Rein hook

Device to hold the reins of a chariot

A rein hook,^[2] or rein holder is a device used in chariotry. It is designed to hold the reins in place when the driver is away, or his hands are used for something else than driving. It is used to free the rider's hands.^[3] It is held in place by a "charioteer's belt".

Characteristics

"Narrow-back rein holders" were probably hung to the rider's waist. They worked as rein hooks, attached at the belt, for horse control.^[4]

"Broad-back rein holders were probably probably fixed at the leading edge of the carriage to hold the reins.^[3] They may also have been attached at the belt of the charioter for hands-free control.^[5]^[6]

Rein holders were probably introduced in China circa 1200 BCE, where they first appear at Yinxu, from the Northern Zones, where earlier rein holders are known as far as the Minusinsk basin.^[3]

Karasuk culture bronze rein holders (1500-500 BCE)
Rein holder in position, as discovered in a burial in the Askizsky region of Khakassia, Southern Siberia. Lugav culture, Late Bronze Age, 11th-8th century BCE.^[6]
Wheel and rein holders in deer stones culture petroglyphs, circa 1000 BCE
A Deer stone charioteer with rein hook (hypothetical reconstruction).
Chinese bronze rein holder, ca. 11th century BCE. The span is 38.7 cm.^[7]
Western Zhou rein holder
Shang rein hook, with horse-head endings. Yinxu Museum
Hunter controlling his chariot from the waist, Ugarit, 15th-14th century BCE.^[8]

References

^ "Chariot Rein Ring LACMA Collections". collections.lacma.org.
^ Rawson, Huan & Taylor 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c Yang, Jianhua; Shao, Huiqiu; Pan, Ling (3 January 2020). The Metal Road of the Eastern Eurasian Steppe: The Formation of the Xiongnu Confederation and the Silk Road. Springer Nature. p. 205. ISBN 978-981-329-155-3. a rein-holder used to free the rider's hands
^ Rawson, Huan & Taylor 2021, "curved hooks thought to have functioned as rein-holders for horse control, hanging from a belt around the stones".
^ Selby, Stephen (1 January 2000). Chinese Archery. Hong Kong University Press. pp. 88–89. ISBN 978-962-209-501-4.
^ ^a ^b Altuntas, Leman; Kayra, Oguz (21 July 2023). "3,000-year-old 'charioteer belt' discovered in Siberia". Arkeonews.
^ "Chariot Fitting China". The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
^ Communications And The Earliest Wheeled Transport of Eurasia. 2012. p. 284.

Sources

Rawson, Jessica; Huan, Limin; Taylor, William Timothy Treal (December 2021). "Seeking Horses: Allies, Clients and Exchanges in the Zhou Period (1045–221 BC)". Journal of World Prehistory. 34 (4): 489–530. doi:10.1007/s10963-021-09161-9.

Headstalls	Bridle Hackamore Double bridle Bitless bridle
Bits and bit parts	Curb bit Snaffle bit Gag bit Kimblewick bit Pelham bit Spade bit (horse) Ring bit Bit mouthpiece Bit ring Bit shank
Component parts and accessories	Noseband or cavesson Bosal Mechanical hackamore Reins Romal Mecate (rein) Curb chain Fiador (tack) Bit converter Bit guard Lip strap Tongue-tie (tack)

Horse harness and carriages

Horse harness	Breast collar Breeching Bridle Bearing rein/overcheck Blinders/blinkers Lines/reins Shadow roll Collar and hames Crupper Saddle Surcingle Terret Trace
Horse-drawn vehicle	Carriage Cart Coach Sled/sleigh Sulky Wagon

Tack accessories and training tools
Martingale (tack) Whip Crop (implement) Quirt Spur Surcingle Bitting rig Longeing cavesson Side reins Chambon Draw reins and running reins Gogue

Other equipment

Stable equipment	Halter Ethological halter Lead (tack) Grooming tools Horse blanket Fly mask
Leg protection	Bell boots Polo wraps Shipping bandage Skid boots Splint boots Stable bandage
Restraints	Hobble (device) Picket line Twitch (device) Cattle crush Rein hook