17 - Reining

17.1 Categories

Available in Novice Rider, Amateur, Open and all Youth divisions and all horse classes.

17.2 Prohibited Equipment

• Wire curbs regardless of how padded or covered.
• Any chin/curb strap narrower than 1/2".
• Mechanical hackamores.
• Martingales, nosebands and tie-downs.
• Draw reins.
• Crop or quirts.

17.3 Optional Equipment

• Rope or riata. If used, the rope or riata must be coiled and attached to the saddle.
• Protective boots or leg wraps.

17.4 In an approved Reining class any approved NRHA pattern may be used. One of these patterns is to be selected by the judge of the class and used by all contestants in the class. In addition, the WES Novice Rider patterns can be used for the Novice Rider class.

17.5 Each contestant will perform the required pattern individually and separately. All horses will be judged immediately upon entering the arena and judging will cease after the last manoeuvre. Any fault incurred prior to the commencement of a pattern will be scored accordingly.

17.6 To rein a horse is not only to guide him but to control his every movement. The best reined horse should be willingly guided or controlled with little or no apparent resistance and dictated to completely. Any movement on his own must be considered a lack of control. All deviations from the exact written pattern must be considered a lack of/or temporary loss of control and therefore a fault that must be marked down according to severity of deviation. After deducting all faults, credit will be given for smoothness, finesse, attitude, quickness, and authority in performing the various manoeuvres, while using controlled speed which raises the difficulty level and makes him more exciting and pleasing to watch to an audience.

17.7 Scoring will be on the basis of zero to infinity, with 70 denoting an average performance. Points will be deducted or subtracted from the individual manoeuvres on the following basis, ranging from plus 1½ to minus 1½: -1½ extremely poor, -1 very poor, -½ poor, 0 average, +½ good, +1 very good, +1½ excellent. Manoeuvre scores are to be determined independently of penalty points.

17.8 The following will result in no score:

• Abuse of an animal in the show arena and/or evidence that an act of abuse has occurred prior to or during the exhibition of a horse in competition e.g. use of boot polish to hide past abuse.
• Use of illegal equipment, including wire on bits, bosals or curb chains; when using a snaffle bit optional curb strap is acceptable; however, curb chains are not acceptable.
• Use of tack collars, tie downs or nose bands.
• Use of whips or bats.
• Use of any attachment which alters the movement of or circulation to the tail.
• Failure to dismount and/or present horse and equipment to the appropriate judge for inspection.
• Disrespect or misconduct by exhibitor.

17.9 The following will result in a score of 0:

• Use of more than index or first finger between reins.
• Use of two hands (except where a snaffle bit or hackamore is allowed) or changing hands. Excess rein may be straightened anytime during the pattern, provided the riders' free hand remains behind the rein hand. Any attempt to alter tension or length of the reins from bridle to the rein hand is to be considered use of two hands and a penalty score of zero will be applied.
• Use of the free hand while holding the romal to alter the tension or length of the reins from the bridle to the reining hand.
• Failure to complete pattern as written, including failing to jog the majority of the way to the centre in pattern 11.
• Performing the manoeuvres other than in the specified order.
• The inclusion of manoeuvres not specified, including: backing more than 2 strides; turning more than 90 degrees; coming to a complete stop anywhere the pattern doesn't call for a stop.
• On run in patterns, once beginning a canter a complete stop prior to reaching the first marker.
• Equipment failure that delays the completion of the pattern including dropping a rein that comes in contact with the ground while the horse is in motion.
• Balking or refusal of command where pattern is delayed.
• Running away or failing to guide where it becomes impossible to discern whether the entry is on pattern.
• Jogging in excess of 1/2 circle or 1/2 the length of the arena.
• Over spins of more than 1/4 turn.
• Fall to ground by horse or rider (see para 6.21).
• When going to and coming out of a rollback in a pattern requiring a run-around, a rollback that crosses the centre line.
• Kicking at other horses, exhibitors or judge.

17.10 The following will result in a reduction of five points:

• Spurring in front of the cinch.
• Use of the free hand to install fear or praise.
• Holding the saddle or touching horse with either hand.
• Blatant disobedience, including but not limited to rearing, bucking or pawing.
• Horse dropping to its knees or hocks.

17.11 The following will result in a penalty of two points:

• Break of gait.
• Freeze up in spins or rollbacks.
• On walk in patterns, loping prior to reaching the centre of the arena and/or failure to stop or walk before executing a canter departure.
• On run in patterns, failure to be in a lope or break of gait prior to the first marker.
• On run in patterns, a horse that lopes off and, BEFORE the first marker, returns to a trot, then returns to the lope.
• If a horse does not completely pass the specified marker before initiating a stop position.

17.12 Starting or performing circles or eights out of lead will be judged as follows:

1. Each time the horse is out of lead a judge is required to penalise by one point. The penalty for being out of lead is cumulative and the judge will deduct one penalty point for each quarter (¼) of the circumference of a circle or any part thereof that a horse is out of lead. A judge is required to penalise a horse ½ point for a delayed change of lead by one stride where the lead change is required by the pattern description.
2. Deduct ½ point for starting circle at a jog or exiting rollbacks at a jog up to two strides. Jogging beyond two strides, but less than ½ circle or ½ the length of the arena, deduct two points.
3. A ½ point penalty deduction will be given for failure to remain a minimum of 20 feet from the side of the arena when approaching a stop and/or rollback (at the judge's discretion depending on the size of the arena).

17.13 In patterns requiring a run around, failure to be on the correct lead when rounding the end of the arena, will be penalised as follows:

1. From the turn to the halfway position at the end wall: one (1) point.
2. Beyond the halfway point to the beginning of the run down: two (2) points.
3. In a pattern requiring a run around, there will be a ½ point penalty for failure to remain a minimum of 10 feet from either side of the centre of the arena (at the judge's discretion depending on the size of the arena).

17.14 Deduct ½ point for over or under spinning up to ⅛ of a turn; deduct one point for over or under spinning ⅛ to ¼ turn. A horse can only be assessed one over or under spin penalty per manoeuvre.

17.15 A horse that severely stumbles, significantly detracting from the manoeuvre shall have the manoeuvre reduced by one half (½) manoeuvre score.

17.16 Faults against the horse to be scored accordingly but not to cause disqualification:

• Opening mouth excessively when wearing bit; excessive jawing, opening mouth or head raising to stop; lack of smooth, straight stop on haunches - bouncing or sideways stop; refusing to change leads; anticipating signals; stumbling; backing sideways; knocking over markers.

17.17 Faults against the rider to be scored accordingly but not to cause disqualification:

• Losing stirrup; failure to run circles or figure eights within the markers is not considered a fault depending on arena conditions and size; however, failure to go beyond markers on rollbacks and stops is considered a fault.

17.18 Patterns See the Patterns and Arena Diagrams page for all NRHA patterns and WES Novice Rider Reining patterns.