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The reins are used to slow and direct the animal.

The reins are the leather straps attached to the rings or shanks of a bit.

A set of split reins attached to a western style snaffle bit

Reins are a type of horse tack. A bridle is an arrangement of straps around the horse's head used for riding and driving the animal. A bridle contains a bit (a piece of metal or rubber that is placed in the horse's mouth) attached to reins. Reins are leather straps or rope attached to the outer ends of a bit that extend to the rider's or driver's hands, allowing them to give commands known as rein aids.

Main article: riding aids

Reins are used to communicate to the horse or other riding animal. With the reins you can bend the neck and encourage turning, or move them back and ask for a slower speed or a halt. But a rider must also use leg cues and body weight.

When a rider squeezes her/his leg, the horse responds by moving away from the pressure. The reins can be used to warn the horse that you are about to turn. The sides of a horse's mouth are sensitive, so pulling on the reins pulls the bit, which then pulls the horse's head to the side.

Reins are also used to stop a horse. By gently applying pressure to the reins in a backward motion and sitting against the horse's movement for a short time, you can stop a horse completely or cause the horse to walk backward.

On some types of harnesses there might be supporting rings or "turrets" used to carry the reins over the animal's back. When pairs of equines are used in drawing a wagon or coach it is usual for the outer side of each pair to be connected to the reins and for the inside of the bits to be 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.

A single rein or rope may be attached to a halter to lead or guide the horse or packhorse. A long rein called a longe line may be used to allow the horse to move in a circle for training purposes.

Types of reins include:

• Closed reins — reins that are either a single piece or that buckle together at the ends. English riders always use closed reins. western riders in timed rodeo events use a single closed rein, as do those who use a romal. A closed rein helps prevent the rider from dropping the reins.
• Split reins — a rein style seen in western riding where the reins are not attached to one another at the ends. They prevent a horse from tangling its feet in a looped rein, particularly when the rider is dismounted. They are considerably longer than closed reins.
• Side reins — used when longeing a horse, attached from the bit to the saddle or surcingle, they are not to be held by the rider.
• Long reins, longlines, or driving lines — exceptionally long reins which allow the rider to control the horse from a cart, or from the ground, with the handler walking behind the horse.
• Romal reins — a rein style from the vaquero tradition that incorporates a closed rein with a long quirt at the end.
• Mecate — a style of rein seen on a bosal style hackamore made of a single piece of rope that encompasses both a closed rein and a lead rope.
• Reins used on bridles with two reins:
  • Snaffle rein — Usually a laced rein that buckles at the center, used on the bradoon of a double bridle, or the upper ring of a pelham bit.
  • Curb rein: The rein used at the end of the shank of a curb bit or pelham. Modern curb reins usually buckle together at the ends, though reins of the classical curb were sewn together at the ends to create a single rein.

In popular culture, "to rein in" is used to refer to the need to hold back, slow down, control or restrict something. Sometimes its homophone, the word reign, is interchanged, but this use is grammatically incorrect. Correct use of the two words would be as follows: Miss America received a new car to drive during her reign, but after getting five speeding tickets, her driving privileges were reined in.

Reins can be attached to a bit gag for BDSM purposes.

• Neck rein techniques — used to turn a horse
• Reining — a Western horseback riding competition