Reining is usually preformed as a set pattern of complicated movements, requiring balance, focus and athleticism from both the horse and the rider. A strong connection between the two allows them to work as a seamless, fluid team. Here will be explained the most common- and most exciting- moves that comprise a reining run.
The Canter
Most of a reining run is done at the canter. This is a fluid, three beat gait, often described as a rocking-chair motion. Take a look at the sequence of the white cantering horse to the right. If you watch closely, you can see the consistent three-beats of the canter gait. The foot placement for one stride of the white horse's canter is as follows:
1) back left 2) back right and front left together 3) front right 4) suspension(all feet off the ground) As you can see above, the canter movement starts from the horse's hind-end. He uses his quarters to power himself and give the canter impulsion and balance. In the above sequence the horse ends on his front right leg. This means the horse is on his left lead. Leads and footfalls and rocking chairs!?! This is getting confusing. So here's what we've got:
Typically the left lead is used when the horse is 'tracking to the left' - his left legs are to the inside of the arena or the circle on which he is moving. The right lead is used when the horse is tracking to the right- his right legs are to the inside. TO RECAP: The canter is a three beat gait with two leads, left and right. If the left front foot lands last it's the left lead. Vice versa for right lead. Simple, right? |
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The Flying Lead Change
The first movement we will cover here is the flying lead change. The flying lead change is just what it sounds like it is: The horse begins cantering on one lead and, without stopping or changing gait, switches to the other lead and continues cantering. According to Sandy Collier, "Flying changes are one of the only things horses do naturally. Loose horses [free; in pasture] don't slide. They don't back up. They don't spin. But they change leads all day long." Training flying lead changes on command, she says, is the real problem.
People do it, though. The ideal flying change in reining starts with a controlled and balanced canter, the horse looking relaxed and powerful. He's got enough impulsion and straightness to preform the change easily. Most often you will see a reiner guide his horse across the center of the arena and perform the change as he moves from a circle to the left to a circle to the right. The change will be controlled but effortless. The horse won't lunge into it, break into a trot or become unbalanced. He simply switches leads and continues his nice canter. Almost no cues will be visible from the rider.
People do it, though. The ideal flying change in reining starts with a controlled and balanced canter, the horse looking relaxed and powerful. He's got enough impulsion and straightness to preform the change easily. Most often you will see a reiner guide his horse across the center of the arena and perform the change as he moves from a circle to the left to a circle to the right. The change will be controlled but effortless. The horse won't lunge into it, break into a trot or become unbalanced. He simply switches leads and continues his nice canter. Almost no cues will be visible from the rider.
The Rollback
To continue with our theme of canter-oriented movements we'll now discuss the roll back. The rollback was designed to imitate what a horse would need to do to follow a cow down a fence line and turn quickly if said cow decided to spin around and try to bail. Here is the National Reining Horse Association's (NRHA) definition: "Rollbacks are the 180 degree reversal of forward motion completed by running to a stop, rolling (turning) the shoulders back to the opposite direction over the hocks and departing in a canter, as one continuous motion. The NRHA Handbook states no hesitation; however, a slight pause to regain footing or balance should not be deemed hesitation. The horse should not step ahead or backup prior to rolling back." Let's break it down.
First comes the canter. Say we are on the left lead. The horse should be balanced and collected and aware of his feet. The rider cues for a stop and the good reining horse obeys immediately, coming to a smooth stop with his hind legs underneath him. There is no slowing down to a walk- just stop. After a split second's pause which the horse uses to balance and gather himself, the rider cues for a spin. He or she must "lift" the horse up and back with the reins, allowing the horse to sit back on his hind legs and turn quickly in the opposite direction- he "rolls back". He takes off on his right lead immediately. .
First comes the canter. Say we are on the left lead. The horse should be balanced and collected and aware of his feet. The rider cues for a stop and the good reining horse obeys immediately, coming to a smooth stop with his hind legs underneath him. There is no slowing down to a walk- just stop. After a split second's pause which the horse uses to balance and gather himself, the rider cues for a spin. He or she must "lift" the horse up and back with the reins, allowing the horse to sit back on his hind legs and turn quickly in the opposite direction- he "rolls back". He takes off on his right lead immediately. .
