Reining is an equestrian sport that originated in the United States as a way to showcase the skills of ranch horses. It is a Western riding discipline that requires a horse and rider to perform a precise pattern of circles, spins, and stops. The horse must be responsive and in tune with its rider, and the pattern is judged on its accuracy, smoothness, and athleticism.
The most common breed of horse used in reining is the American Quarter Horse, but any breed of horse can compete. Quarter Horses are known for their athleticism, speed, and agility, which are all essential qualities for reining. Other breeds that are commonly used in reining include Appaloosas, Paints, and Arabians.
A reining pattern typically includes eight to twelve movements, which are performed at two gaits: the lope (a slow, three-beat gait) and the gallop (a four-beat gait). The movements include:
- Circles: The horse must perform large, fast circles at a near-gallop and smaller, slow circles at a lope. They should be perfectly round, with the rider dictating the pace of the horse. There should be an easily seen change of speed as the rider transitions from the large, fast to the small, slow circles. Most circles incorporate changes of direction that require a flying change of lead.
- Spins: The horse must spin 360 degrees in either direction. The spin should be smooth and controlled, with the horse's head and neck held high.
- Stops: The horse must come to a complete stop from a gallop in a controlled manner. The stop should be so sudden that the horse's hindquarters slide on the ground.
- Figure-8s: The horse must perform a figure-8 pattern, alternating between circles and spins.
- Rollbacks: The horse must perform a rollback, which is a 180-degree turn from a lope to a stop.
Reining is a challenging and exciting sport that requires a high level of skill and training from both the horse and rider. It is a great way to showcase the athleticism and beauty of Western horses, and it is a popular spectator sport as well.
Here are some additional facts about reining:
- The sport was first recognized by the American Quarter Horse Association in 1949.
- Reining was an Olympic demonstration sport in 1960 and 1968.
- The highest governing body for reining is the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI).
- The most prestigious reining competition in the world is the NRHA Futurity, which is held annually in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
United States | International (click here)
Reining - Clubs and Associations - United States
- Appaloosa Reining Horse Association (ApRHA), 13610 W Greenview Drive, Wadsworth, IL 60083
- Arabian Reining Horse Association (ARHA), 1289 4th Stret, Almena, WI 54805
- Arizona Reining Horse Association (AzRHA), 15029 N Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale, AZ 85260
- Arkansas Reining Horse Association (ARHA) 16997 W. D. Thomas Road, Harrisburg, AR 72432
- Central New York Reining Horse Association (CNYRHA), 2034 Oran Delphi Road, New Woodstock, NY 13122
- Central Ohio Reining Horse Association (CORHA), 13761 Green Road, Wakeman, OH 44889
- Central Plains Reining Horse Association (CPRHA), 2259 Rd 5, Clarkson, NE 68629
- Cowboy States Reining Horse Association (CSRHA), 2294 E River Road, Livingston, MT 59047
- Dixie Reining Horse Association (DRHA), 130 Swan Road, Fitzgerald, GA 31750
- East Coast Reiners Association (ECRA), 114 Sportsman St., Central Islip, NY 11722
- Eastern Pennsylvania Reining Horse Association (EPRHA), 8820 Carlisle Road, Wellsville, PA 17365
- Eastern Plains Reining Horse Association (EPRHA), 17700 CR 94, Calhan, CO 80808
- Florida Reining Horse Association (FRHA), 5901 SW 43rd St., Ocala, FL 34474
- Intermountain Reining Horse Association, (IRHA), 5205 W 2200 S, Taylor, UT 84401
