Patterns
- Pattern 1
- Pattern 2
- Pattern 3
- Pattern 4
- Pattern 5
- Pattern 6
- Pattern 7
- Pattern 8
- Pattern 9
- Pattern 10
NRHA Professional Trainers
Today's reining competitions provide a venue for hundreds of riders to demonstrate the skills of their highly trained and conditioned horses. Trained judges score the reining horse based on its execution of the maneuver groups required in a specific pattern. All patterns are divided into seven or eight maneuvers.
Circles are maneuvers at the lope, of designated size and speed, which demonstrate control, willingness to guide, and degree of difficulty in speed and speed changes. Circles, performed at a lope, are run in a designated location at a defined speed and size and with a common center point. All large, fast circles should be of a consistent speed and size. All small, slow circles should also be of a consistent speed and size.
Lead Changes are the act of changing the leading (or inside) front and rear pair of legs when changing the direction traveled. To be considered correct, this maneuver must be performed at a lope with no change of gait or speed, be performed at the exact location as specified by the pattern and the change must take place on both the front and rear legs in the same stride.
The Spins are a thrilling maneuver both to watch and ride. The horse is asked to turn his front end around in a series of 360-degree turns, executed while his inside back foot remains in one spot. Correctly done, the horse will cross the outside front leg over the inside front leg, effortlessly moving his front end around in a smooth, flowing manner. Higher marks are given to the horse that shows no resistance, a high degree of speed and the ability to stop spinning on a specified mark.
In a Sliding Stop, the rider, while loping, cues the horse to stop. The horse brings his back legs up underneath in a locked position that will cause it to begin sliding on his back feet. the horse maintains forward movement by continuing to run with the front feet and using his head and neck for balance. Throughout the stop, the horse continues in a straight line while his back feet slide over the ground. When done properly, this has the effect of causing the horse to slide anywhere from 10 to 30 feet or further.
In a Rollback the horse runs to a stop, rolls the shoulders back in the opposite direction completing a 180 degree reversal of forward motion and departs in a canter, all performed in one continuous motion.
A Backup is a maneuver requiring the horse to move backwards in a straight line at least 10 feet.