Reining is a western riding discipline similar to dressage that involves precise maneuvers like circles, spins, and sliding stops performed at different gaits including fast gallops and slower lopes. Competitors must demonstrate control by either rolling back or performing a sliding stop from a gallop. A rollback involves an immediate 180 degree turn after stopping, followed by loping again. Horses are judged on precision, smoothness, and finesse, with scores ranging from 0 to 70. Quarter Horses excel in reining along with other western breeds like Paints and Appaloosas.

1. By: Amanda Harnden
Reining is a western discipline which is like
the counterpart of the English discipline, Dressage.

2. Reining consists of a pattern of precise maneuvers including: circles, spins and sliding stops.
There are large, fast circles at a gallop, and slow, small circles at a lope.
(Lope is the western riding term for a slow canter, which the gait faster than walking or trotting,
but slower than the gallop.)

3. The horse and rider must gallop down the long side of the arena, and either rollback
or perform a sliding stop.
A sliding stop is when a horse suddenly stops from the gallop, sinking their hip down
and sliding on their hind legs, while their front legs “walk”.
A rollback is when a horse turns immediately after a sliding stop in a 180 degree turn
to the outside. Then, they immediately jump into the lope again.

4. Every competitor begins with a score of 70.
Points are added or subtracted by ½, 1 and 1 ½ points.
The horse is judges based on precision, smoothness, and finesse.
If they go off pattern, they are disqualified with a no score.
70 is considered to be an average score.

5. The most common breed of horses used in reining are Quarter Horses, but other
breeds such as Paints, Appaloosas and Arabians are also known to excel in reining.

6. Equipment
- western/reining saddle
- Western bridle (no noseband)
- Splint boots on front legs
- Skid boots on hind legs
- Bell boots usually on front hooves to protect coronary band and hooves
- Special horseshoes on hind legs called slide plates
(These horseshoes are smoother and wider than regular and allows the legs to slide
along the ground with less resistance.)
Regular Horse Shoe

7. Rider Apparel
- Long sleeved shirt
- Jeans
- Cowboy boots
- Chaps (optional)
- Gloves (optional)
- Certified helmet approved, but rarely used in competition

8. There are also freestyle reining events where there is no set pattern, and you can do
whatever you want as long as it incorporates all of the different maneuvers.
You can dress up in costume, or ride bridless and bareback, like Stacy Westfall.

9. Bibliography
Information:
My own knowledge
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reining
Pictures:
My own pictures
http://dutchchapman.tripod.com/staff.html
http://www.aimforthegames.com/games.asp?pageid=10025
http://www.horseshowcentral.com/flex/reining/229/1
http://www.serha.info/sources.htm
http://www.nrha.at/Futurity2007/wordpress/?p=500
http://kirsty-jenkins.suite101.com/freestyle-reining-a253117
http://usdfweg2010.blogspot.ca/2010/10/reining-rocks.html
http://chevalappaloosa.forumpro.fr/t101-le-reining
http://fineartamerica.com/featured/mrparrmac--overo-paint-horse-cheryl-poland.html
http://eaglesnestranch.blogspot.ca/p/appaloosa-history.html
http://www.myarabianhorse.net/2010_07_01_archive.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horseshoe
http://www.saddleupsaddlery.com/reiningcuttingcowhorsesdls.html
http://www.manestreamreining.com/articles/showclothes.html
Videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zv7_ZD5Zz8c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wLikusmCEA