[Gutter_Doll]

Now, I'm curious as to some training regimes I could use to help my up-and-coming reiner to help himself. Now yes - I realise green-and-green don't go together. He will be my first reining horse (though I have been riding for 13 years, I'm not a beginner rider, just reiner) but we are both under the watchful eye of a professional. Anyway, I would like to know some excersizes you could suggest to help him along and make it easier for him. Training to help make the tougher experiences easier for him (Such as learning to spin, slide, lope circles and rollback.) Any helpful ones would be very much appreciated from both horse and rider
My other question is, what is the best footing for a reiners training arena?

Thank you.

[cminor]

If you are working with a professional I would suggest that you talk to them about prep work that you can start on. Reining is very demanding of a horse and because of that things done improperly can result in injury to your horse. I think for the safety and training of your horse you should take advantage of having a professional that can help you. Plus your trainer may have steps of progression that they want you to follow and getting advice from other sources may throw a kink in their plans. It is great that you are seeking advice, but if I was you and had access to a professional reining trainer I would stick to what they are telling you to do.

[JBandRio]

Regardless of the actual reining moves - spins, slides, etc - ALL of it starts with having a very responsive, supple, thinking horse. He has to be as hot off your legs as your hands, in whatever direction you indicate. Your transitions need to be sharp. Lateral work needs to be sharp. You have to be able to w/t/c circles of varying sizes before you can incorporate speed into them. It's all a very basic flatwork foundation before you start discipline-specific training - regardless of discipline

[buck1173]

Originally Posted by JBandRio

Regardless of the actual reining moves - ALL of it starts with having a very responsive, supple, thinking horse.

exactly.

additionally, a reining horse needs to be balanced, athletic and confident.

spend quite a bit of time hacking out in demanding terrain... inclines and trails strewn with obstacles like fallen branches, large rocks to navigate, dry river beds, etc. The difficult terrain will help him learn to use his body better, and the adventure will build confidence between the two of you.

when doing dry work in a ring, occasionally place random cavaletti or trot poles around, so the horse must keep an eye out and stay better balanced to avoid tripping (certainly don't try to do rollbacks or slide over poles! : )

Sounds silly, but do some jumping too... little stuff... jumping builds rhythm, balance and confidence. I've heard many people say that their horses were in the best shape ever when they were jumping too.

And practice 'trail' class work - sidepassing over poles, picking things from a mailbox, lifting a rain coat from a branch, tossing a rope from his back, these little things help a horse think, and tune into you for instructions.

Finally, do some reading in dressage... dressage is essentially nothing more than the art of a well trained horse (which is basically what reining is! dressage has its roots in the military, while reining has its roots in cattle operation work, but they're closely related in theory!)... it can be done successfully in western tack, no need to get all froo froo about it ... some of the classically trained lipizzaners shown in traditional spanish style are basically running reining patterns, sliding stops and roll backs.

The father/son horse training team of John and Josh Lyons like to produce quality reiners and they spend quite a bit of time on dressage-type lateral work.

Buck Brannaman, a well known cowboy horse trainer likes to bring his horses to around 2nd level dressage, schooling higher movements, so he can work cattle on a horse that is efficient and balanced and confident.

Also, help your horse be balanced by working both sides of his body evenly... not just while riding, but ground work, mounting, bridling, leading, from the right side as much as you would from the left side. Develop both sides of his body.

Reining is very demanding work, mentally and physically.... the more cross-training you can do, the better his body will develop, the longer his body will hold out, and the fresher his mind will be.

Hope this is helpful. good luck! reining is a blast!

oh, regarding footing, I'm not entirely sure, but I believe reiners like to practice in footing that has a relatively solid packed foundation (not like concrete or anything, hard packed earth or the like) with several inches (upwards of 6" deep) of a soft substrate (a sand mix I believe). They want the soft pillowy deep substrate for cushioning and something for the horse to dig into... and the smooth solid foundation for the horse to slide on.

I may be wrong about this though.

[Haas Horse Farm]

You need to work with your trainer and see what they suggest as every trainer has their own preferences on exercises. What it takes to have you and your horse become a performing team is lots and lots of practice making both of you responsive to each other.

To do well in reining you both must be fit and supple. Do lots and lots of lateral work is a must. Being able to move all parts of your horse independently is also very necessary.

Four key things my trainer has taught me:
1)Never do a pattern unless you are in the show pen.
2)Do lead changes everywhere but in the middle of the arena.
3)Know what a large and small circle is and perfect the speed transitions.
4)Never never never never never ask for a sliding stop without proper shoes and footing.

To the OP:
Do you understand the judging and where you loose the most points?
Do you understand that you really need to know what each judge is looking for so you can rate your horse properly?
Do you know what the hardest maneuver is to plus?

[AllAroundRdr]

Every trainer does this differently and impliments certain things at certain times, the end result is the same, but getting to that point really depends on your horse, as well as your trainer and you.

Everyone's given you exceptional points -- balance is KEY for a reiner (well, any horse, but patterns prove a wee-bit more difficult), suppleness and roundess, and VERY soft in the mouth, sides, and back for your cues. Like Haas pointed out, you NEVER EVER EVER work a full pattern, or even half a pattern ever at home. You work portions of it, and then bring it all together into a pattern at the show. Mine in training work rollbacks while worked underneath themselves (i.e. caveson & bridle on, with reins ran under their front end and tied up over their back) in the round pen and then fence work undersaddle. Mine all spend far more time working circles, transitions, regulating speed and control, consistanty in speed and circles, lead changes down the rail, leg yields, forehand and haunch turns etc. far more than they work stops and spins.

Since you've implimented a professional, I think this really needs to be discussed with him/her as to what you should be working on at this phase in training. Some trainers and horses can go 'out of order' with fundementals of reining, others can't/don't. You're training fees are going towards answers to your original post

[bnttyra]

Originally Posted by Haas Horse Farm

You need to work with your trainer and see what they suggest as every trainer has their own preferences on exercises. What it takes to have you and your horse become a performing team is lots and lots of practice making both of you responsive to each other.

To do well in reining you both must be fit and supple. Do lots and lots of lateral work is a must. Being able to move all parts of your horse independently is also very necessary.

Four key things my trainer has taught me:
1)Never do a pattern unless you are in the show pen.
2)Do lead changes everywhere but in the middle of the arena.
3)Know what a large and small circle is and perfect the speed transitions.
4)Never never never never never ask for a sliding stop without proper shoes and footing.

To the OP:
Do you understand the judging and where you loose the most points?
Do you understand that you really need to know what each judge is looking for so you can rate your horse properly?
Do you know what the hardest maneuver is to plus?

Great advice here! I am sorta in the same situation only with my trainer living just up the road so he is available almost anytime. He did start my horses in the right direction and I agree that the basic foundation is the most important thing with reiners or for that matter any discipline. Good luck!

[Bruce Wiley]

I feel your concerns, question should be directed to your trainer.
Your trainer is there and should be the best one to discuss what to do or what is next for the both of you.
I hope this helps.