling the reins through my hands, and me losing the contact just at the crucial moment.

My instructor had seen this happen a number of times and suggested I try the Bridging Rein, specifically designed to prevent such problems. The different was astonishing - and immediate. No more long, loopy reins, no more being pulled forward, lots more consistent contact...

I now use the rein for schooling and competing. Its British Show Jumping Association and British Eventing approved, so no problems there.

The rein doesn't interfere with your normal riding technique or force your horse into an outline. Once you've been using it for a few minutes, you don't even realize that its any different to normal reins.