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A competitor performing the sliding stop, one of the signature moves of a reining horse.
A competitor performing the sliding stop, one of the signature moves of a reining horse.

Reining is a western riding competition for horses where the riders guide the horses through a precise pattern of circles, spins, and stops. WesternClassjpg|thumb|200 px|Modern competitors in western equipment lined up at a horse show class awaiting results]] Western riding is a style of horseback riding which evolved The horse ( Equus caballus) is a hoofed ( Ungulate) Mammal, one of eight living species of the family Equidae. For the Roman class see Equestrian (Roman Equestrianism refers to the skill of riding or driving Horses This broad description All work is done at the lope (a slow, relaxed version of the horse gait more commonly worldwide as the canter) and gallop; the fastest of the horse gaits. This is an article on horse gaits for other meanings see gait (disambiguation. The canter is a controlled three-beat gait performed by a horse This is an article on horse gaits for other meanings see gait (disambiguation. 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. Dressage (pronounced dress-ahhzh /ˈdrɛsɑʒ/ (a French term most commonly translated to mean "training" is a path and destination of competitive Horse training

Contents

Origins

Throughout American history, dating back to the earliest Spanish settlers in what today is Mexico and the Southwestern United States, including Texas and California, ranchers needed to manage cattle from horseback. The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Texas ( is a state geographically located in the South Central United States and is also known as the Lone Star State. California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. A ranch is an area of landscape including various structures given primarily to the practice of ranching the practice of raising grazing livestock such as Cattle Cattle, colloquially referred to as cows, are domesticated Ungulates a member of the Subfamily Bovinae of the family Cattle were moved, branded, doctored, sorted, and herded, often on open range without the benefit of fences, barns or other means of holding the animals. Livestock branding is any technique for marking Livestock so as to identify the owner Herding is the act of bringing individual animals together into a group ( Herd) maintaining the group and moving the group from place to place&mdashor any combination of In Agriculture, Fences are used to keep Animals in or out of an area A barn is an agricultural building used for storage and as a covered workplace A good cowboy needed a quick and nimble horse, one that could change directions quickly, stop "on a dime," and sprint after an errant cow. A cowboy is an animal Herder who tends Cattle on Ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback and often performs a multitude of The horse needed to be controlled mostly by legs and weight, ridden with only one hand and a light touch on the reins, so that the cowboy's attention could also be on tasks that could include handling a lariat (to rope cattle), opening a gate, or simply waving a hand, hat or rope to move along a reluctant herd animal. Reata redirects here For the comic book character see Reata (comics A lasso, lariat, or riata (from the Spanish reata Informal demonstrations of these ideal characteristics amongst ranch cowboys and vaqueros evolved into the sport of reining, as well as the related events of cutting and working cow horse as well as several other horse show classes. Cutting is an equestrian event in the Western riding style where a horse and rider are judged on their ability to separate a calf away from a cattle herd and keep Working cow horse refers today to a competition A Horse show is a judged exhibition of Horses and ponies. Many different horse breeds and equestrian disciplines hold competitions worldwide

Other nations with traditions of herding livestock on vast areas, such as Australia and Argentina, developed similar traditions that have blended into the sport as it has expanded worldwide. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Argentina topics.

Movements

The spin is one of the most difficult and crowd-pleasing maneuvers.
The spin is one of the most difficult and crowd-pleasing maneuvers.

The reining pattern includes an average of eight to twelve movements which must be executed by the horse. Patterns require the following movements:

Scoring

A proper sliding stop requires a horse to keep its head down, back rounded, hindquarters well underneath the body, and to "walk" with the front legs as the hind legs slide.
A proper sliding stop requires a horse to keep its head down, back rounded, hindquarters well underneath the body, and to "walk" with the front legs as the hind legs slide.

