Reining

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Reining is a Western horseback riding competition. Early in American history, the American stockman didn't have many resources to manage his cattle. The cattle were moved, worked, branded, doctored, sorted, and herded without the benefit of fences, barns or other means of holding the animals. A good cattle hand needed a good horse, one that could change directions quickly, stop on a dime, and accelerate quickly after an errant cow. The cowboy had to be able to handle this animal with a light touch on the reins, so that the cowboy's attention could also be on handling the lariat (to rope the cattle). Reining is often equated to a Western form of dressage riding, as it requires the horse to be incredibly 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.

1 Evolving Into a Sport
2 Movements and Scoring
3 Reining Competitions
4 The Growing Appeal of Reining as a Sport
5 See also
6 External links

[edit] Evolving Into a Sport

The demonstration of these ideal characteristics evolved into the sport of reining, where the riders guide the horses through a precise pattern of circles, spins, and stops. All work is done at the canter (or "lope" or "run" in Western parlance).

[edit] Movements and Scoring

The reining pattern includes several movements which must be executed by the horse.

Circles: includes large, fast circles and smaller, slow circles. 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.
Flying Changes: when the horse changes leads at the lope mid-stride, during the suspension phase of the gait. The horse should not break gait, nor should he change speed.
Sliding Stops: the horse goes from a very fast gallop to a halt, planting his hind feet in the footing and allowing his hind shoes to slide, while continuing to let his front feet "walk" forward. The back should be raised upward. The movement should continue in a straight line, and the horse's position should not change. This movement is a crowd favorite, producing flying sand as the horse slides forward.
Reinback/Backup: the horse backs up several steps for 10 feet. The horse should stay perfectly straight during this time.It is judged on how straight the line is and how fast your backup is.
Roll-back: the horse performs a 180-degree turn after halting from a sliding stop, and immediately goes forward into a lope. He should bring his shoulders over his hocks, and the motion should be continuous with no hesitations.
Spins: the horse spins 360 degrees in place around a stationary inside hind leg. The hindquarters should be fixed in the spin from beginning until the end. It is judged on speed and smoothness.It is not always one turn it can be up to four.
Run down: the horse runs along the long-side of the arena. This is always preceding the sliding stop.
Hesitations: the horse is asked to stand still and relaxed in the middle of the reining pattern.

The horse begins with a score of 70. Points are added or subtracted by 0.5, 1, and 1.5 point marks, as each movement is performed. Each movement is judged on its quickness, smoothness, and finesse, and increased speed increases the difficulty. A 70 is considered average with any score above that being exceptional

[edit] Reining Competitions

International competitions are regulated by the International Equestrian Federation. Reining is most popular in the United States, where two major organizations oversee the sport: the National Reining Horse Association and The American Quarter Horse Association, both governed by the United States Equestrian Federation. However, reining is growing in popularity around the world, especially in Canada and Germany.

Reining is the latest addition to the World Equestrian Games, first included at the 2002 Games in Jerez, Spain.

[edit] The Growing Appeal of Reining as a Sport

Reining is one of the world's fastest growing horse sports. Its popularity has spread to Europe and beyond. For the first time in the history of reining, the 2004 top 10 horses were all owned by Europeans.

People who enjoy it say that reining combines the artistic appeal of dressage plus the crowd appeal of rodeo.