Basic Reining

Approved equipment includes: skid boots, splint boots & polo wraps. Scoring is on the basis of 60 to 80, with 70 denoting an average performance.

Each horse is judged on the neatness, dispatch ease, calmness, & speed with which it performs the pattern. If a horse goes off course or breaks pattern, it will be disqualified.

Junior horses may be ridden in a snaffle bit using two hands on the reins provided
no Junior Reining Class is offered at the show.

Faults against the horse. To be scored accordingly, but not to cause disqualification.

• Opening mouth excessively
• Excessive jawing, open mouth, or head raising on stop
• Breaking gaits
• Lack of smooth, straight, stop on haunches
• Refusing to change leads
• Anticipating signals
• Stumbling or falling
• Wringing tail
• Backing sideways
• Knocking over markers

Faults against the rider. To be scored accordingly, but not to cause disqualification.

• Changing hand on reins
• Two hands on reins, except in straight hackamore classes.
• Losing stirrup or holding on
• Any unnecessary aid given by the rider, i.e. petting, talking, spurring, jerking of the reins.

Horses shall enter the ring one at a time in working order.
Individual horse & rider shall proceed to the Judge. Then go to place when indicated by the Judge.

There are six basic reining patterns below.
 

1. Run to the far end, stop & do 2 1/2 spins to the left, no hesitation
2. Run to the opposite end, stop & do 2 1/2 spins to the right, no hesitation
3. Run past center, do sliding stop, no hesitation; back over slide tracks to center, hesitate.
4. Make a 1/4 pivot to the left face left wall, hesitate.
5. Begin on right lead & make two circles to the right, the first small & slow, the second large & fast. Change leads at center of arena.
6. Make two circles to the left, the first small & slow, the second large & fast. Change leads at center of arena.
7. Begin a large fast circle to the right, do not close this circle but run straight down past the center, do a sliding stop. Should be at least 20 ft. from the wall or fence.
8. Walk to Judge & stop, remain for inspection until dismissed.
9. The bridle may be dropped at the Judge's discretion.    

Pattern #1

Pattern #2

1. Run with speed, past the center marker.
2. Stop & back up to center of pattern.
3. Settle horse for approximately ten seconds. Start lope. Circles should be made inside the end markers.
4. Ride two circles to the right, the first small & slow, the second large & fast
5. Ride two circles to the left, the first small & slow, the second large & fast.
6. Left roll back over hocks * should be made past far end marker
7. Right roll back over hocks * should be made past near end marker
8. Stop * should be made past center marker. Let horse settle, then in appropriate area stop, do the pivots.
9. Pivot right or let no more than 90 degrees
10. Pivot opposite direction, no more than 180 degrees.
11. Walk to Judge & stop for inspection until dismissed
12. The bridle may be dropped at the Judges discretion.

1. Run past center of arena & do a sliding stop.
2. Back immediately to center of arena, hesitate.
3. Do two spins to the right
4. Do 2 1/4 spins to the left, hesitate
5. Beginning on left lead make a small, slow circle, but run straight down the side past center marker & do a right roll back at least 20 Ft. from the fence or wall
6. Continue back to center of arena, horse should be on the right lead at center, make a small slow circle to the right, then begin a large fast circle. Do not close this circle, but run straight down the side past center & do a left roll back at least 20 Ft. from the wall or fence.
7. Continue back to center of arena, horse should be on the left lead at canter.
8. Make a large fast circle to the left at center of arena, change leads & make a large fast circle to the right at center of arena, change leads & begin a large, fast circle to the left. Do not close this circle, but run straight down the side past the center marker & do a sliding stop at least 20 Ft. from fence or wall
9. Walk to Judge & stop for inspection until dismissed.
10. The bridle may be dropped at the Judge's discretion.

Pattern #3

Pattern #4

1. Begin work to the right
2. First figure eight, slow.
3. Second figure eight, faster. Lead change must take place at Point A
4. Proceed from Point B to Point C at a flat walk or running walk
5. Begin run
6. Sliding stop
7. Turn away from the rail do a spin & a half, no hesitation.
8. Sliding stop
9. Turn away from the rail do a spin & a half, no hesitation
10. Sliding stop
11. Back over slide marks. Face Judge, walk a few steps
12. Pivot right or left, no more than 90 degrees
13. Pivot the opposite direction, no more than 180 degrees.
14. Pivot in direction taken at #12, no more than 180 degrees.
15. Walk to the Judge & stop for inspection until dismissed.
16. The bridle may be dropped at Judge's discretion.

1. Starting in the center of the arena, make a large fast circle to the right.
2. Draw a circle down to a small circle until you reach the center of the arena - stop
3. Do a double spin to the inside of the small circle in the center of the arena. At end of spins, horse should be facing the left wall slight hesitation.
4. Begin on left lead & make a large, fast circle.
5. Then a small circle again drawing it down to the center of the arena - stop - no hesitation on these stops.
6. Do a double spin to the inside of the circle slight hesitation - horse should be facing the wall.
7. Begin on right lead & make a fast figure eight over the large circles - & change leads
8. Run to far end of arena & do a left roll back
9. Run to opposite end of arena & do a right roll back.
10. Run back past center of the arena & do a sliding stop. Hesitate.
11. Back over slide tracks
12. Finish, walk to Judge for inspection & dismissal.
13. The bridle may be dropped at Judge's discretion.

Pattern #5

Pattern #6

1. Beginning on the right lead, complete three circles to the right; the first small & slow; the next two large & fast. Change leads at the center of the arena
2. Complete three circles to the left; same as above.
3. Run up the middle to the far end of the arena past the end marker & do a left rollback. No hesitation.
4. Run to the opposite end of the arena past the end marker & do a right rollback. No hesitation.
5. Run past the center marker & do a sliding stop. Back up to the center of arena or at least 10 Ft. Hesitate
6. Complete four spins to the right.
7. Complete four spins to the left. Hesitate to demonstrate the completion of the pattern. Rider may drop bridle to designated Judge.

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