Run Downs and Run Arounds
A run down or run around is the crowd-raising build up to the famed sliding stop. It is defined by the NRHA as: "Run downs are runs through the middle of the arena, and runs along the side and ends of the arena. Run downs and run-arounds should demonstrate control and gradual increase in speed to the stop." Most reiners go into the gallop during a run down and one can physically feel the excitement build. The horse should be fast and powerful, driving from the hind, but controlled and listening to his rider.
The Sliding Stop
The sliding stop may be the hallmark of the sport of reining. It certainly tends to draw the loudest cheers at competitions and with good reason- it's awe inspiring to watch a good stop.
As defined by the NRHA the sliding stop is as follows. "Stops are the act of slowing the horse from a lope to a stop position by bringing the hind legs under the horse in a locked position sliding on the hind feet. The horse should enter the stop position by bending the back, bringing the hind leg further under the body while maintaining forward motion and ground contact and cadence with front legs. Throughout the stop, the horse should continue in a straight line while maintaining ground contact with the hind feet." So, not too difficult to understand. The riders asks the horse to go into a big canter, or even a gallop, and at some point in the arena he or she picks up the reins, sits back and cues the horse to come a stop. A good stop is immediate and flawless. The horse drops his back legs and glues them into the ground as he slides. There should be one long, straight skid mark after the stop: any skips or turns are considered incorrect as it indicates a horse that is hopping with his back legs or not sliding straight. During the slide the horse's front legs should continue to move in a trotting motion. Locking the front legs along with the back legs is also undesired.
A few examples are in order:
As defined by the NRHA the sliding stop is as follows. "Stops are the act of slowing the horse from a lope to a stop position by bringing the hind legs under the horse in a locked position sliding on the hind feet. The horse should enter the stop position by bending the back, bringing the hind leg further under the body while maintaining forward motion and ground contact and cadence with front legs. Throughout the stop, the horse should continue in a straight line while maintaining ground contact with the hind feet." So, not too difficult to understand. The riders asks the horse to go into a big canter, or even a gallop, and at some point in the arena he or she picks up the reins, sits back and cues the horse to come a stop. A good stop is immediate and flawless. The horse drops his back legs and glues them into the ground as he slides. There should be one long, straight skid mark after the stop: any skips or turns are considered incorrect as it indicates a horse that is hopping with his back legs or not sliding straight. During the slide the horse's front legs should continue to move in a trotting motion. Locking the front legs along with the back legs is also undesired.
A few examples are in order:
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Spins
As defined by the NRHA: "Spins are a series of 360-degree turns, executed over a stationary (inside) hind leg. Propulsion for the spin is supplied by the outside rear leg and front legs, and contact should be made with the ground and a front leg. The location of hindquarters should be fixed at the start of the spin and maintained throughout the spins. It is helpful for a judge to watch for the horse to remain in the same location, rather than watching for a stationary inside leg. This allows for easier focus on other elements of the spin (i.e., cadence, attitude, smoothness, finesse, and speed)."
A spin is another maneuver that receives some pretty enthusiastic crowd appreciation. It generally begins from the stop, but some reiners prefer to teach the spin by walking their horses into it. In a spin a horse must sit back on his inside hind leg (that is, the leg he is turning toward) and bring his body around that fixed leg in several fast 360 degree spins. The horse should bend into the turn. His outside front leg will cross over his inside front leg in every step of the turn. Hopping or a lack of forward motion is not desired in the spin. The spin should be fast, smooth and technical. Riders often cue their horses throughout the spin with the outside leg on, pushing the horse over, and the inside leg off of the horse's side, 'inviting' him or her to move that way. The rein will be laid across his neck, but still loose. Some riders train their horses to spin until they are cued to stop and this eliminates the need for the rider to constantly urge the horse on. In any case, cues should be small, fluid and obeyed immediately, as with all reining maneuvers.