The horse begins with a score of 70, with a theoretical range of scores considered to be from 60 (if there are no penalties or disqualifications) to 80 (a near-impossible perfect pattern). Points are added or subtracted by 1/2, 1, and 1-1/2 point increments for each of the 7 to 8 maneuvers in the designated pattern. Each part of the pattern is judged on precision, smoothness, and finesse, and increased speed increases the difficulty of most movements and the potential for a high score. A score of 70 is considered an average score for a horse that made no errors but also did not perform with any particularly exceptional ability. A score below 70 reflects deductions for incorrectly performed movements or misbehavior of the horse, a score above 70 reflects that some or all movements were above average. Certain misbehaviors may incur additional penalties beyond a minus score for a given maneuver. Significant errors, such as an overspin (more than one quarter turn), will result in a "zero score", which might still allow a horse in a small class to earn a ribbon for last place (awards are given to the top three, five, six or ten competitiors, depending on the type of competition and sanctioning organization). Major mistakes, such as a rider going off-pattern, result in disqualification, sometimes called a "no score," which prevents the horse from earning any award, even if it is the only horse in the class.

The 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. Riding aids are the cues a rider gives to a horse to communicate what they want the animal to do 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. Equine conformation refers to the correctness of a horse's bone structure musculature and its body proportions in relation to each other The horse must also have an excellent temperament to perform with both speed and precision.

Equipment and attire

Riders must use a western saddle. Western saddles are used for Western riding and are the Saddles used on working Horses on Cattle Ranches throughout the United States Spurs are allowed, but whips are not. A spur is a metal tool designed to be worn in pairs on the heels of Riding boots for the purpose of directing a Horse to move forward or laterally while riding The word whip describes two basic types of tools A long stick-like device usually slightly flexible with a small bit of leather or cord called a "popper" on the Bridles are western-styled, without a noseband or caveson. A bridle is a piece of equipment used to control a Horse. The bridle fits over a horse's head and has the purpose of controlling the horse A noseband is the part of a horse's Bridle that encircles the nose and jaw of the Horse. The bosal style hackamore is also allowed. A bosal (boʊ'sɑl boʊ'sæl or sometimes 'boʊsəl Spanish: β̞o'sal is a type of Noseband used on the classic Hackamore of the Vaquero A hackamore is a type of headgear for a Horse which does not have a bit. There are very strict rules about what types of bits and bosals are legal. A bit used in equestrian activities is a piece of metal or similar synthetic material that is placed in the mouth of a Horse or other Equid and allows A bosal (boʊ'sɑl boʊ'sæl or sometimes 'boʊsəl Spanish: β̞o'sal is a type of Noseband used on the classic Hackamore of the Vaquero

For protection, horses usually wear splint boots or polo wraps on the cannons of their lower front legs as well as skid boots on their hind fetlocks. Polo wraps are bandage materials usually made of fleece for a horse's legs The equine forelimb is the front or thoracic limb of the Horse. The anatomy of the horse comes with a large number of Horse specific terms Bell boots, which wrap around the pastern and protect the hoof and coronary band, are also usually seen, sometimes only on the front feet, other times on all four feet. Bell boots, or overreach boots, are a type of protective boot worn by a Horse. The equine forelimb is the front or thoracic limb of the Horse.

Riders must wear a long-sleeved shirt, jeans, a cowboy hat, and cowboy boots. Jeans are Trousers made from Denim. Mainly designed for work, they became popular among Teenagers starting in the 1950s. The cowboy hat is a defining piece of attire for Farm and Ranch workers in the western and southern United States, Canada and northern Mexico Cowboy boots refer to a specific style of Riding boot, historically worn by Cowboys They have a High heel, rounded to pointed toe high shaft and traditionally In most competitions, they also wear chaps. The Clearing House Automated Payment System or CHAPS is a British company established in London in 1984 which offers same-day sterling Gloves are optional. There has historically been less difference between men's and women's attire in reining than in most western events, though women's clothing is more influenced by fashion trends from Western pleasure competition, and thus women sometimes wear brighter colors, and are more apt to add a decorated jacket or vest, though usually not as flashy as in other horse show events. Western Pleasure is a western style competition at Horse shows that exhibits the manners and suitability of the Horse for appropriate gait cadence A Horse show is a judged exhibition of Horses and ponies. Many different horse breeds and equestrian disciplines hold competitions worldwide

