Imagine the exhilarating experience of riding a horse at top speed, performing intricate patterns around the perimeter of an arena, causing dirt to scatter in every direction. The adrenaline rush intensifies as your horse gallops at an impressive rate of 3.9 meters per second. This particular style of western riding is known as reining, requiring the rider to skillfully guide their horse through a challenging pattern. Later, we will delve into the role of a panel of judges who evaluate the completed pattern. Reining stands out as a distinctive discipline since the trainer and rider are one and the same, necessitating a high level of communication between them and their horse. In contrast, most other disciplines involve separate trainers and riders. Countless hours of dedication and practice are devoted by trainers to prepare horses for reining competitions.
Reining is a form of equine performance where a horse and rider must work together to complete a specific pattern. This event originated from ranch horses who were agile and responsive to light rein cues. Ranch hands would challenge each other to determine which horse could perform the hardest stops, longest slides, and quickest turns. Reining is a popular event that can be found in local open shows, registered breed shows, national shows, NRHA shows, and the NRHA Futurity for young horses. These shows occur indoors throughout the year. Judging in reining is based on three factors: functional correctness, maneuver execution, and attitude. The pattern includes fast-paced maneuvers such as galloping circles of different sizes, lead changes in mid-air, spins on the forelimbs, and accelerating speeds leading up to a sliding stop. Each reining pattern typically takes around 2.5-3 minutes to complete. The scoring system used in reining was established by the NRHA.
In the beginning of the pattern, both the horse and rider have an initial score of 70. Each maneuver, approximately seven to eight per pattern, can result in the addition or subtraction of points, as well as penalty points. Disqualifications can lead to a no score. To understand all of the rules and regulations, it is advisable to consult the AQHA Official Handbook. At reining shows, the audience often shows enthusiasm for horses that exhibit longer stops and faster spins. However, in order to win the reining competition, the judge considers the following criteria: the horse should be willingly guided or controlled with minimal resistance, and should be completely directed. Any independent movement by the horse is seen as a lack of control. Points are awarded for smoothness, finesse, attitude, quickness, and authority in executing the various maneuvers while maintaining controlled speed. The ideal ride appears effortless, yet demonstrates complexity in the pattern and performs the elements with style.
Most reining horses start their training when they are between 18 and 24 months old. They begin competing at 3 years old, with futurities for horses aged 3 to 4. Some working horses are not chosen for competition during training either because they are not good enough for a futurity or because they are injured. Training at a young age is mentally and physically demanding for these horses. Their musculoskeletal system has to work at intense levels due to the early start of training. To reduce the risk of injury, practices for this discipline are limited to 30 minutes per day, 6 times a week. It is crucial for trainers to have knowledge about how much work to give their horses to prevent injury. The training program focuses on fundamentals to keep the horse in good condition during training and competition. The schedule is designed to stimulate the pathways used in both aerobic and anaerobic activities, similar to those used in reining competitions. While each horse has a specific training program, the emphasis is always on building the fundamentals necessary for executing the maneuvers in the reining pattern.
The trainer’s objective for these horses is to achieve command over the horse’s front end. The term “freed up” enables the redistribution of weight to the hind end of the horse, allowing them to initiate the sliding stops. Trainers initiate their horses into maneuvers like cross overs to gradually enhance their range of motion. An additional exercise employed by trainers is backing and laterally flexing circles, which aids in muscle coordination and resilience against fatigue. As the horse matures, trainers will engage in “square” exercises to improve the length and quality of their slide.
BONUS: Horse Training Tips from Professional Reining Horse Trainers
Achieving the perfect circle while circling a horse may seem simple, but it requires training and practice. The following details the process professional reining horse trainers use to teach their horses how to circle.
National Reining Horse Association Handbook definition of circles
Circles are maneuvers performed while loping, where the size and speed are specified. These maneuvers showcase control, willingness to be guided, and the difficulty of maintaining speed and making speed changes. It is important that circles are always performed within the designated area of the arena as described in the pattern. Additionally, all circles must have a common center point. It is essential to demonstrate a clear distinction in both speed and size between small, slow circles and large, fast circles. Furthermore, the speed and size of small, slow circles on the right side should resemble those on the left side. Similarly, the speed and size of large, fast circles on the right side should be comparable to those on the left side.
Bobby Avila
Our horses are trained to respond to our body cues. When riding a circle, it is important to focus on 1/8 of the circle at a time. Riding too far ahead of the horse can make it challenging to maintain a consistent circle. An older horse is skilled at staying under your control and following the circle, but if they lean in or out of the circle, Bobby likes to correct this by swiftly turning the horse across the circle and then returning to the path of the circle. These two techniques greatly improved my circles. They also reduce the need to constantly adjust my hands to guide my horse, as he already knows what to do throughout the circle. The more we practice this, the better he stays between my hands and on the circle’s path.
Transitioning from a fast circle to a slow circle.
In order to transition from a fast circle to a slow circle, it is necessary to employ rhythm. The strategy involved requesting the horse to accelerate until we achieved a comfortable rhythm, and then maintaining that rhythm. Once I had established the rhythm, the next step was to transition down by exerting pressure with my feet and settling into my saddle, while still maintaining the rhythm. This approach resulted in a more seamless transition, where I remained in sync with my horse at both speeds.
Brandy Murphy
Circles that move quickly transforming into circles that move slowly
In order to transition from fast to slow circles, it is important to incorporate specific cues that indicate to the horse to change their speed. To begin, lope a circle and when you want to slow down, start humming and raise your hand. As the horse starts to come back to you, lower your hand. Use your outside leg to push the horse’s hip into the circle. Once the horse has returned, the next step is to stop them. By doing this, you condition the horse to associate the humming with stopping. Once the horse comprehends the cues, you can proceed with transitioning from fast to slow circles. It is vital to be consistent in your approach, as this will help your horse learn how to transition smoothly.
Bruce Barber
As you are circling, you will sense the moment when the horse is leaning. Once you feel that, immediately stop the horse, back them up, roll them back, and then set off again. It is crucial to time these actions to coincide with the lean, so that the horse associates the work with the leaning.
This exercise aids in teaching the horse to willingly stay on the circle. It can be practiced at the trot and lope. The objective is to encourage the horse to work whenever they lean. By doing so, they will realize that staying on the circle requires less effort, thereby teaching them to be more willingly guided.
Jay Dee Anderson
The text can be rephrased as follows using a step-by-step approach: – The first step is to modify “Lead Departure” while maintaining the same meaning. A possible rephrasing could be “Departure in Front.” – The next step is to rephrase “Building Speed.” A suitable alternative can be “Increasing Velocity.” – Finally, the phrase “in the Circle” can be rephrased as “within the Circular Area.”
First, Jay Dee picks up the reins and gently applies pressure to the bit, signaling the horse to start loping. He then transitions the horse to a walk after a few strides and repeats the process. This helps the horse learn to respond to the reins and maintain a lowered head during the lead departure. The next step involves picking up on the reins and using leg cues and kissing sounds to increase speed. This technique allows Jay Dee to prompt the horse to speed up in the show pen while remaining collected. If the horse begins to slow down, Jay Dee lowers his hand and uses leg cues and kissing sounds to encourage the horse to maintain the desired speed.