- Kansas Reining Horse Association (KRHA), P.O. Box 142, Auburn, KS 66402
- Michigan Reining Horse Association (MRHA), 6905 Eastman Ave., Midland, MI 48642
- Midwest Reining Horse Association (MWRHA), 31569 Irish Lane, Eureka, IL 61530
- Missouri Reining Horse Association (MRHA), 15750 N Simms Road, Sturgeon, MO 65284
- Montana Reining Horse Association (MRHYA), 8555 Camp Creek Road, Manhattan, MT 59741
- National Morgan Reining Horse Association (NMHRA), 7701 Olivas Lane, Vacaville, CA 95688
- National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) 1017 N Highway 377, Pilot Point, TX 76258
- National Reining Horse Association (NRHA), 3000 NW 10th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73107-5302
- National Reining Horse Youth Association (NRHYA), 3000 NW 10th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73107-5302
- North Central Reining Horse Association (NCRHA), 13020 Welch Trail, Welch, MN 55089
- Northern Rockies Reining Horse Association (NRRHA), 118 Pine Hollow Road, Stevensville, MT 59870
- Ohio Valley Reining Horse Association (OVRHA), 8735 St Rd 62, Lonesville, IN 47136
- Oklahoma Reining Horse Association (OKRHA), 10061 N 2440 Road, Weatherford, OK 73096
- Oregon Reining Horse Association (ORHA), P.O. Box 178, Eagle Point, OR 97524
- Reining Horse Association of the North West (RHANW), 12128 N. Division, PMB# 216, Spokane, WA 99218
- Reining Michigan Inc., 1690 N. Hicks Road, Midland, MI 48642
- Rocky Mountain Reining Horse Associations (RMRHA), 9901 E. Evans Ave. #23A, Denver, CO 80247
- Snake River Reining Alliance (SRRA), 2430 S. Meridian Road, Kuna, ID 83634
- South Florida Reining Horse Association (SFRHA), 4500 Mildred Bass Road, Saint Cloud, FL 34772
- Southeastern Reining Horse Association (SERHA), 463 Cotton Gin Road, Gates, NC 27937
- Southwest Reining Horse Association, (SWRHA) 13181 US Hwy 377, Byars, OK 74831
- Texas Reining Horse Association (TRHA), 911 West Gray, Apt 2, Houston, TX 77019
- Washington Reining Horse Association (WRHA), 16235 216 Ave NE, Woodinville, WA 98077
- West Coast Reining Horse Association (WCRHA), 1525 Bruceville Road, Elk Grove, CA 95757
- Western Slope Reining Horse Association (WSRHA), 56981 Ida Road, Montrose, CO 81403
- Yankee Reining Horse Association (YRHA), 10552 Sisson Hwy., Eden, NY 14057
Reining - Education
Reining - Events - United States
- Florida Reining Classic, Bob Thomas Equestrian Center, The Florida State Fairgrounds, 4800 U.S. 301, Tampa, FL 33610
- NRHA Derby, State Fair Arena, 3001 General Pershing Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK 73107
- NRHA Futurity, State Fair Arena, 3001 General Pershing Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK 73107
Reining - General
Reining - Training and Sales - United States
- Anderson Training Stables, 39 Hereim Lane, Wilsall, MT 59086
- Armstrong Equine Services, 175 Esslinger Road, La Mesa, NM 88044
- Arno Honstetter, 28150 N Alma School Pkwy #103-279, Scottsdale, AZ 85262
- Bein Performance Horses, 14821 E. Rio Verde Dr., Scottsdale, AZ 85262
- Blue Allen Training Stable, 2137 CR 12 S, Alamosa, CO 81101
- Brant Performance Horses, 2752 US HWY 42 NE, London, OH 43140
- Brian Bell Performance Horses, Cardinal Reining Center, 4100 Reining Road, Aubrey, TX 76227
- Buckley Farms, 13730 County Road 577, Anna, TX 75409
- Cedar Ridge Stallion Station, P.O. Box 495, Whitesboro, TX 76273
- Chapman Reining Horses, Rising Star Farm, 1007 Hoods Mill Road, Woodbine, MD 21797
- Chuck Nesmith Training, 17851 County Road L, Fort Morgan, CO 80701
- Craig Performance Horses, 1227 S. Double or Nothing Road, Scottsburg, IN 47170
- Crystal Farm, 416 Main St., Dunstable, MA 01827
- Darling 888 Ranch, 4770 Grooms Lane, Princeton, KY 42445
- Deary Performance Horses, 2515 White Settlement Road, Weatherford, TX 76087
