How to Compete in a Reining Event

Reining requires finesse and extreme control of a horse at all times while the horse lopes, spins, slides to a stop and backs up.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Cowboy Hats
• Jeans
• Long-sleeved Shirts
• Western Saddles
• Bridles
• Riding Boots
• Saddle Pads

1. Get a reining horse.

2. Know that reining horses can be quarter horses, paints, Morgans, Appaloosas or Arabians.

3. Understand that reining refers to the use of reins, as well as other cues, to guide your horse through a pattern.

4. Realize that reining patterns vary, but that all require the rider to lope big fast circles and slow small circles on both leads, spin to the right and left, run down and slide to a stop, change leads in each direction and back up.

5. Judge a reining pattern by how well a rider completes the required maneuvers and how well the horse performs the maneuvers. Circles must be of the same size in each direction, big fast circles should be very fast, small slow circles should be very slow and all performed on a loose rein (you shouldn't have to be fighting a horse's head), rundowns should be straight, stops should be smooth, spins should be correct with the horse rotating on its inside hind foot, and backing should be straight and not forced.

Tips & Warnings

• Know that reining looks effortless when done correctly, but in reality is very difficult.
• Reining requires a great deal of training for both the rider and the horse.
• Be aware that some good reining horses are "hot," meaning that they're high-strung and fast. However, this isn't universal; a lot depends on the bloodlines of the animal.

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on 8/8/2006 Learning to perform all the different reining techniques is very difficult. You will want to make sure you not only have a very experienced horse, you will also need a trainer, even if it is just a friend of yours who knows what they are doing!

on 7/4/2006 When you go from the fast circle you are leaning forward a little to gain momentum. When you do the small, slow circles you want to sit straight up with your hand at the side (like in Horsemanship or Western Pleasure).

on 6/30/2006 To get your horse used to loose reins, purchase some reins that are slightly heavier then the ones you currently use. This teaches the horse cues that are more clear to him, and the rider does not have to move their hand as much.

on 12/16/2005 You want to make sure that the seller of the horse has been showing in reining for a long time and that they have done well. You want to know you are getting a horse that has had an experienced rider riding it. You also want to make sure that the horse has had a veterinarian check and that everything is perfectly normal with it.

on 11/22/2005 You should memorize the pattern before the class. Make sure you are comfortable with it. Don't try to memorize it before you enter the arena! This just makes you flustered, hurried and nervous which is not good at all!