REINING“To rein a horse is not only to guide him,but also to control his every movement.The best reined horse should be willinglyguided or controlled with little or no ap-parent resistance and dictated to com-pletely. Any movement on his own mustbe considered a lack of control. All devi-ations from the exact written patternmust be considered a lack of or tempo-rary loss of control; and therefore, a faultthat must be marked down according toseverity of deviation. After deducting allfaults set here within, against executionof the pattern and the horse’s overallperformance, credit should be given forsmoothness, finesse, attitude, quicknessand authority of performing various ma-neuvers, while using controlled speedwhich raises the difficulty level andmakes him more exciting and pleasing towatch to an audience.”

Please be certain that these patternscorrespond with the patterns printed inthe current NRHA Handbook.

SCORING

PATTERNS

The scoring of reining horses is on a positivenumeric scale with 70 denoting a correct per-formance. NRHA patterns are comprised ofseveral distinct maneuver groups, which judgesare asked to evaluate on an individual basis de-pending on execution as dictated by the patterndescription and the rules for judging. The indi-vidual maneuvers are scored in 1⁄2 point incre-ments from a low of -11⁄2 (extremely poorquality) to a high of +11⁄2 (excellent quality) witha score of 0 denoting a maneuver that is correctwith no degree of difficulty. The total of thescores applied to the maneuver groups is com-bined with the starting score of 70 and from thisgross maneuver score, any penalties are de-ducted to calculate the horse’s final score,which is announced after each horse works.

1. The following patterns are to be worked asstated, not as drawn. The drawn pattern is justto give the general idea of what the pattern willlook like in the arena.

2. Markers will be placed on the wall or fence ofthe arena as follows:

(I) at the center of the arena(II) at least 50’ (15 meters) from each end wall.

3. Where designated in the pattern for stops tobe beyond a marker, the horse should beginhis stop after he passes the specified marker.

4. Each pattern is drawn so that the bottom of thepage represents the end of the arena enteredby contestants and must be run as such. In theevent that an arena has only one gate and it bein the exact middle of the side, that side shallrepresent the right side of the page the patternis drawn on.

5. All horses will be judged immediately uponentering the arena and judging will cease afterthe last maneuver. Any fault incurred prior tothe commencement of a pattern will bescored according to the Rules of Judging.

6. All judges’ decisions are final.

PATTERN1

1. Run at speed to the far end of thearena past the end marker and do a leftrollback – no hesitation.

2. Run to the opposite end of the arenapast the end marker and do a right roll-back – no hesitation.

3. Run past the center marker and do asliding stop. Back up to center of thearena or at least ten feet (three meters).Hesitate.

4. Complete four spins to the right. Hesi-tate.

5. Complete four and one-quarter spins tothe left so that horse is facing left wall orfence. Hesitate.

6. Beginning on the left lead, completethree circles to the left: the first circlelarge and fast; the second circle smalland slow; the third circle large and fast.Change leads at the center of the arena.

7. Complete three circles to the right: thefirst circle large and fast; the second cir-cle small and slow; the third circle largeand fast. Change leads at the center ofthe arena.

8. Begin a large fast circle to the left but donot close this circle. Run straight up theright side of the arena past the centermarker and do a sliding stop at leasttwenty feet (six meters) from wall orfence. Hesitate to demonstrate the com-pletion of the pattern.

PATTERN1

PATTERN2

Horses may walk or trot to the center ofarena. Horses must walk or stop prior tostarting pattern. Beginning at the centerof the arena facing the left wall or fence.

1. Beginning on the right lead, completethree circles to the right: the first circlesmall and slow; the next two circles largeand fast. Change leads at the center ofthe arena.

2. Complete three circles to the left: the firstcircle small and slow; the next two circleslarge and fast. Change leads at the cen-ter of the arena.

3. Continue around previous circle to theright. At the top of the circle, run downthe middle to the far end of the arenapast the end marker and do a right roll-back – no hesitation.

4. Run up the middle to the opposite end ofthe arena past the end marker and do aleft rollback – no hesitation.

5. Run past the center marker and do asliding stop. Back up to the center of thearena or at least ten feet (three meters).Hesitate.

