Editing Horse tack (section)

== Reins ==
{{main|Rein}}
[[Reins]] consist of leather straps or rope attached to the outer ends of a ''bit'' and extend to the rider's or driver's hands. Reins are the means by which a horse rider or driver [[animal communication|communicates]] directional commands to the horse's head. Pulling on the reins can be used to steer or stop the horse. The sides of a horse's mouth are sensitive, so pulling on the reins pulls the bit, which then pulls the horse's head from side to side, which is how the horse is controlled.{{r|price|pp=159-161}}

On some types of [[Horse harness|harness]]es there might be supporting rings to carry the reins over the horse's back. When pairs of horses are used in drawing a [[wagon]] or [[coach (vehicle)|coach]] it is usual for the outer side of each pair to be connected to reins and the inside of the bits connected by a short bridging strap or rope. The driver carries "four-in-hand" or "six-in-hand" being the number of reins connecting to the pairs of horses.

A rein may be attached to a halter to lead or guide the horse in a circle for training purposes or to lead a packhorse, but a simple lead rope is more often used for these purposes.  A [[longeing|longe line]] is sometimes called a "longe rein", but it is actually a flat line about {{convert|30|ft|m}} long, usually made of nylon or cotton web, about one inch wide, thus longer and wider than even a driving rein.{{r|ensminger|pp=385-386}}