- Dooley Performance Horses, 6K Ranch, 9498 County Road 82, Elbert, CO 80108
- Double Run Farm. 2651 Blue Banks Loop Road, NE, Leland, North Carolina 28451
- Drawdy Training Facility, 4500 MIldred Bass Road, Saint Cloud, FL 34772
- Fappani, Rancho Oso Rio, 15823 E Rio Verde Drive, Scottsdale, AZ 85262
- Fuchs Performance Horses, 5007 S. Turner Road, Canfield, OH 44406
- Gabriel Diano Performance Horses, 20834 Sooner Avenue, Purcell, OK 73080
- Gata Rein Ranch, 24 Hill Road, Middletown, NY 10941
- Gold Creek Reiners, 21805 Gold Valley Road, Perris, CA 92570
- Haverty Ranch, 7058 Hwy 2450, Sanger, TX 76266
- Hilldale Farm, 4398 I-30 W, Brashear, TX 75420
- Hutchins Performance Horses, P.0. Box 637, Aubrey, Tx 76227
- John Irish Performance Horses, P.O. Box 1051, Eagle Point, OR 97524
- Katona Reining Horses, 44641 Bemis Road, Belleville, MI 48111
- Kim Diercks Reining Horses, Russet Stables, Inc., 1625 Cty V Coloma, WI 54930
- Kyle Kellmer Performance Horses, 8401 NE 259th St., Battle Ground, WA 98604
- Larson Performance Horses, 1818 Shadow Valley Road, Whitesboro, TX 76273
- Lori Nelson Training, 75 E 2675 North Road, Mechanicsburg, IL 62545
- Marcy Ver Meer Reining Horses, 5315 E. Rockaway Hills Road, Cave Creek, AZ 85331
- Mark Rafacz Reining Horses, 2330 NW 140th Street, Citra, FL 32113
- Matt Mills Reining Horses, 14834 E Estancia Way, Scottsdale, AZ 85255
- McQuay Stables, 15135 E FM 922, Tioga, TX 76271
- Meissner Reining Horses, 591 Equestrian Center Loop, Manhattan, MT 59741
- Monica Albair Equine Training, Poway Equestrian Center, 14875 Mina De Oro, Poway, CA 92064
- Nathan Piper Reining Horses, Skyline Ranch, 8950 Arvin Hill Road, Aubrey, TX 76227
- Parkinson Performance Horses, 15027 E. Rio Verde Drive, Scottsdale, AZ 85262
- Petroll Reining Horses, 673 CR 125, Whitesboro, TX 76273
- Rick Baer Training Stables. 18381 Goldenwest St., Huntington Beach, CA 92648
- Robin Schoeller Reining Horses, London, OH 43140
- Sam Smith Reining Horses, RT 1 Box 663, Marietta, OK 73448
- Sambambyr Arabian and Quarter Horse Farm, 1100 Friendship Road, Weatherford, TX 76085
- Santa Hill Ranch, 3095 State Road 207, Campbell Hall, NY 10916
- Schmersal Reining Horses LLC, P.O. Box 130, Overbrook, OK 73453
- Schwartzenberger Equine, LLC, 11313 Vermillion Road, Longmont, CO 80504
- Sean Johnson Performance Horses, 21550 W 231st St, Kellyville, OK 74039
- Shane Brown Performance Horses, 13881 S. Delbert Road, Elbert, CO 80106
- Shawn Flarida Reiners, 5300 Beard Road, Springfield, OH 45502
- Sheridan Oaks Stable, 13321 Old Sheridan Street, Southwest Ranches, FL 33330
- Sliding K Performance Horses, 475 Springs Road, Valley View, TX 76272
- Sommers Performance Horses, 48 Diamond Ranch Road, Whitesboro, TX 76273
- Staebler Performance Horses, 12750 Hwy 140 E, Klamath Falls, OR 97603
- Tanya Jenkins Performance Horses, LLC, P.O. Box 893352, Temecula, CA 92589
- Tracy Reining Horses, 2586 S. Hwy 287, Berthoud, CO 80513
- Tremblay Performance Horses, 9225 S. Brock Road, Ardmore, OK 73401
- Troy Heikes Quarter Horses, P.O. Box 26236, Scottdale, AZ 85255
- Vanlandingham Reining Horses, P.O. Box 797, Whitesboro, TX 76273
- Visionary Equine, 11761 Massey Road, Pilot Point, TX 76258
- Warren Performance Horses. 10254 S Hwy 83, Franktown, CO 80116
- Weaver Performance Horses Inc., 1278 N Morgan Valley Drive, Morgan, UT 84050
- Wilson Performance Horses, 4204 W. 700 N., Michigan City, IN 46360
International
Reining - Clubs and Associations - Australia
- IAP-Reining Australia (NAA), 347 Newlands Road, Wamuran, QLD 4512
- Queensland Reining Horse Association Inc. (QRHA), 347 Newlands Road, Wamuran, QL 4512
Reining - Clubs and Associations - Austria
Reining - Clubs and Associations - Belgium
Reining - Clubs and Associations - Brazil
Reining - Clubs and Associations - Canada
- Central Canada Reining Horse Association (CCRHA), Box 8, Grp 570, RR 5, Winnipeg, MB CAN R2C 2Z2
