Reining has its own vocabulary, and it is essential to understanding the sport. Here are some common words and phrases you’ll hear around the barn and in the show arena.
- A. General — A. General is the “golden rule” under which reiners are judged and it is the hallmark of the NRHA Rules.
- A. General: To rein a horse is not only to guide him, but also 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.
- Maneuvers
- Stops — The action of slowing the horse from a lope to a stop position. The horse brings the hind legs under himself sliding on the hind feet.
- Spins — 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.
- Circles — At the lope, small slow and large fast circles demonstrate control, willingness to guide, and degree of difficulty in speed and speed changes.
- Rollbacks — This is a 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 lope as one continuous motion.
- Lead Changes — Changing the leading legs, at a lope, when changing the direction traveled.
- Maneuver Score — The score assigned by a judge for every maneuver completed in the pattern by the horse and rider. Maneuver scores can range from -1½ to +1½ in half-point increments, depending on the quality of the maneuver. Different patterns feature different numbers of maneuvers but the total of the maneuver scores determines the score for the entire run.
- Penalty — Points deducted from the total score for performing the maneuvers incorrectly. Penalties range from ½-point to the entry receiving a zero score for the entire pattern. Examples include a small ½-point penalty for under-spinning up to 1/8 of the turn or a large 5-point penalty for bucking.
- Pattern — Horses and riders are judged on their maneuvers, and the maneuvers as a whole make a pattern. NRHA has 15 approved patterns that reining events can choose from. Riders in the same class will all complete the same pattern.
- NRHA Futurity — The pinnacle event of the industry, the NRHA Futurity begins on Thanksgiving Day each year in Oklahoma City. The world’s premier reining event features the top 3-year-old horses from around the world. To learn more about the NRHA Futurity click here
- 6666 NRHA Derby — The NRHA’s second-largest event, the Four Sixes NRHA Derby presented by Markel, is held each June in Oklahoma City and features 4-, 5-, 6-, and 7-year-old horses.
- Nominated — For a horse to be eligible to compete at the NRHA Futurity or Derby, the horse must be entered into the NRHA Nomination Program. To learn more about the nomination program visit nrha.com/nomination
- Competition License — The equine registration papers for NRHA. Each horse is required to have a competition license to maintain accurate competition records.
- Aged Events — An event that requires the horse to be a specific age to participate. Examples include the NRHA Futurity and Derby.
- Eligibility — TThe guidelines used to determine whether a horse or rider is eligible to compete in certain reining classes.
- Freestyle — In this popular class, NRHA riders perform a reining pattern to music of their choice. Many riders choose to dress themselves and their horses in costumes for added effect. It provides an opportunity to use the hallmark reining maneuvers creatively, but also to expand them to music by means of choreography.
- NRHA Professional — An individual who is paid to train or assist in training a performance horse or rider.
- Non Pro — An individual who competes in reining events but does not receive remuneration for the training or showing of a performance horse or instructing riders.
- NRHA Affiliate — A local club that has received an approved status by NRHA. Affiliates host reining events throughout the year. To learn more about affiliates or to find one near you visit nrha.com/affiliate
- NRHA Judge — A certified official who has attended a judges’ school, passed a judging exam, and been approved by the Board of Directors. To learn more about the NRHA Judges Program click here
- NRHA Steward — An official who serves as a liaison between exhibitors, show management officials, and judges. In addition, stewards field any complaints of unsportsmanlike conduct, abuse, or reports of rule violations, etc. To learn more about the NRHA Show Stewards Program click here
- Zero Score — The score assigned to a horse and rider for deviation from the pattern they are working.
