Let's Talk Reining

[UrbanHennery]

The rest of the board is broken up in to various English disciplines, so I thought maybe we should create some sub-categories here in the western area. And since I’m a reiner, that’s the one I’m offering. Just thought the thread could be a place to talk about our horses, training struggles (and wins!), and ask questions. I KNOW there are a few other reiners, some that are here in the PNW with me, so yeah. Anyone in?

I started taking reining lessons in January 2011 after getting back into horses in 2009. I started showing local beginner classes on my trail horse. This will be my 4th year showing, second year with my new pony JD. He’s just coming 5 and I’ve owned him almost a year. I keep him at home and we haul 15 minutes to the arena to ride 4-5 days a week. We work with a fantastic up and coming local trainer with the patience of a saint and a magic touch.

We’re working hard to be ready for the 2014 show season. Last year was an adventure in getting to know each other and getting our feet wet (sometimes dramatically) in the show pen. Right now we’ve pretty much got our s&*t together except for stopping (my timing is crap).

Here’s the little man (who’s actually quite tall for a reiner at 15.1 h):
https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/t1/522501_10151738741206102_1834925994_n.jpg

And our first really big stop last fall. It was fun - and it took us until last week to start getting them with anything even approaching consistency.
https://scontent-a-sea.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t1/1240172_10152139675451102_853579220_n.jpg

Who else is here?

[Bluey]

Well, in our drought, it is not raining any, now into our third year.:no:
(Local joke around reiners.)

Ok, yes, reining is one of those few horse disciplines that is still growing by leaps and bounds, looking at the statistics.

Because of that, the lower levels are always well represented and those are the ones that carry the most fun at the shows.
Looks like you and your horse are having lots of fun there.

[teal_tea]

Can anyone tell me about the costs of “reinmeinship”? I ride h/j and have an 11 year old mare. I bought her almost 3 yrs ago. She’s an OTTB that didn’t cut it at the track. After that she became a polo pony and is now w/ me. I love her and she’s been able to help me go further than I’ve ever gone before. I’m jumping 2’3-2’6- which isn’t very high but jumping for me can be intimidating. She’s given me much confidence and I believe I could eventually reach 2’9 within the year.

My problem is that the cost of showing h/j is astronomically high and I’d like to eventually show quite a bit. If I ended up taking reining lessons and decided I liked it and my mare could do it, perhaps this would be a better fit. My mare gets her lead changes easily and can stop on a dime (probably from the polo training). She’s very agile and I’ve seen her gallop like crazy out in the field). I think she knows how to neck rein b/c of the polo though I don’t know how to neck rein; but I could learn. All in all she’s a fun ride and we work well together. I’d like to find a niche for us where I can show her talents off. As for me I started riding English 24 years ago. I had read that it was easier to transition from English to western riding, hence my decision to go English. Any opinions on my hopefully not so crazy thoughts?

[UrbanHennery]

I’ve no idea how the cost compares, but here’s what I know. For the amateur (rookie or non-pro) classes, entry fees for PNW NRHA classes are usually $40-$50 per class. Our local schooling club charges $22 per class. The most expensive stalls for a 3 day show around here are $125 (including 1 bag of shavings). There are fairly minimal office and photography fees (~$25-50 depending on show) and club membership fees ($35 per year). If you want to show in NRHA classes you have to be an NRHA member which costs $100 per year and have an NRHA license for the horse ($35 lifetime).

All in, the schooling club costs me ~ $225 for a weekend show including a schooling run, 4 classes, office fees, stall fee, and camping fee (with electric and water hookups for the camper). The NRHA clubs cost me about ~$450 - 500 for the same. Plus I pay a day fee and tack stall split to my trainer separately.

You could easily do a day at the schooling show for less than $75 and less than $150 at the NRHA shows for two classes and office fees. You might even squeeze a day stall fee in there.

[Tuffytown]

Well UrbanHennenry I am a frustrated reined cowhorse rider who is just across I-5 from you. I’d love to hear about your adventures and who you are riding with. I’m just hoping to find some cows to work around here or a good clinician to see.

[UrbanHennery]

Tuffytown, I can’t help you with the cowhorse bit, the only trainer I know personally is down towards Puyallup (or somewhere around there - Mike Helson). There must be some cowhorse trainers up north since they hold winter practices at the NW Fairgrounds in Lynden.

I ride with a trainer in the area, if you want the name, drop me a note (I don’t want to link my online blather with them directly). If you’re interested in reining (no cows, sadly) we have a great time at the NWRA, WRHA, and RHANW shows plus some more far flung reining shows and AQHA stuff. I’m a rookie non-pro (I rode backyard horses as a kid) and I never feel anything but good humor and support from my trainer and the other clients in the barn.

[BayRoan]

Tuffytown, have you checked out the NW Reined Cow Horse Assn website? http://nwrcha.com/ It looks like Todd Crawford is going to be in Auburn in a couple of weeks. I’m sure someone from the NWRCHA could tell you who might be in your area with cows. You might also check with Allison Trimble. Google “Willfully Guided Horsemanship” to get to her page. I don’t remember exactly where she is in WA, but I think she knows most of the cow horse people up there.

[UrbanHennery]

Allison is somewhat in our neighborhood - she would be a good one to connect with!

[Tuffytown]

Thanks guys, I’m familiar with Allison and several other local trainers. I had my horses with a trainer in BC who does the NRCHA circuit. My frustration is more lack of time and lack of funds to have a horse in training and wanting to just play with cows occasionally. You at Lucky 13 UH?

[imaginique]

I don’t do any reining, just trail riding, but I love watching reining. Dani’s trainer teaches reining, among other things. He said if he’d gotten Dani when she was younger (she was 6 when I sent her to him because she had been abused and I couldn’t even get on her) she would have made a really nice, fancy reiner. She has a really nice handle on her and a sliding stop, and he’s really partial to buckskins. :winkgrin: