Ranch Reining

Judges evaluate each maneuver for correctness, willingness, and smooth execution. The horse should remain responsive, controlled, and mentally relaxed throughout the pattern. Excessive speed, resistance, anticipation, or loss of cadence will lower scores. Ranch reining rewards a horse that appears useful and dependable rather than flashy or overtrained.

The ideal ranch reining horse maintains a consistent, forward ranch pace with balance and control. Movements should flow smoothly from one maneuver to the next without abrupt changes in speed or attitude. Stops, turns, and lead changes should be controlled and straight, reflecting practical ranch use rather than competitive reining exaggeration.

​

• Circles:

  • Circles should be round, balanced, and consistent in size. Speed changes should be gradual and controlled, showing adjustment without loss of cadence.

• Lead Changes:

  • Lead changes should be straight, timely, and smooth. Late, missed, or anticipated lead changes will be penalized.

• Stops:

  • Stops should be controlled and straight rather than long sliding stops. The horse should remain balanced, quiet, and responsive after the stop.

• Rollbacks:

  • Rollbacks should be smooth and efficient with correct lead departure. Excessive speed or stiffness will reduce scores.

• Turns or Spins (If Included):

  • Turns should be controlled and cadenced, maintaining consistent foot placement and balance. Over-spinning or loss of cadence will be penalized.

SHW562.VRH and RHC RANCH REINING. The ranch reining class measures the ability of the ranch horse to perform basic handling maneuvers with a natural head carriage in a forward looking manner. The ideal VRH ranch reining horse should have a natural ranch horse appearance from head to tail in each maneuver. Patterns may be chosen from any of the ranch reining patterns or approved by the show management and judge.

SHW562.1 No horse may cross enter reining and VRH ranch reining regardless of division (youth, amateur, select or open).

SHW562.1.1 VRH amateur and VRH youth exhibitors may only compete in one subdivision (amateur/youth, limited amateur/ limited youth, or rookie amateur/rookie youth) of VRH ranch reining at the same show with the same horse. These subdivisions may not be run concurrently. Example: VRH limited amateur may not run concurrently with VRH amateur.

SHW562.2 CREDITS AND PENALTIES. All runs begin upon entering the pen and any infractions are subject to penalty at that time such as two hands on the reins, using either hand to instill fear.

SHW562.3 To rein a horse is not only to guide him but also to control his movement. The best reined horse should be willingly guided or controlled with little or no apparent resistance. All deviations from the exact written pattern must be considered a lack of or temporary loss of control and therefore a fault that must be marked down according to severity of deviation. The horse/rider team’s overall performance should be credited for smoothness, finesse, attitude, quickness and authority of performing various maneuvers while using controlled speed which raises the degree of difficulty and makes the horse/rider team more exciting a pleasing to watch.

SHW562.4 PENALTIES:

- One-half (1/2) point: Starting a circle or exiting a roll-back at a trot for up to two (2) strides; delayed change of lead by one stride where the lead change is required by the pattern description; failure to remain a minimum of twenty feet from the wall or fence when approaching a stop and/or roll-back; over-spin or under-spin up to 1/8 turn.

- 1 point: Over-bridled (per maneuver), out of frame (per maneuver), out of lead in the circles, figure eights or around the end of the arena (this penalty is cumulative and will be deducted for each quarter of a circle the horse is out of lead); Over or under spinning 1/8 to 1/4 turn. Slipping rein.

- 2 point: Break of gait; freeze up in spins or roll-backs; failure to stop or walk before executing a lope departure on trot-in patterns; failure to be in a lope prior to the first marker on run-in patterns; failure to completely pass the specified marker before initiating a stop position, trotting beyond two strides, but less than 1/2 circle or 1/2 length of the arena; at end of pattern, failure to hesitate to demonstrate completion of pattern.

- 5 point: Spurring in front of cinch; blatant disobedience; use of either hand to instill fear;

- Off-Pattern (OP): breaking pattern; inclusion of maneuver (e.g. over or under-spinning, backing more than two (2) strides, etc.); trotting in excess of 1/2 circle or 1/2 length of the arena; repeated blatant disobedience; use of two hands (except junior and Level 1 horses shown in a snaffle bit/hackamore), more than one finger between split reins or any fingers between romal reins (except in the two-rein). Exhibitors cannot place above others who complete the pattern correctly.

- Disqualification (DQ): Lameness, abuse, leaving working area before pattern is complete, illegal equipment, disrespect or misconduct, improper western attire; fall of horse/rider; out of control, dangerous, or excessive schooling.