Reining Basics
Following the Futurity season the reining community gets fired up to start preparing their horses for the next season of competition. If you understand how the class is judged you can do a better of job of preparing yourself and your horse.
Each pattern is divided into either 7 or 8 maneuvers. The maneuvers are scored separately from– (minus) 1 ½ to + (plus) 1 ½. The run starts at a score of 70 and then each maneuver either raises, lowers or causes the score to stay the same based onits merits as follows.
-1 ½ Extremely Poor
-1 Very Poor
-1/2 Poor
0 Correct
+1/2 Good
+1 Very Good
+1 ½ Extremely Good
The score is also influenced by penalties incurred, and this is where the rider needs to be thinking. For example, during the spin, the horse must stop when aligned and facing a designated direction. If he over spins or under spins he gets a penalty. The horse is allowed the width of his shoulders leeway. If he is over or under more than the width of his shoulders but less than 1/8 of a revolution itis ½ point penalty. If he is over or under more than an 1/8 up to a ¼ of a revolution it is a one point penalty. If he over spins more than a quarter revolution he is considered off pattern and receives a total score of Zero. Defeat, no prize, go home.
I see many spins that are Good and receive a +1/2 score but then end in a big over spin and get a penalty of 1. The net result is that the score decreases by ½. The lesson is; there is no point in working all winter on perfecting Good or Very Good spin, and not being able to shut it down with the horse in correct alignment.
The judge evaluates if the horse is aligned and facing the correct direction, within as houlder width, by observing the position of the horses legs when he finishes the spin. In those patterns where the spin is stopped facing the judge, it is a matter of looking at the horses diagonal front and back legs, if there is daylight separation it is a ½ point penalty.
Learning to start the spin is as important as learning to stop it. The entire spin maneuver is judged. Many spins start in the “Poor” or “Very Poor”category. The rider pulls, the horses shows resistance by elevating the neck and/or nose, opening his mouth ortipping his head to the outside. Once hestarts turning, the horse often gets better, with the second and third turnsbeing “Good” or maybe “Very Good”, however the net score must reflect the entire maneuver, so this brings the ManeuverScore down from “Very Good (+1) to Correct (0). Learn to start and finish the spin accurately, with no resistance.
Another common penalty is the “Freeze Up”. It is2 points, that’s a lot, and it really wrecks your chance to win anything. It happens in Spins and Roll Backs when one of two things happens. First scenario is when the horse stops and the rider asks for the Roll Back and nothing happens; the horse does not initiate theturn.
The judge sees that the rider has asked by the movement of his rein hand to the side, and the lack of response from the horse is the horse essentially saying “No”. Therefore a two point penalty is given. This penalty is one that is often missed bythe arm chair judges in the audience, it is over in the blink of an eye, and the resulting low score is often misunderstood.
The lesson to the rider is to practice the Roll Back by giving the horse time to get stood up again after the stop. They can’t turn if their legs are too far under them, still in the stop position. That’s often why the horse “says No” and doesn’t turn; he can’t. Learn not to rush it. Also, learn to ask for theRoll Back subtly enough so the horse is not startled into resistance and refuses to start the turn.
If you practice this too much though, and the horse begins to anticipate the Roll Back, he willbegin to stop crooked. Starting the turnbefore he gets finished stopping and this will reduce the Maneuver Score. Remember that the whole maneuver is judged and in most patterns this maneuver starts with the first stride after the preceding Roll Back or Lead Change. It includes the Approach, the Stop andthe Roll Back. All of these parts are included in a single Maneuver Score.
The second Freeze Up scenario is during the Spin when the lateral movement of the shoulder stops. This often occurs when the ride ror horse shut down the spins too soon and then restart the movement to complete the maneuver. This is a major oops, everybody sees it and the audience usually helps the judge by letting out a big groan.
Reining has grown into one of the most popular equestrian disciplines because it has changed froma class in which the horse that threw up the most dirt was the winner, into aclass that is now judged on accuracy and finesse. It’s a class for every level of rider andhorse, all you need is willingness to get a few lessons and then practice.