- Ontario Reining Horse Association (ORHA), 15 Shuttleworth Dr., Courtice ONL1E 3J1
- Reining Alberta, RR 1, Ponoka, AB T4J 1R1
- Saskatchewan Reining Horse Association (SRHA), 31122–340 McCarthy Blvd., Regina, SK S4R 8R6
- Western Canadian Reining Association (WCRA), 910 Chase Falkland Road, Chase BCV0E 1M1
Reining - Clubs and Associations - Denmark
Reining - Clubs and Associations - Finland
Reining - Clubs and Associations - Germany
Reining - Clubs and Associations - Mexico
Reining - Clubs and Associations - Netherlands
Reining - Clubs and Associations - Switzerland
Reining - Clubs and Associations - United Kingdom
Reining - Training and Sales - Austria
- Cody Saergia Reining Horses, Lermoos
- SR Horse Training, Sylvia Rzepka, A-2441 Mitterndorf an der Fischa Nr. 53
Reining - Training and Sales - Belgium
Reining - Training and Sales - Canada
Reining - Training and Sales - Germany
- LQH - Ludwig Quarter Horses, Sylvia Maile & Grischa Ludwig, Schwantelhof 2, 72475 Bitz
- RP-Western Horse Training, Fa. Monika Peterka, Am Fuchsbau 11, 46514 Schermbeck
Reining - Training and Sales - Italy
- 23 Quarter Horses, Regione Zucca, Strada Alessandria, 14045 Incisa Scapaccino (AT)
- Ambrosini Quarter Horses ASD, Via Renaldo, 8, 37014 Castelnuovo Del Garda, Verona
Reining - Training and Sales - Japan
Reining - Training and Sales - Netherlands
Reining: Boemil Twin Robotop - the only Appaloosa in the Individual Finals
Reining competition is open to all breeds of horses. Though the American Quarter Horses dominate the field, American Paint Horses, Arabians, Morgans and Appaloosas are among some of the breeds seen at reining shows world-wide.
Appaloosas have competed successfully in the sport for many years and have made their presence known winning many classes and earning worthwhile purses and prizes. In 1986, Gunsmokes Skeeter became the National Reining Horse Association’s (NRHA) all-time leading Appaloosa money earner. Barbara Mazziotta’s 1983 mare (Boss Nowata Star x Mr Gunsmokes Doll) was shown exclusively by Terry Thompson to win $30,174. During the 2011 National Reining Breeders Classic, Frank Marley’s Some Kinda Shine (Shine Of A Kind x Precious Lady D) topped that mark with NRHA Professional Matt Mills aboard. The Appaloosa stallion racked up more than $30,517 in NRHA LTE.
2014 welcomed another change. The highly sought-after title now belongs to Boemil Twin Robotop with $32,570 in NRHA LTE. Boemil Twin Robotop, bred by Emilio Bonoperti, is by Topsail Speckles and out of Boemil Valentwin. Lara Lorengo, of Italy, has owned and shown the 2006 stallion for almost four years earning many a prestigious event. The duo was on the Italian Young Riders team that conquered the Gold medal at the FEI European Reining Championshipin 2013. All of the stallion’s earnings have been accumulated at NRHA shows in Europe only.
In the 1st Individual qualifier during the 2014 Games, Giuseppe Prevosti, riding for Team Italy, qualified the talented stallion, aka ‘Raiden’ for the Individual finals. “I’ve had this amazing stallion in training ever since he was a 2-year-old. He belongs to my fiancé, Lara, and has always been shown in non pro competition by her. This year we decided to try to qualify him for the Games and I must admit that she was the one that really believed this dream could come true. Here he proved that he was able to step up big time,” says Prevosti. “He’s the best minded horse I’ve ever been around and even though he’s been in the breeding barn, it never comes out when he’s in the pen. My goal here was to do the best we could and hold high the Italian flag – we now look forward to the finals!”
The much awaited for individual finals count 21 horse-rider combinations. All are Amercian Quarter Horses except for Boemil Twin Robotop!
