[Lopin4Blue]

In 4-H this year my gelding and I competed in Novice Reining again. Every year we qualify for the District show but this was the first year I signed up to do that class at Districts. Anyway, we ended up with enough points to qualify for the State show in Harrisburg at the end of October. I'm already going to States with my production horse so I decided to sign up for Novice Reining there too. The pattern is:
1. Begin in the center of arena facing the left wall.
2. Make a large fast circle to the left and a small slow circle to the left on the inside of the larger one.
3. Stop. Then complete two turns on the haunches to the left. Hesitate.
4. Make a large fast circle to the right and a small slow circle to the right on the inside of the larger one.
5. Stop. Complete two turns on the haunches to the right. Hesitate.
6. Run a large circle to the left, cross the center and switch leads, continue running a circle to the right, cross the center again and switch leads.
7. Continue running to the left, but do not cross the center this time, follow the fence and after the second marker, perform a rollback and run back along the fence to the second marker. After the second marker, perform another rollback.
8. Run back along the fence to the second marker where the first rollback was performed. After the second marker, execute a sliding stop or controlled stop.
9. Back up approximately 10 feet. Hesitate to show end of pattern.
My questions are:
1. As stated in our rule book, the lead changes can either be simple or flying. I've only done simple, as my horse doesn't know how to do flying lead changes yet. Can anyone tell me how to teach my horse to do this?
2. How can I get a little more speed on my horse's spins and back-up?
3. How can I improve the quality of his stop?
4. What is a proper rollback?
5. Also, looking at the pattern, is there any other advice anyone can give me?

Any help is greatly appreciated. I'm only doing this for fun but I would still like to learn and do things correctly. Thanks!

[Gutter_Doll]

1) There are 1001 threads on this topic. Run a search. But I would NOT do it in the time frame you're looking for. A good simple change will suffice.
2) It depends on how your horse is trained. The way most trainers teach the spin allows them to simply cluck for more speed. The back up doesn't need SPEED. It needs form. As does the spin. Both require engagement, collection, elevated shoulders and a rounded spine.
3) Depends on how he's already stopping. Improving the backup will improve the stop.
4) Just run a clean run. Break it up, don't be afraid to hold your hesitations and don't stress the horse out by asking more than he's capable of.

[spinandslide]

Originally Posted by Lopin4Blue

My questions are:
1. As stated in our rule book, the lead changes can either be simple or flying. I've only done simple, as my horse doesn't know how to do flying lead changes yet. Can anyone tell me how to teach my horse to do this?
2. How can I get a little more speed on my horse's spins and back-up?
3. How can I improve the quality of his stop?
4. What is a proper rollback?
5. Also, looking at the pattern, is there any other advice anyone can give me?

Any help is greatly appreciated. I'm only doing this for fun but I would still like to learn and do things correctly. Thanks!

Firstly, congrats on your qualifiing and secondly, kudos for simply wanting to have fun, that is what showing is about

For your circumstances, I would start flustering your horse with trying to teach him flying changes this close to a show. stick with your simples.

Speed comes when the horse is comfortable doing the activity. how do you ask for the spin and the back? Again, I might wait til AFTER your show.

A rollback is a stop and then a prompt 180 degree on the haunches, with the horse using his hind end to "push" out of the rollback into the lope. a good rollback consists of a smooth, square stop, then the horse rocking back, crossing over in the front and loping off. the rider needs to stay centered with the horse's movement, not get behind or ahead of the horse, as both of these will hinder the rollback.

Stops..how does your horse stop now? what are your cues?

[Lopin4Blue]

Originally Posted by spinandslide

Firstly, congrats on your qualifiing and secondly, kudos for simply wanting to have fun, that is what showing is about

For your circumstances, I would start flustering your horse with trying to teach him flying changes this close to a show. stick with your simples.

Speed comes when the horse is comfortable doing the activity. how do you ask for the spin and the back? Again, I might wait til AFTER your show.

A rollback is a stop and then a prompt 180 degree on the haunches, with the horse using his hind end to "push" out of the rollback into the lope. a good rollback consists of a smooth, square stop, then the horse rocking back, crossing over in the front and loping off. the rider needs to stay centered with the horse's movement, not get behind or ahead of the horse, as both of these will hinder the rollback.

Stops..how does your horse stop now? what are your cues?

As far as cues go:
~ Spin- I just touch him with my spur behind the girth and kiss.
~ Backup- I just say ''back'' and touch him with both spurs and cluck.
~ Stop- I stop all my body movement and say ''whoa'' and he stops.
Oh! and I've thought of another question. I agree with sticking to simple lead changes, but how many strides is a horse allowed to jog before they pick up the opposite lead?
Also, our 4-H rulebook says that we're allowed to use one or two hands, whichever our preference as long as we don't switch from one to two in the middle of the pattern. Does anyone have some sort of opinion on this or anything I should know?

Thanks!

[bnttyra]

Use 2 hands if you can throughout the entire pattern. It will give you better control. Also, don't rush any of the maneuvers. A slower, neater, or cleaner pattern is preferred over a fast rushed and sloppy pattern. don't worry too much about being perfect. Like already stated by others, slow and correct is much better. Have fun and good luck!!~

[Lopin4Blue]

Originally Posted by bnttyra

Use 2 hands if you can throughout the entire pattern. It will give you better control. Also, don't rush any of the maneuvers. A slower, neater, or cleaner pattern is preferred over a fast rushed and sloppy pattern. don't worry too much about being perfect. Like already stated by others, slow and correct is much better. Have fun and good luck!!~

I have been using 2 hands for our regular 4-H shows, I just wasn't sure if it would be more favorable to switch to 1 for the State show. I'll gladly stick to 2 hahaha. Thanks so much!

[Dexterlover]

I found this video for spins. I dont know if its going to help you, but it works for me so far.
-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbR92SUdhcM
-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8aL33ti37o
-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhyEcB61K_4

[nrhareiner]

Those are good videos to show the start to training a spin/turn. However that is just the beginning. Once a horse is really turning well there is no rein movement. It is all seat and leg. When I am asking my horse to turn I get them to take a step forward and use the rein to cue the direction once the horse get the direction and starts to turn my hand goes down on the neck and the speed and impulsion is given with a kiss and a bump from my leg when needed. Once I get the speed I want I sit the turn until I want the horse to stop then I pick up in the rein ever so lightly and say whoa. The horse will shut down immediately. IF you watch the video and watch the horse turn. Every time he uses his rein to turn the horse the horses head goes up and the horses front end hops and dose not turn smoothly. Again these are young horses. However I want my horses head to go down in the turn and the front end to be smooth. This comes by give them rein once they start turning and not bumping their mouth. Again this takes time and training. Along with good timing to release the horse as they put their head down.

[Lopin4Blue]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

As the days go by I find more things to wonder about. My newest question is this...

http://www.nrsworld.com/istarimages/...IT897M!REI.jpg
^^^ This is the type of bit I normally ride my horse in when I'm showing. I have super super soft hands and my horse isn't picky about bits. I was wondering if I should use a different bit for reining if I'll be using two hands.

[Gutter_Doll]

No, don't change bits this close to a show.