I am new in this sport and have a traditional AQHA Smart Chic Olena son to work on - I have actually competed on Irish/Dutch horses most of my life for eventing. I have assumed that all countries use QHs for reining but in watching WEG reining it appears some of these are not all QH - does anyone know what the polpular breeds or crosses are showing up for this sport in other countries? Not just that people are “doing” reining on but are actually doing well in competition?
Looks like an Arabian is running now. Netherlands.
Just looks that way, Burnt Starlight is a QH.
While you may find an arabian that runs as fast as a TB, if you want to win TB type races consistently, you normally don’t go buy an arabian, but a TB that has as top running bloodlines as you can afford.
The same with reining, you get a reining bred horse, if you want to be very competitive, although you may find a horse of any other or no known breeding or breed that may just be put right enough to be competitive and take to that training.
That will be rare, but never say never.
I saw a haflinger once that was a nice reiner, but not competitive.
If you ever ride a top reiner, bred and trained for it, it is like driving an old beat up pickup every day and then getting to drive a fancy, smooth sports car.
Although there is the odd reining arabian trying to compete now, maybe some years down the road, the arabians that show being good reiners will have been bred to each other to have some top arabian reiners also.:yes:
The NRHA is open to horses of any breed.
Just like dressage, any horse can learn the basics and do well at lower levels with good training, but it takes talent and ability to keep going to the top.
Far as I know, they were all AQHA, AQHA and NRHA have affiliates in many foreign countries.
QHs do come in a variety of body type even within that desired Reining conformation package. Remember they are influenced by the TB thru some of the most prolific sires (like Doc Bar), some of them can be pretty “breedy” looking with dished faces not so unusual at all.
Arabians have been successful in the Open Reining but not very many of them and not in the recent past since it got so specialized.
I know when my BIL passed suddenly, I made a few calls to sell his 4 and 5 yo team penners as potential Reiners with no luck because they lacked the AQHA papers-and they were nice horses that certainly could have done it-both by Reminic IIRC but nobody bothered to register them. The folks I called were well known in the Reining world and quite honest the lack of papers was a no go for them.
I think that all but two of the WEG Reiners are AQHA and/or APHA (two of the Brazilians were riding Brazilian bred horses). At this level that is pretty much what you will find even though the NRHA does not have breed or registration restrictions. A few years ago a Brazilian bred horse (non-QH) won an ancillary open class at the NRHA futurity show and I remember reading quite a few comments about the horse of a different breed, so while other breeds can compete QH is still the norm.
The last horse to go, Tattoos Dun It is a registered Appaloosa.
Thank you for the correction appyreiners - I noticed some did not have a breed listed, I wrongly assumed that they were QH from a quick look at the names and sire/dam names.
Arabians do show in the NRHA, but most show in arabian classes, particularly the Futurity classes at Scottsdale. Half-Arabians, sadly usually the breed is not give as HA or Quarab, are very popular with many…
but Quarter horses, Paints and Appaloosas (of QH breeding) dominate at this time.
Not a problem. I have shown against him enough that I knew exactly who he was. Plus, if you saw him run, his white butt is a give away.
It’s so foreign (no pun intended!) to me to think of other countries besides the N.A. ones being competitive in reining just because I didn’t think the American stock breeds were really over there, I was half expecting to see some WB’s sliding down the arena… and to be honest I was a little excited 
It seems like this might be the up-and-coming event in the world judging by what I’ve seen in the past years up til now!
[QUOTE=appyreiners;5120938]
The last horse to go, Tattoos Dun It is a registered Appaloosa.[/QUOTE]
Hmmm. QH bred Appy i bet lol
[QUOTE=DandyMatiz;5121029]
Hmmm. QH bred Appy i bet lol[/QUOTE]
I’d wager 99.9% AQHA bred lols!
I’m surprised that there’s not more Iberian horses at the higher levels. A good one, from bullfighting lines should have the ability, right?
[QUOTE=DandyMatiz;5121029]
Hmmm. QH bred Appy i bet lol[/QUOTE]
I had a world champion appy reiner and he was 99% reining quarter horse bred.
He was good for breed shows, but would not have been very competitive at the NRHA level.
He didn’t get any spots, just some light roaning and the mottley sclera and other breed characteristics.
I think that it would be hard for a bigger horse to be very competitive reining.
Pure physics, moving that much mass in space as is required for reining would take a specially light big horse.
The same applies to cutting.
Just curious. How much money does a really good reiner go for?
[QUOTE=AHorseSomeDay;5121154]
Just curious. How much money does a really good reiner go for?[/QUOTE]
It depends on first, talent, then breeding and excellent training.
Those that have all, the sky is the limit.
You can see very talented horses that are easily over $50,000 and those, if you keep them well trained and compete in the better shows, they can easily earn that and more for you and if the amass a great record, their breeding value is also great, unless they are a gelding.
You can get a good entry level competitive horse for $10,000 and up, the higher the price, the more talented and more it will win for you.
You can find a horse to learn to rein cheaper, but really, for that, you are better taking that money and taking lessons on better horses, so you can learn correctly and quicker.
You can’t learn by books or videos, you really need to have someone help you along, reining is a very technical discipline and you learn by doing it and by educating your eye.
You can start showing in the very low level classes, green as grass and such and then, as you win more, you move up.
Many people never earn enough to be more than limited open, even good trainers, but of course anyone can show in open, just won’t win but rarely against the really good pros that show there.
Riding a reining horse is a real thrill, they do it so effortlessly.
Riding one well, that takes years to become good at it, but you will like the road thru it.
well, a weanling Pepto filly sold for $650k. She is reining, but should have been a cutter (pedigree wise).
Traditionally… Cutters are usually smaller, and “feistier” than reining horses. I cant remember who said it, but a BNT once had an article and said he prefers 14.2-15hh. Topsail Whiz was 14.1 and 1300 lbs i believe.
www.reinersworld.com has some reining horses, broken down into sections… gives a pretty good intro level look. Most of these horses aren’t the top of the line… but are good… will win some money. Most of the “Greats” are sold before they are even marketed… the current owner may not even know it’s for sale, til they get that offer they can’t refuse.
[QUOTE=DandyMatiz;5120957]
Arabians do show in the NRHA, but most show in arabian classes, particularly the Futurity classes at Scottsdale. Half-Arabians, sadly usually the breed is not give as HA or Quarab, are very popular with many…
but Quarter horses, Paints and Appaloosas (of QH breeding) dominate at this time.[/QUOTE]
I was at the NRHA futurity a few years back and there were a few 1/2 Arabians there. I struck up a conversation with a trainer at some function and he told me that reining is getting quite popular at the Arabian shows. He said that the breeders are taking full Arabian mares and breeding them to QH reining sires.
Just thought it was interesting…
[QUOTE=AHorseSomeDay;5121154]
Just curious. How much money does a really good reiner go for?[/QUOTE]
Mister Montana Nic sold last year at the NRHA Futurity to a rookie rider. The price? $125,000.
Mister Montana Nic is being shown in Craig Schmersal at WEG.