6. Complete four spins to the right. Hesitate.

7. Complete four spins to the left. Hesitateto demonstrate the completion of thepattern.

PATTERN2

PATTERN3

1. Beginning, lope straight up the left side ofthe arena, circle the top end of the arena,and staying at least twenty feet (six me-ters) from the walls or fence, run straightdown the opposite or right side of thearena past the center marker and do aleft rollback – no hesitation.

2. Continue straight up the right side of thearena circle back around the top of thearena, and staying at least twenty feet(six meters) from the walls or fence, runstraight down the left side of the arenapast the center marker and do a right roll-back – no hesitation.

3. Continue up the left side of the arena tothe center marker. AT the center marker,the horse should be on the right lead.Guide the horse to the center of thearena on the right lead and completethree circles to the right: the first two cir-cles large and fast; the third circle smalland slow. Change leads at the center ofthe arena.

4. Complete three circles to the left: thefirst two circles large and fast; the thirdcircle small and slow. Change leads inthe center of the arena.

5. Begin a large fast circle to the right butdo not close this circle. Continue up theleft side of the arena, circle the top of thearena, and staying at least twenty feet(six meters) from the walls or fence, runstraight down the opposite or right side ofthe arena past the center marker and doa sliding stop. Back up at least ten feet.Hesitate.

6. Complete four spins to the right. Hesitate.

7. Complete four spins to the left. Hesitateto demonstrate completion of the pattern.

PATTERN3

PATTERN4

Horses may walk or trot to the center ofthe arena. Horses must walk or stopprior to starting pattern. Beginning at thecenter of the arena facing the left wall orfence.

1. Beginning on the right lead, completethree circles to the right: the first twolarge and fast; the third circle small andslow. Stop at the center of the arena.Hesitate.

2. Complete four spins to the right. Hesitate.

3. Beginning on the left lead, completethree circles to the left: the first two cir-cles large and fast; the third circle smalland slow. Stop at the center of thearena. Hesitate.

4. Complete four spins to the left. Hesitate.

5. Beginning on the right lead, run a largefast circle to the right, change leads atthe center of the arena, run a large fastcircle to the left, and change leads at thecenter of the arena. (Figure 8)

6. Continue around previous circle to theright. AT the top of the circle, run downthe middle to the far end of the arenapast the end marker and do a right roll-back – no hesitation.

7. Run up the middle to the opposite end ofthe arena past the end marker and do aleft rollback – no hesitation.

8. Run past the center marker and do asliding stop. Back up to the center of thearena or at least ten feet (three meters).Hesitate to demonstrate completion ofthe pattern.

PATTERN4

PATTERN5

Horses may walk or trot to the center ofarena. Horses must walk or stop prior tostarting pattern. Beginning at the centerof the arena facing the left wall or fence.

1. Beginning on the left lead, completethree circles to the left: the first two cir-cles large and fast; the third circle smalland slow. Stop at the center of thearena. Hesitate.

2. Complete four spins to the left. Hesitate.

3. Beginning on the right lead, complete threecircles to the right: the first two circles largeand fast; the third circle small and slow.Stop at the center of the arena. Hesitate.

4. Complete four spins to the right. Hesitate.

5. Beginning on the left lead, run a large fastcircle to the left, change leads at the centerof the arena, run a large fast circle to theright, and change leads at the center of thearena. (Figure 8)

6. Continue around previous circle to theleft but do not close this circle. Run upthe right side of the arena past the centermarker and do a right rollback at leasttwenty feet (six meters) from the wall orfence – no hesitation.

7. Continue around previous circle but do notclose this circle. Run up the left side of thearena past the center marker and do a leftrollback at least twenty feet (six meters)from the wall or fence – no hesitation.

8. Continue back around previous circle butdo not close this circle. Run up the rightside of the arena past the center markerand do a sliding stop at least twenty feet(six meters) from the wall or fence. Backup at least ten feet (three meters). Hesitateto demonstrate completion of the pattern.

PATTERN5

PATTERN6

Horses may walk or trot to the center ofarena. Horses must walk or stop prior tostarting pattern. Beginning at the centerof the arena facing the left wall or fence.

