Driving Lines

[Blackwater Farm]

I have noticed that with most black harnesses you will have brown driving lines/reins. I had a friend ask me about this today and I have no clue. She said she saw on a video (on YouTube I think) that you should always have brown driving reins. I have seen black ones, brown ones and some that are both. Are there specific uses for the colors? Why would you "have" to use brown? Is it a show thing? I dont show in driving, I just have a pleasure driving gelding and my reins are all black. Thanks ya'll!

 

[shorthorsemom]

I am interested in that answer too. My harness came with reins that were black and brown combined half and half. My trainer told me to go back and get all brown reins.

 

[Kendra]

Traditionally, driving lines were brown because the black leather dye would've stained the drivers hands. Now in more tradition based driving (pleasure shows, dressage, etc), brown lines are still required. They don't have to be brown all the way to the bit, often they're half and half. In the breed show ring either black or brown are fine.

 

[disneyhorse]

My friend is a harness maker. Traditionally, the "best quality" leather could be brown, but poorer-quality hides were dyed black to hide imperfections, scars, and such.

Therefore, as the lines are important for safety, harness makers would make the lines brown to help signify that they were, indeed, made from a very high quality hide.

Also, people traditionally wore gloves when driving. The russet (brown) lines didn't have black dye that could bleed onto the gloves (or your bare hands).

Andrea

 

[RhineStone]

Also, people traditionally wore gloves when driving. The russet (brown) lines didn't have black dye that could bleed onto the gloves (or your bare hands).

Which is also why we traditionally wear brown leather gloves as well. When you got to your destination, you sure didn't want to have black hands.

Myrna

 

[Blackwater Farm]

My friend is a harness maker. Traditionally, the "best quality" leather could be brown, but poorer-quality hides were dyed black to hide imperfections, scars, and such.

Therefore, as the lines are important for safety, harness makers would make the lines brown to help signify that they were, indeed, made from a very high quality hide.

Also, people traditionally wore gloves when driving. The russet (brown) lines didn't have black dye that could bleed onto the gloves (or your bare hands).

Andrea

Thanks! That makes alot of sense. I have a biothane harness and it came with black lines that are made out of an almost rubber type/feeling material. Not sure what it's called. But i love the weight and feel of them.