Bit and Hackamore rules

Horses in most types of reining competition are required to perform in a curb bit. A curb bit is a type of bit used for riding Horses that uses leverage In most cases, riders with a horse in a curb must give all rein commands with only one hand. [1][2][3]

Riders may use both hands when a horse is ridden with a snaffle bit or a bosal hackamore. A snaffle bit is the most common type of bit used while riding Horses. A bosal (boʊ'sɑl boʊ'sæl or sometimes 'boʊsəl Spanish: β̞o'sal is a type of Noseband used on the classic Hackamore of the Vaquero A hackamore is a type of headgear for a Horse which does not have a bit. However, snaffles and hackamores ridden with both hands are usually limited only to special classes for horses between the ages of three and five years old. Most of the time, with the exception of "freestyle" classes, snaffle bit and hackamore horses do not compete directly against curb bit horses, though specific details vary depending on the particular sanctioning organization. [4][5][6] In the last thirty years, the snaffle bit is the more common headgear used on younger horses, but in the past, the hackamore was more common. Some local or regional competitions offer a non-sanctioned "novice horse" division where horses of any age who have limited experience as reining horses can be ridden two-handed in a snaffle.

Sometimes reining classes at breed shows are split into "junior horse" and "senior horse" divisions. A Horse show is a judged exhibition of Horses and ponies. Many different horse breeds and equestrian disciplines hold competitions worldwide Depending on the breed, Junior horses are either 3, 4 or 5 years old, and allowed to show in a snaffle or bosal. Senior horses who age out of the junior horse divisions at age six must be shown in a curb. [7][8] The rules have changed over the years to reduce the stress on young horses. Junior horse devisions at one time were limited to horses that were only 3 and, sometimes, 4 years old. Expansion to age five parallels the standards set by the FEI and in endurance competitions, recognizing that the physical and mental development of most young horses is not considered complete until that time. Endurance riding is an equestrian sport based on controlled long distance races Further, though many western stock horse breeds are started under saddle at the age of two, they generally are not physically or mentally ready to be entered into any type of reining competition at that age and in some cases are prohibited from entering any performance class until at least 2-1/2 years old. [9] Both the NRHA and many breed associations offer snaffle bit futurities, usually for three-year-old horses, which pay very large purses. The future is commonly understood to contain all events that have yet to occur

Reining competition

Reining as a sport was first recognized by the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) in 1949, and by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) in its western division and within a number of its breed divisions. The American Quarter Horse Association ( AQHA) based in Amarillo Texas, is an international organization dedicated to the preservation improvement and record-keeping The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF is the national governing body for most equestrian sports in the United States. Beginning in 1966, the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA), was formed in the United States, and developed worldwide membership as well as standardized rules and patterns that were gradually adopted in whole or part by other organizations, including the USEF and AQHA. History and mission The National Reining Horse Association (or NRHA is a Nonprofit organization whose purpose is to promote the Reining horse The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The sport of reining became an FEI-recognized discipline in 2000, and international competitions such as the World Equestrian Games are now governed by the FEI in cooperation with the NRHA. The FEI World Equestrian Games are the major international championships for Equestrianism, considered by many horsemen to be more important than the Olympics and administered

Individual divisions at a reining competition vary somewhat depending on whether they are sanctioned by the NRHA or another organization. However, standard classes include those limited to junior or senior horses, to horses of a specific age (such as three year olds), classes for professional, "non-pro," or amateur riders (those who do not work with horses for pay), youth riders of various ages, adult riders over age 40 or 50, as well as open events for all competitors. Classes may also be limited by the experience level of the horse or the rider.

