 
Disciplines - Reining
Reining is a western riding competition for horses where the riders
guide the horses through a precise pattern of circles, spins, and
stops. All work is done at the lope (a slow, relaxed version of
the horse gait more commonly known worldwide as the canter) and
gallop; the fastest of the horse gaits. Reining is often described
as a Western form of dressage riding, as it requires the horse to
be responsive and in tune with its rider, whose aids should not
be easily seen, and judges the horse on its ability to perform a
set pattern of movements. The horse should be willingly guided or
controlled with little or no apparent resistance and dictated to
completely.
Horse
Reining may be performed by any horse, but the Stock horse breeds,
particularly the American Quarter Horse, dominate the field. The
reining horse must be agile, quick, and very responsive to the rider's
commands. Powerful hindquarters are required to hold position in
a sliding stop or a rollback, excellent coordination is required
for proper spins and flying lead changes. Correct leg conformation
is essential, as the limbs and joints are often under considerable
stress in competition. The horse must also have an excellent temperament
to perform with both speed and precision.
Movements
The reining pattern includes an average of eight to twelve movements
which must be executed by the horse. Patterns require the following
movements
- Circles: the horse must perform large, fast circles at a near-gallop
and smaller, slow circles at a lope. They should be perfectly
round, with the rider dictating the pace of the horse. There should
be an easily seen change of speed as the rider transitions from
the large, fast to the small, slow circles. Most circles incorporate
changes of direction that require a flying change of lead.
- Flying change: the horse changes its leading front and hind
legs at the lope mid-stride, during the suspension phase of the
gait. The horse should not break gait nor change speed. While
completing a change at speed can improve one's score, precision
is the most important factor in judging: A horse taking more than
one stride to complete the change, or a horse that changes early,
late, or that changes only the front feet and not the hind feet
will be penalized.
- Rundown: the horse gallops or "runs" along the long
side of the arena, at least 20 feet (6 m) from the fence or rail.
A rundown is a required movement prior to a sliding stop or a
rollback.
- Sliding Stop: the horse goes from a gallop immediately to a
complete halt, planting its hind feet in the footing and allowing
its hind feet to slide several feet, while continuing to let its
front feet "walk" forward. The back should be raised
upward and hindquarters come well underneath. A particularly powerful
stop may, depending on arena conditions, produce flying dirt and
a cloud of dust. The movement should finish in a straight line,
and the horse's position should not change. This movement is a
crowd favorite, along with spins (see below).
- Back or Backup: the horse backs up quickly for at least 10 feet
(3 m). The horse must back in a perfectly straight line, stop
when asked and hesitate a moment before the next movement. It
is judged on how quick, smooth and straight the line is.
- Rollback: the horse immediately, without hesitation, performs
a 180-degree turn after halting from a sliding stop, and immediately
goes forward again into a lope. The horse must turn on its hindquarters,
bringing its hocks well under, and the motion should be continuous
with no hesitation.
- Spins or Turnarounds: beginning from a standstill, the horse
spins 360 degrees or more (up to four and one-quarter full turns)
in place around its stationary inside hind leg. The hind pivot
foot remains in essentially the same location throughout the spin,
though the horse will pick it up and put it down as it turns.
Spins are judged on correctness, smoothness, and cadence. Speed
adds to the difficulty and will improve the score of a correctly
done spin. A pattern requires at least one set of spins in each
direction. Horses must stop the spin in the designated place or
be penalized for over or under spinning. The term Pivot is sometimes
used to describe a turn on the hindquarters of up to 360 degrees
where the horse has to keep a rear pivot foot stationary. In 4-H
competition, pivots of 90, 180, or 360 degrees are sometimes used
in pattern classes to introduce youth riders to reining concepts.
- Pause or Hesitate: the horse is asked to stand still for a few
seconds to "settle" between certain movements in the
reining pattern, particularly after spins. Pauses are not judged
as a movement per se, but a horse that is ill-mannered or behaves
with impatience when asked to wait will be penalized.
Please visit the National
Reining Horse Association for more information
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