The NCHA is a little more forgiving than the other associations regarding adjusting your reins while showing, but also a bit more complex. Here goes:
3 point penalties are assessed if:
If the rider uses 2 hands to turn his horse around with the cow.
If 2 hands are used on the bridle reins to stop the horse then the rider allows the horse to turn on its own.
If 2 hands are used on the bridle reins while stopping the horse for a legal quit.
After quitting a cow legally, the rider uses 2 hands on the reins to turn his horse around or does so while in the herd.
If the cutter drops a bridle rein and uses his free hand to retrieve it while cutting the cow or working the cow it’s also a 3 pt penalty.
No penalty:
However, if the rider uses his free hand to retrieve the rein after legally quitting the cow and stopped their horse, there is no penalty.
The rider can untangle the reins with no penalty if it’s done after a legal quit and before entering the body of the herd, or while riding through the herd, the rider can place a second hand on the reins, behind the rein hand, to straighten them.
If after the rider turns to make a cut and stops in the body of the herd, a second hand can also be used to straighten the reins with no penalty.
Cheating the reins (ie making one shorter while only having the index finger between them) while cutting a cow is common practice and legal.
Be sure to practice adjusting your reins correctly at home until you get very dexterous with them!
Can you be more specific about the content of your article? After reading it, I still have some doubts. Hope you can help me.
I don’t think the title of your article matches the content lol. Just kidding, mainly because I had some doubts after reading the article.
Your article helped me a lot, is there any more related content? Thanks!
Thanks for sharing. I read many of your blog posts, cool, your blog is very good.
I recently changed to Rommel reins. Perhaps you could discuss penalties adjusting rommels.
Hi Genelle,
Back in March I went over the NRCHA rein adjusting rules for romal reins. If you missed that article, please let me know and I’ll find it for you and send it along.
Sandy
Great advice. Love the little things you bring up that make a difference. I was wondering if there were rein adjustments in cutting. You really have to be able to work the reins, especially in cowhorse and reining with romals!!
Great advice Barb…thank you !
You’re so welcome Tim!
Sandy