What exactly is 'reining'?

Question

Explain.

Answer 1

I rein. =)

It's usually about a 3 minute western riding pattern including difficult maneuvers, such as quick spins on the haunches, rollbacks, flying lead changes, and backing.

Most of the time, you work in circles, loping a few circles slow, increasing the speed and size of your circles, and then bringing the horse back down to small, slow circles.

Reining is supposed to be done on a loose rein, so the horses are very well trained and disciplined to listen and work with their rider.

Here is a video of a bridless reining stallion:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCsXmkf5X...

Answer 2

I agree with the other posts, and just want to stress that in dressage, direct contact with the bit is maintained.  To train a reining horse requires the additional discipline of performing on a loose rein, and the reins directed by one hand of the rider.

And then there's Stacy Westfall.

Answer 3

reining is the western version of dressage. the horse performs a series of difficult manuvers and patterns and is judged on gait, willingness, responsiveness to the rider, and general ability.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reining

Answer 4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=od8lj_FOk...

Shawn Flardia, world champion reiner, lots of stuff on reining on youtube

Answer 5

WELL IT IS THE WESTERN VERSION OF DRESSAGE BUT BASICS ARE  BEING FLUENT SMOOTH MOVEMENTS  QUICK SMOOTH LEAD CHANGES  WITH CONTROL BUT THE JUDGE DONT WANT TO SEE THE CUES  OF ANY TYPE THERE ARE DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF REINING, FREESTYLE:THIS THE FUN ONE BUT THEY ALL MUST CONTAIN IN THE PATTERNS SPINS, SLIDING STOPS, SMALL & LARGE CIRCLES ,FAST & SLOW,  PIVOTS, RUNDOWNS , ROLLBACKSFLIYING LEAD CHANGES, ITS REALLY RATHER PRETTY TO WATCH IF YOU GET A GOOD HORSE AN RIDER. THERE ARE SET PATTERNS FOR THIS EVENT WHICH ARE POSTED AT THE BEGINING OF YOU SHOW OR UPON SIGN UP YOU CHECK THE PATTERN NUMBER.THERE IS CERTAIN EQUIPTMENT YOU CAN AND CANT USE. ITS A VERY SPECIFIED SPORT BUT YOU CANT HAVE ALOT OF FUN AT IT.

Answer 6

I have reined before...It is just a western version of dressage.

you do quick manuvers, haunches, rollbacks, flying lead changes, and backing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxUGEN9kS...