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Rate is not just for the fence. (It’s even essential in the reined work circles and rundowns). In my last article I talked about judging with Bobby Ingersoll and how he broke down the fence work into the simplicity of “stop-rate-turn.” It inspired me to go a step...

There was an NRHA rule change in 2017, which allows the rein slack – the excess rein not between the bit and rein hand – to be rearranged while the horse is moving on the pattern, not only when stopped within the pattern as was previously demanded. As an NRHA alliance...

I get asked frequently to clarify adjusting reins legally while showing in romal reins vs split reins, since the current rulings in NRHA, NCHA and NRCHA are different, I’ll cover each in the next 3 articles.Rein Adjusting Rules Clarification when using a romal in the...

I received a lot of good feedback after I did the 1-point reining penalties article, so I thought I’d cover the 2-point reining penalties in this article. If there’s a lot of interest, I’ll continue with penalties in the other events. It’s a 2-point penalty for...

The NRCHA uses the NRHA penalty system with an exception for the “scotch” on the approach to the stop. The NRCHA has this penalty, but the NRHA doesn’t. Horses are required to be on the correct lead throughout the circle maneuvers. Circles are divided into 4 equal...

During the run down the fence, if your cow tries to come off it and you are right there, it probably won’t try again. Whatever a cow gets away with once, it will usually try again. Also try to make the first run down a long one to give you plenty of time to set up...

Position and control are the most important elements in a cow horse event. You want to be the mirror image while working. If you draw a wild one you are in the right place at the right time trying to control it, and the cow doesn’t honor you, you should be awarded a...

In a reined Cowhorse contest or a cutting, the cattle are the most important single factor. In the cutting at least you get to choose, so you only have yourself to blame if you pick poorly. In the reined Cowhorse contest, you don’t know what you’ve got until it walks...

Riders who are not accustomed to using a romal are sometimes not aware of the penalties awaiting them if they don’t hold it properly.   The romal should go across the palm and around the thumb or with the thumb on top The hand should be closed into a fist over both...

Here are 2 of my favorite ways to tune up a spin other than the fence drill that I’ve posted before. The first is to build cadence and increase speed. Start with a bridled up trot in a small circle. Drive your horses hindquarters up underneath them as far as you can....