Occasionally, my husband accompanies me to horse shows. Since I attend American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) events, there are many different classes to watch. Sooner or later, he wanders away, but I always know where to find him – at the reining arena.
Reining is an amazing combination of speed and precision. It’s truly exciting to watch the horse careen around the arena at a full gallop, all the while making exact circles, stopping or slowing at the subtlest cue from the rider. It has been compared to dressage in the exactness of the horse’s movements and responses.
I’d compare it to dressage while riding a rocket.
The sport arose from the days of cowboys on the range. They needed swift, nimble horses that could herd the cattle. Often, this meant chasing down a stray, stopping it quickly and turning it back to the herd. Cowboys also had to have a hand available to rope a steer, or open a gate, so they couldn’t afford to have two hands on the reins. The horse’s movements needed to be directed through their seat and legs.
Naturally, at the end of the day, everyone wanted to know whose horse was the best and competitions were born.
For those unfamiliar with the event, reining is performed according to a pattern that consists of several elements. These include large and slow circles, spins, sliding stops and flying lead changes. Most of the pattern is performed at the lope and gallop. There are about seven or eight patterns that are standardized for each organization.
Reining was first offered as an event by the AQHA in 1949, as well as the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF). In 1966, the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) was formed to further promote the sport, and in 2000, reining became an FEI-recognized event. Many other breeds offer reining classes at their shows, from Arabians to Morgans and more. All it takes is a few minutes watching a reining class to know why the sport is so popular.
Judging a reining competition starts with an average score of 70. The horse and rider then earn points, or have points deducted, based on their performance. Here are some of the things the judges are looking for:
Circles – These should be round and even in size, both left and right. The large circles need to show the horse at a near gallop, with a noticeable change of speed down to the lope for the smaller circles. Changing direction from right to left, and vice versa, must be done with a flying lead change, which should be smooth, subtle and complete.
Spins – One of the more visually stunning feats, the horse must pivot on the inside hind leg between four and four-and-a-quarter revolutions, as dictated by the pattern. The spin must look smooth and cadenced, and should not migrate from the initial spot. Stopping is just as important, as the horse should stop squarely, with all four legs aligned.
Sliding Stops – This is a crowd favorite, and the movement photographed most often. The horse must go from a gallop to a complete halt, allowing the back feet to slide several feet while the front feet walk forward. The stop should be in a straight line, and the tracks left by the hind feet should be unbroken. The longer the slide and the larger the dust cloud, the more exciting it looks.
Reining classes are usually divided up by the age of the horse and the experience of the rider. Horses compete in junior or senior divisions, and riders compete in amateur or open. Sometimes these are referred to as Pro and Non-Pro classes. Many reining shows offer futurity classes for 3- or 4-year-olds as well.
In addition to the regular classes, there are some fun competitions offered at some reining shows. One is the Slide Contest, where competitors see whose horse can slide the farthest. Unbroken tracks are measured to determine the winner. But the most fun, creatively, is the Freestyle Competition.
Each rider puts together a routine composed of all of the reining pattern elements and performs it to music. Costumes are usually worn, sometimes by the horse as well as the rider, and the crowd’s applause can help determine the winner. Most of these competitors do the entire routine without a bridle on their horse; it’s truly thrilling to watch a horse gallop to the end of the arena, then come to a sliding stop, with only the subtlest of directions from the rider!
I encourage anyone who hasn’t seen much western riding to check out the reining classes at the next show. It’s as fun to watch as it is to ride.
And, who knows? You may see my husband in the stands.
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