1. Complete four spins to the right. Hesitate.

2. Complete four spins to the left. Hesitate.

3. Beginning on the left lead, completethree circles to the left: the first two cir-cles large and fast; the third circle smalland slow. Change leads at the center ofthe arena.

4. Complete three circles to the right: thefirst two circles large and fast; the thirdcircle small and slow. Change leads atthe center of the arena.

5. Begin a large fast circle to the left but donot close this circle. Run up the rightside of the arena past the center markerand do a right rollback at least twentyfeet (six meters) from the wall or fence –no hesitation.

6. Continue back around previous circle butdo not close this circle. Run up the leftside of the arena past the center markerand do a left rollback at least twenty feet(six meters) from the wall or fence – nohesitation.

7. Continue back around previous circle butdo not close this circle. Run up the rightside of the arena past the center markerand do a sliding stop at least twenty feet(six meters) from the wall or fence. Backup at least ten feet (three meters). Hesi-tate to demonstrate the completion of thepattern.

PATTERN6

PATTERN7

1. Run at speed to the far end of thearena past the end marker and do a leftrollback – no hesitation.

2. Run to the opposite end of the arenapast the end marker and do a right roll-back – no hesitation.

3. Run past the center marker and do asliding stop. Back up to the center of thearena or at least ten feet (three meters).Hesitate.

4. Complete four spins to the right. Hesitate.

5. Complete four and one-quarter spins tothe left so that horse is facing left wallor fence. Hesitate.

6. Beginning on the right lead, completethree circles to the right: the first two cir-cles large fast; the third circle small andslow. Change leads at the center of thearena.

7. Complete three circles to the left: thefirst two circles large fast; the third circlesmall and slow. Change leads at thecenter of the arena.

8. Begin a large fast circle to the right butdo not close this circle. Run straightdown the right side of the arena past thecenter marker and do a sliding stop atleast twenty feet (six meters) from thewall or fence. Hesitate to demonstratecompletion of the pattern.

PATTERN7

PATTERN8

Horses may walk or trot to the center ofarena. Horses must walk or stop prior tostarting pattern. Beginning at the centerof arena facing the left wall or fence.

1. Complete four spins to the left. Hesitate.

2. Complete four spins to the right. Hesitate.

3. Beginning on the right lead, completethree circles to the right: the first circlelarge and fast; the second circle smalland slow; the third circle large and fast.Change leads at the center of the arena.

4. Complete three circles to the left: thefirst circle large and fast; the second cir-cle small and slow; the third circle largeand fast. Change leads at the center ofthe arena.

5. Begin a large fast circle to the right butdo not close this circle. Run straightdown the right side of the arena past thecenter marker and do a left rollback atleast twenty feet (six meters) from thewall or fence – no hesitation.

6. Continue back around the previous circlebut do not close this circle. Run downthe left side of the arena past the centermaker and do a right rollback at leasttwenty feet (six meters) from the wall orfence – no hesitation.

7. Continue back around the previous cir-cle but do not close this circle. Rundown the right side of the arena pastthe center marker and do a sliding stopat least twenty feet (six meters) fromthe wall or fence. Back up at least tenfeet (three meters). Hesitate to demon-strate completion of the pattern.

PATTERN8

PATTERN9

1. Run past the center marker and do asliding stop. Back up to the center of thearena or at least ten feet (three meters).Hesitate.

2. Complete four spins to the right. Hesitate.

3. Complete four and one-quarter spins tothe left so that horse is facing the left wallor fence. Hesitate.

4. Beginning on the left lead, completethree circles to the left: the first circlesmall and slow; the next two circles largeand fast. Change leads at the center ofthe arena.

5. Complete three circles to the right: thefirst circle small and slow; the next twocircles large and fast. Change leads atthe center of the arena.

6. Begin a large fast circle to the left but donot close this circle. Run up the rightside of the arena past the center markerand do a right rollback at least twentyfeet (six meters) from the wall or fence –no hesitation.

7. Continue back around the previous circlebut do not close this circle. Run up theleft side of the arena past the centermarker and do a left rollback at leasttwenty feet (six meters) from the wall orfence – no hesitation.

