At 6 months old, my dad sat me on our first horse, Bayleen, and a course was set for my life. Years of rodeos, 4-H shows and open shows in Alaska led me to attend California Polytechnic State University to study Animal Science, where I got my first glimpse at the sport of reining. I was mesmerized by the spinning and sliding – it was as if I had only tasted the bait before, now the hook was set. I spent four years learning all I could at Cal Poly, then graduated and made my way to the Pacific Northwest to break out into the horse industry.
As a Non Pro, I have competed many times in the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity and the National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) Snaffle Bit Futurity, as well as many other NRHA, American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) and NRCHA Special Events and World Shows. My very first show experience was at the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity in Reno, Nevada. It is easy for me to understand the anxiety and apprehension that comes with venturing into the great unknown of the show pen. However, for those who love the sport, and have become entranced as I have, it is the natural progression. The pull is too great to deny, so you take the plunge. Your passion requires you to find a horse, buy the necessary equipment, get some instruction and, when you are ready, take your maiden voyage into the show pen. Each one of those steps deserves its own article, but this column focuses on why the North West Reining Association (NWRA) is the perfect place for the beginning Reiner to grow and flourish, from the perspective of a person who has been there.
Reining, in its perfect state, is about walking in the pen and performing a flawless pattern on a willfully guided horse. Every time you walk in the gate, you are trying to capture that moment. Realistically, the percentage of runs that are in perfect harmony are dwarfed by the number that are perfect disasters. In the never-ending quest for the Reiners’ Holy Grail, you must make every mistake you can imagine first. Your horse must run off, kick up in a lead change, fence when you said “Whoa,” jump out of a spin, act like he has never seen a chair before, run the fastest big fast circles the world has ever seen, or have complete training amnesia at least once in your show career. You may feel like you are the only one who has ever suffered a particular humiliation, but these are all the building blocks of becoming a Reiner. You keep your chin up, go home and work on it. The most important thing to remember is to be just a little better than you were yesterday. I think that embodies the ultimate goal of a Reiner.
I have been hauling horses to the NWRA shows for the past four years and have witnessed the improvement of many riders and horses, and the birth of many close friendships. The people are fun, positive and quick to give words of encouragement when you make a mistake. NWRA shows offer an inexpensive opportunity to just go and try. Whether your horse is a finished Reiner, a converted trail horse or a young ‘un, there is a class designed for you. There are progressive classes that allow you to compete with other people of similar ability and experience as you improve. Environment is key to successful growth and development and the NWRA is the optimum environment for fledgling Reiners to spread their wings. All the participants are doing the same thing – trying to get better at something they love.
For more information on NWRA, please visit www.nwraonline.net.
Copyright © 2008 The NW Horse Source, LLC
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