Zilco Driving Reins Compared

We are often asked for advice on which reins to select for your Zilco driving harness. The type of driving reins you choose is a very personal choice so it is difficult to advise which ones may best suit different individuals.

Tedex Driving Reins

Tedex is the entry level of driving harness produced by Zilco and aims at the starter and pleasure market. The reins supplied as standard with Tedex harness are also available for seperate purchase so can be used with any driving harness.

They are made of a multi-ply woven webbing with heat sealed holes and stainless steel buckles. The hand grip is webbing with a thread of rubber giving good grip in both wet and dry conditions.

WebZ Driving Reins

WebZ reins are very similar to the Tedex though slightly thicker. It still uses S grip on the hand grip area. The buckles at the bit end are still stainless steel but at the driver’s end of the reins they attach with velcro instead of a buckle. These reins are supplied as standard with WebZ harness sets but are also available for seperate purchase so can be used with any harness

S Grip

The S grip are one of the three options available to choose from when purchasing a set of the Classic, Elite or ZGB harness sets. The front section of the reins is made from Zilco’s hard wearing, easy maintenance material used throughout the rest of the harness. The hand grip is a webbing with rubber threads throughout which offers good grip in all conditions. These are the lightest of the three options and feel easy in the hand. Some drivers do find them too light and slightly vague. Depending on the horse’s contact they an also be affected by very windy conditions.

Z Grip

The Z grip are a second option which can be selected with Zilco harness sets Classic, Elite and ZGB. These are the closest equivalent to leather reins in weight and feel. They are made of a matt brown material which is very consistent in all conditions. They are available with or without sewn in stops. The stops can be very useful for drivers who are inclined to continually alter their hand position. It is easier to fix your hand in the one position marked by the stop you have chosen. Some drivers have found that the stops can be a little hard on the hands particulary if your horse takes a strong contact.

R Grip

This is currently our best selling rein type and has a lot to offer. The front section of the reins is made from Zilco’s hard wearing, easy maintenance material used throughout the rest of the harness. The hand grip is made of webbing coated in a soft pliable rubber with pimples for extra grip. These reins are the smallest in the hand so are a popular choice for drivers with smaller hands. They offer the best grip of all the Zilco reins and re especially popular for marathon driving. The pimples on the rubber are not as hard wearing as with the other hand grips so replacement may be more frequent with this style.

View driving reins here

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