8. Continue back around previous circle butdo not close this circle. Run up rightside of the arena past the center markerand do a sliding stop at least twenty feet(six meters) from the wall or fence. Hes-itate to demonstrate completion of thepattern.

PATTERN9

PATTERN10

1. Run past the center marker and do asliding stop. Back up to the center of thearena or at least ten feet (three meters).Hesitate.

2. Complete four spins to the right. Hesitate.

3. Complete four and one-quarter spins tothe left so that the horse is facing the leftwall or fence. Hesitate.

4. Beginning on the right lead, completethree circles to the right: the first two cir-cles large and fast, the third circle smalland slow. Change leads at the center ofthe arena.

5. Complete three circles to the left: thefirst circle small and slow, the next twocircles large and fast. Change leads atthe center of the arena.

6. Begin a large fast circle to the right butdo not close this circle. Run down theright side of the arena past the centermarker and do a left rollback at leasttwenty feet (six meters) form the wall orfence – no hesitation.

7. Continue back around the previous circlebut do not close this circle. Run downthe left side of the arena past the centerand do a right rollback at least twentyfeet (six meters) from the wall or fence –no hesitation.

8. Continue back around previous circle butdo not close this circle. Run down theright side of the arena past the centermarker and do a sliding stop at leasttwenty feet (six meters) form the wall orfence. Hesitate to demonstrate comple-tion of the pattern.

PATTERN10

PATTERN11

Horses must trot to the center of thearena. Horses must walk or stop prior tostarting pattern. Beginning at the center ofthe arena facing the left wall or fence.

1.Complete four spins to the left. Hesitate.

2. Complete four spins to the right. Hesitate.

3. Beginning on the right lead, completethree circles to the right; the first circlesmall and slow; the next two circles largeand fast. Change leads at the center ofthe arena.

4. Complete three circles to the left; the firstcircle small and slow; the next two circleslarge and fast. Change leads at the centerof the arena.

5. Begin a large circle to the right, but do notclose this circle. Run down the center ofthe arena past the end marker and do aright rollback – no hesitation.

6. Run up the middle to the opposite end ofthe arena past the end marker and do aleft rollback – no hesitation.

7. Run past the center marker and do a slid-ing stop. Back up to the center of thearena or at least ten feet (three meters).Hesitate to demonstrate completion of thepattern.

PATTERN11

PATTERN12

To be used for the Youth 10 & Under Short Stirrup class only.

Horses may walk or trot to the center ofthe arena. Horses must walk or stopprior to starting the pattern. Beginning atthe center of the arena facing the left wallor fence.

1. Beginning on the left lead, completetwo circles to the left. Stop at the cen-ter of the arena. Hesitate.

2. Complete two spins to the left. Hesitate

3. Beginning on the right lead completetwo circles to the right. Stop at the cen-ter of the arena. Hesitate.

4. Complete two spins to the right. Hesitate.

5. Beginning on the left lead, go around theend of the arena, run down the right sideof the arena past center marker, stop androll back right.

6. Continue around the end of the arenato run down the left side of the arenapast the center marker. Stop. Back up.

PATTERN12

PATTERN13

To be used for the Youth 10 & Under Short Stirrup class only.

1. Beginning, lope straight up the rightside of the arena, circle the top of thearena, run straight down the oppositeor left side of the arena past the centermark and do a right rollback – no hesi-tation.

2. Continue straight up the left side of thearena circle back around the top of thearena run straight down the right sideof the arena past the center marker anddo a left rollback – no hesitation.

3. Continue up the right side of the arenato the center marker, at the centermarker the horse should be on the leftlead and complete two circles to theleft, one large fast and one small slow.Stop at center. Hesitate.

4. Complete three spins to the left. Hesitate.

5. Complete two circles to the right, onelarge fast and one small slow. Stop atcenter. Hesitate.

6. Complete three spins to the right. Hesitate.

7. Begin a large fast circle to the left, donot close the circle. Continue up thecenter of the arena past the centermarker and do a sliding stop.

8. Back up at least ten feet. Hesitate todemonstrate completion of the pattern.

PATTERN13