A spin is another maneuver that receives some pretty enthusiastic crowd appreciation. It generally begins from the stop, but some reiners prefer to teach the spin by walking their horses into it. In a spin a horse must sit back on his inside hind leg (that is, the leg he is turning toward) and bring his body around that fixed leg in several fast 360 degree spins. The horse should bend into the turn. His outside front leg will cross over his inside front leg in every step of the turn. Hopping or a lack of forward motion is not desired in the spin. The spin should be fast, smooth and technical. Riders often cue their horses throughout the spin with the outside leg on, pushing the horse over, and the inside leg off of the horse's side, 'inviting' him or her to move that way. The rein will be laid across his neck, but still loose. Some riders train their horses to spin until they are cued to stop and this eliminates the need for the rider to constantly urge the horse on. In any case, cues should be small, fluid and obeyed immediately, as with all reining maneuvers.
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Circles
"Circles are maneuvers at the lope, of designated size and speed, which demonstrate control, willingness to guide, and degree of difficulty in speed and speed changes. Circles must at all times be run in the geographical area of the arena specified in the pattern description and must have a common center point. There must be a clearly defined difference in the speed and size of a small, slow circle, and a large, fast circle; also, the speed and size of small, slow right circles should be similar to the small, slow left circles; and the speed and size of the large, fast right circles should be similar to the large, fast left circles."-NRHA Definition
Although not the most exciting move, good circles are often extremely difficult to achieve. Think about it: Could you walk into a huge, open arena and walk a perfect circle without hesitation? Could you run one? Remember, no deviations from the circle. It shouldn't like a potato or a pear or a cucumber or a square. The only markers you have to follow are your own thoughts. Pretty difficult. Now try to do it while riding a horse with a mind and feet of it's own. You've got to guide his feet and his nose, manage his speed, keep him focused and maintain a soft bend in his body all the way around the circle. It certainly isn't easy. Luckily, with enough riding, some balance and basic geometric sense, and a fair, consistent training method a horse and rider can make a perfect circle.
In reining circles are generally done one of two ways: big and fast, or small and slow. Each requires it's own set of cues and and presents different difficulties.
Although not the most exciting move, good circles are often extremely difficult to achieve. Think about it: Could you walk into a huge, open arena and walk a perfect circle without hesitation? Could you run one? Remember, no deviations from the circle. It shouldn't like a potato or a pear or a cucumber or a square. The only markers you have to follow are your own thoughts. Pretty difficult. Now try to do it while riding a horse with a mind and feet of it's own. You've got to guide his feet and his nose, manage his speed, keep him focused and maintain a soft bend in his body all the way around the circle. It certainly isn't easy. Luckily, with enough riding, some balance and basic geometric sense, and a fair, consistent training method a horse and rider can make a perfect circle.
In reining circles are generally done one of two ways: big and fast, or small and slow. Each requires it's own set of cues and and presents different difficulties.
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Backups
Many reiners go into a backup directly after a sliding stop, demonstrating their horse's ability to back quickly, balanced and straight. The NRHA defines a good back up as: "a maneuver requiring the horse to be moved in a reverse motion in a straight line a required distance; at least 10 feet." To back correctly a horse must be listening to his riders aid and be soft in his mouth and poll, the space between his ears. In a backup he should keep his head lowered for stability and 'break' at the poll- his face should be close to vertical to the ground. The reins should remain relatively loose while the rider directs his horse.
Walk-ins and Trot-ins
Pretty self explanatory: a nice, chill way to come into the arena before you begin your pattern. NRHA definitions: "Walk In The walk-in brings the horse from the gate to the center of the arena to begin its pattern. The horse should appear relaxed and confident. Any action which may create the appearance of intimidation including starting and stopping, or checking is a fault which shall be marked down according to the severity in the first maneuver score.
Trot-in Horses must jog the majority of the way to the center. Failure to jog the majority of the way to the center will result in a 0 for failure to complete the pattern as written."
Trot-in Horses must jog the majority of the way to the center. Failure to jog the majority of the way to the center will result in a 0 for failure to complete the pattern as written."