National

In individual nations where reining competitions are held, national organizations usually oversee the sport. For example, in the United States and Canada, where reining is quite popular, the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) is the lead organization, creating patterns and developing judging standards. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page It sanctions events open to all breeds. The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) works with the NRHA to sanction breed competitions open to individual horse breeds, such as Morgans or Arabians. The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF is the national governing body for most equestrian sports in the United States. Meyers b12 s0947bjpg|thumb|Heavy or draft horse breeds]] This page is a list of Horse and Pony breeds and also includes terms used to describe types of horses that are not The Arabian horse is a breed of Horse with a reputation for Intelligence, spirit and stamina Breed organizations that sanction their own shows, including those for Quarter Horses (AQHA), Appaloosas (ApHC), and American Paint Horses (APHA) also work with the NRHA. The American Quarter Horse Association ( AQHA) based in Amarillo Texas, is an international organization dedicated to the preservation improvement and record-keeping The American Paint Horse is a breed of Horse that combines both the conformational characteristics of a western stock horse with a pinto spotting pattern The American Paint Horse Association (APHA is a Breed registry for the American Paint Horse. Reining classes can be held at a stand-alone competition just for reiners, or as one category within many different classes offered at a horse show. A Horse show is a judged exhibition of Horses and ponies. Many different horse breeds and equestrian disciplines hold competitions worldwide

International

International competitions are regulated by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI). The Fédération Équestre Internationale (commonly known as the FEI or in English the International Federation for Equestrian Sports, is the international governing body of Reining is growing in popularity around the world and is one of the world's fastest growing horse sports. Its popularity has spread to Europe and beyond, especially to Australia and Germany, and it is one of the latest additions to the World Equestrian Games, first included at the 2002 Games in Jerez, Spain. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. The FEI World Equestrian Games are the major international championships for Equestrianism, considered by many horsemen to be more important than the Olympics and administered

Freestyle

A competitor in Freestyle reining, dressed as Miss Piggy.
A competitor in Freestyle reining, dressed as Miss Piggy. Miss Pigathius "Piggy" Lee is a Muppet character primarily played by Frank Oz and sometimes Richard Hunt in Season 1 of The Muppet Show

Freestyle reining allows a horse and rider team to incorporate reining movements into a three and one-half minute musical routine, akin to the KUR Freestyle competition in Dressage, but with elements that resemble the freestyle events in human competitions such as figure skating. Dressage (pronounced dress-ahhzh /ˈdrɛsɑʒ/ (a French term most commonly translated to mean "training" is a path and destination of competitive Horse training Figure skating is an athletic Sport in which individuals pairs or groups perform spins, jumps, footwork and other intricate and challenging Under NRHA rules, costumes are allowed, though not required; riders may ride with one, two or even no hands on any type of NRHA approved bit; props, within certain limits, are allowed; and the show management may allow special arena lighting. Freestyle reining competitions have no specific rules as to saddle, though humane equipment is required. A saddle is a supportive structure for a rider or other load fastened to an animal's back by a girth. Allowing "no hands" means that some competitors may perform without a bridle, which increases the difficulty of the movements. A bridle is a piece of equipment used to control a Horse. The bridle fits over a horse's head and has the purpose of controlling the horse The rider must include a specified number of spins, stops and flying lead changes in a performance. Rollbacks, rein backs and dressage type maneuvers such as the half-pass may be added and scored. Dressage (pronounced dress-ahhzh /ˈdrɛsɑʒ/ (a French term most commonly translated to mean "training" is a path and destination of competitive Horse training The half-pass is a Lateral movement seen in Dressage, in which the horse moves forward and sideways at the same time Competitors are judged on technical merit and artistic impression. At some competitions, an applause meter is added and may contribute to the artistic impression portion of the score. [10]

References

  1. ^ 2007 AQHA handbook, rule 443
  2. ^ 2007 NRHA handbook, p. 68
  3. ^ [http://www.usef.org/contentpage2.aspx?id=rulebook 2007 USEF Rulebook, Western division
  4. ^ 2007 NRHA handbook, p. 33
  5. ^ 2007 AQHA handbook, rule 443
  6. ^ [http://www.usef.org/contentpage2.aspx?id=rulebook 2007 USEF Rulebook, Western division, allows very small classes to be combined, with some restrictions
  7. ^ [http://www.usef.org/contentpage2.aspx?id=rulebook 2007 USEF Rulebook, Western division
  8. ^ 2007 AQHA handbook, rule 443
  9. ^ 2007 AQHA handbook, rule 450
  10. ^ http://www.nrha.com/handbook/freestylereining.pdf Freestyle reining rules]

See also

External links

North America

International

Dictionary

reining

-verb

  1. Present participle of rein.
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