In the show ring, every run is one of thirteen NRHA approved reining patterns. When someone executes a pattern it is called a run or a go. Each pattern is composed of precise maneuvers designed to demonstrate the degree of which the horse is responding. Each pattern obtains five main maneuvers. The maneuvers are undoubtedly complex and requires the horse and rider team to be extremely precise in the execution of them. Patterns consist of galloping circles, dizzying spins, and abrupt sliding stops. The horse needs to be responding immediately to the inclination of their partner. The patterns are designed to exhibit the athletic ability of the horse. The patterns are composed of rapid rundowns, exciting sliding stops, dizzying 360 degree spins
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To understand the complicated maneuvers of reining one must first understand the basics. A horse has four main gaits or movements. Walking, trotting, cantering, and galloping. Trotting is like a jog for us, it is a two beat movement that is not extremely fast. This is not done too much in the typical patterns. Next, the canter is a moderate speed like a normal run for us, this is a bit faster and is a three beat movement. In the canter a horse leads with a particular foot and the other feet follow. Depending on which foot the horse leads with is what lead he is on. If they lead with the right foot he is on the right lead, inversely if they lead with the left foot they are on the left lead. Changes between leads can be done when breaking from a canter into a slower gait and starting again the other way, or at the canter the horse changes all the momentum to the other foot in a matter of mere seconds. That fast paced switch is a flying lead change. Flying lead changes are in almost every reining pattern. The gallop is the fastest movement of any horse, it is a four beat movement which is the equivalent of sprinting to humans. The horse is required to turn in all patterns. In order to turn they need to be on their haunches. The term on the haunches means the horse's primary weight on his back feet primarily. This is vitally important to almost all of the more complicated
To understand the complicated maneuvers of reining one must first understand the basics. A horse has four main gaits or movements. Walking, trotting, cantering, and galloping. Trotting is like a jog for us, it is a two beat movement that is not extremely fast. This is not done too much in the typical patterns. Next, the canter is a moderate speed like a normal run for us, this is a bit faster and is a three beat movement. In the canter a horse leads with a particular foot and the other feet follow. Depending on which foot the horse leads with is what lead he is on. If they lead with the right foot he is on the right lead, inversely if they lead with the left foot they are on the left lead. Changes between leads can be done when breaking from a canter into a slower gait and starting again the other way, or at the canter the horse changes all the momentum to the other foot in a matter of mere seconds. That fast paced switch is a flying lead change. Flying lead changes are in almost every reining pattern. The gallop is the fastest movement of any horse, it is a four beat movement which is the equivalent of sprinting to humans. The horse is required to turn in all patterns. In order to turn they need to be on their haunches. The term on the haunches means the horse's primary weight on his back feet primarily. This is vitally important to almost all of the more complicated