[Horseczy]

My kids barrel race, but we have never done reining. I was wondering how do you teach a horse to do the roll backs and flying lead changes that are required in reining? Their horses will do flying lead changes around the poles, and stuff but they can't get them to change leads on a straight away.

[Shotgun93]

The best thing to do is find a trainer to help you. There is a lot that goes into training the horse for reining.

[*BaRrEL_BaBE*]

Ditto to ^^^. Reining training is really amazing, and it can do wonders for barrel horses.

[cd_horton]

I will agree with the above posts as its much easier to talk about in the saddle, but if you want to work on reining manuvers, you just need to get the horses body supple and be able to control all the body parts seperatly. The lead change, is really pretty simple once you have good control of the hips and shoulders, most barrel horses change leads by necessity, its hard to make a left turn in the right lead...so over time they make the change on their own...a reiner changes on cue. Once you have good control of the horses hips and shoulders and he is soft in the face, if you are in the right lead....you will want to move the shoulders slightly to the right (this opens the door for the left lead) and then push the hip to the left, once the horse is traveling in this position, you will develop a cue for the change, press with your leg or kiss and press any number of cues will work as long as you are consistant and timing the request correctly....over time you can refine you cue so it is very subtle and horse changes on cue.

The roll back can be broken down to 3 parts: a stop, a 180 degree turn and a lead departure. To get the horse to sweep back through himself, you have to teach them to pick up their shoulders, move their rib cage, lift their back and roll back on their hocks...again body control and suppleness is key...you can begin working on a fence, stop the horse at a 45 degree angle to the fence, back him a few steps, this will create momentum, then tim his nose toward the fence, press with the outside leg and drive him out either at a trot or lope...by driving out of the turn you keep the hocks engaged. IF the horse will turn around pretty good, you can also trot them around, draw them into the ground, back up a few steps, turn them around 360 degrees then drive them out in the same tracks the came in on....again this keeps them on their hocks, but they wait on you to tell them when to leave the turn, so once they are accustomed to turning a full 360 degrees and you ask them to leave at only 180 degrees you will have conditioned them to maintain proper form and the roll back will be clean and crisp.

Reining is all about a willing and patient mind at work with supple and controled body parts, I believe any horse will benefit from being taught some basic reining training. Find a local NRHA professional in your area, you will find reining trainers to be very helpful and accomodating, many welcome you to come ride with them. At the very least you can get some ideas and see some really nice horses at work!

[paso4ever]

My horse already knows how do do flying lead changes and all i do is ok so if he's in his right lead you know you kick em w/your left leg to get them there we'll when you want them in the left lead , to change leads just use your right leg and they usually automatically switch, kissing to them helps to, but i agree a trainer may be a good idea just to get started
best of luck to you!

[Haas Horse Farm]

Originally Posted by Horseczy

My kids barrel race, but we have never done reining. I was wondering how do you teach a horse to do the roll backs and flying lead changes that are required in reining? Their horses will do flying lead changes around the poles, and stuff but they can't get them to change leads on a straight away.

Where are you? I might know someone who can give you a lesson or two.

Sorry to say the technique is not at all the same. What type of bit are you currently riding in? How old are the horses? Will both horses cross over on the front and side pass? Will the horse move all parts to pressure independently? In other words the front part of the horse will turn on the forehand, the back part of the horse will turn on the haunches, the middle will move either direction in a sidepass. Will the horse walk, trot and lope on the diagnol both directions? (In otherwords the horse is moving from the back left corner of the arena to the right front corner of the arena facing forward in a straight line but moving at an angle?) Will the horse neck rein? Will the horse Whoa square and back straight?

[Haas Horse Farm]

Originally Posted by paso4ever

My horse already knows how do do flying lead changes and all i do is ok so if he's in his right lead you know you kick em w/your left leg to get them there we'll when you want them in the left lead , to change leads just use your right leg and they usually automatically switch, kissing to them helps to, but i agree a trainer may be a good idea just to get started
best of luck to you!

Do you support the horses shoulder so that the back does not hollow out and the lead change is done before the horse changes direction? A common thing with many people, myself included, is that you forget to set the horse up for the change and forget to push the hips over and change the lead before the horse changes the body arc.

[paso4ever]

Originally Posted by Haas Horse Farm

Do you support the horses shoulder so that the back does not hollow out and the lead change is done before the horse changes direction? A common thing with many people, myself included, is that you forget to set the horse up for the change and forget to push the hips over and change the lead before the horse changes the body arc.

lol i try but i admit sometimes i forget.

[Haas Horse Farm]

You are in good company... I always hate it when I think I have done so well and my trainer starts telling me all the stuff I am forgetting! LOL

[Bernardo]

To change leads on my mare ... i pick up the slack a little. Take my leg off, about one stride with no legs on then i put my other leg on. Mind you she is a reiner, and she already has a lead change on her. My gelding who is still learning them, you have to really pick him up and help him more

I recommend a trainer as well. Reining isn't something that someone who hasn't done it should be teaching their horse IMO. A reining trainer can make it a lot quicker and easier for you. Reining has a lot of small movements you do to get one little thing.