F.A.Q. - Roy Marchinton Training Stables, Gippsland, Melbourne, Victoria - Cutting, Cowhorse, Reining, Performance / Show Horses, Trail, Western Pleasure, Horse Breaking and Float Training

We are commonly asked the same questions by people interested in training their horse or themselves as riders. These a some of the most frequently asked questions we receive:

Q: I am interested in learning Western riding.
Do you provide lessons on a trained school horse?

Yes, we can provide lessons on one of our trained school horses.

Q: Do I have to own a registered Quarter Horse to compete in Western disciplines?

No, you don't need a registered Quarter Horse to compete in western disciplines.

Q: What is a Horsemanship clinic?

Horsemanship Clinics are designed to give you an understanding of how to achieve the correct foundation in your horse's training. This foundation training will prepare your horse for future specialised training in any discipline. Points covered in clinics are:

Q: What is a Cow clinic?

Cow Clinics are designed to give your horse his first lessons on working a cow. The clinics are conducted in 2 parts: Part 1 "Dry work" where we work on achieving a solid stop and turn, and having our horse light & obedient to leg/rein aids. Part 2: "Cow work" where we teach you and your horse the principles of working a cow, in a one-to-one situation with a cow, slowly and building your horses confidence.

Q: What is Reining?

Reining is a judged event designed to show the athletic ability of a ranch type horse within the confines of a show arena. In NRHA competition, contestants are required to run one of ten approved patterns, included in the NRHA Handbook.

Each pattern includes small slow circles, large fast circles, flying lead changes, roll backs over the hocks, 360 degree spins done in place, and exciting sliding stops that are the hallmark of the reining horse.

The scoring of reining horses is on a positive numeric scale with 70 denoting a correct performance. The individual manoeuvres are scored in 1 point increments from a low of -1.5 (extremely poor quality) to a high of +1.5 (excellent quality) with a score of 0 denoting a manoeuvre that is correct with no degree of difficulty. The total of the scores applied to the manoeuvre groups is combined with the starting score of 70 and from this gross manoeuvre score, any penalties are deducted to calculate the horse's final score. All NRHA patterns are divided into 7 or 8 different manoeuvres. The manoeuvres required of a reining horse are as follows:

WALK IN: The walk-in brings the horse from the gate to the centre of the arena to begin its pattern. The horse should appear relaxed and confident. Any action, which may create the appearance of intimidation including starting and stopping, or checking, is a fault which shall be marked down according to severity.

STOPS: Stops are the act of slowing the horse from a lope (canter) to a stop position by bringing the hind legs under the horse in a locked position sliding on the hind feet. The horse should enter the stop position by bending the back, bringing the hind legs further under the body while maintaining forward motion, ground contact and cadence with front legs. Throughout the stop the horse should continue in a straight line while maintaining ground contact with the hind feet, hence the 'sliding stop'.

SPINS: Spins are a series of 360 degree turns, executed over a stationary (inside) hind leg. Propulsion for the spin is supplied by the outside rear leg and front legs, and contact should be made with the ground and a front leg. The location of hindquarters should be fixed at the start of the spin and maintained throughout the spins.

ROLLBACKS: Rollbacks are the 180 degree reversal of forward motion completed by running to a stop, rolling (turning) the shoulders back to the opposite direction over the hocks and departing in a lope (canter), as one continuous motion. The written pattern states no hesitation. However, a slight pause to regain footing or balance should not be deemed hesitation. The horse should not step ahead or backup prior to rolling back.

CIRCLES: Circles are manoeuvres at the lope (canter), of designated size and speed, which demonstrate control, willingness to guide, and degree of difficulty in speed and speed changes. Circles must at all times be run in the geographical area of the arena specified in the pattern description and must have a common centre point. There must be a clearly defined difference in the speed and size of a small, slow circle, and a large, fast circle; also, the speed and size of small, slow right circles should be similar to the small, slow left circles; and the speed and size of the large, fast right circles should be similar to the large, fast left circles.

BACKUP: A backup is a manoeuvre requiring the horse to be moved in a reverse motion in a straight line a required distance of at least 10 feet (3 metres).

HESITATE: To hesitate is the act of demonstrating the horse's ability to stand in a relaxed manner at a designated time in a pattern. In a hesitation, the horse should remain motionless and relaxed. All NRHA patterns require a hesitation at the end of the patterns to demonstrate to the judge(s) the completion of the pattern.

LEAD CHANGES: Lead changes are the act of changing the leading legs of the front and rear pairs of legs, at a lope (canter), when changing the direction travelled. The lead change must be executed at a lope (canter) with no change of gait or speed and be performed in the exact geographical position in the arena specified in the pattern description. The change of front and rear leads must take place within the same stride to avoid penalty.

RUN DOWN & RUN AROUNDS: Run downs and runs through the middle of the arena, and runs along the side and ends of the arena. Run downs and run-arounds should demonstrate control and gradual increase in speed to the stop.

Q: What Western events can I compete in, and what is required?

To compete in Western events you need a horse (suitably trained), a Western saddle & pad, Snaffle bit or Shank bit (depending on horse's age/experience). You need to wear jeans, cowboy boots & spurs, Western hat, collared long sleeve shirt, and chaps (in some classes).

A brief description of some classes as follows:.

TRAIL: The trail class tests the manoeuvrability of a horse through an obstacle course. Mandatory obstacles include one in which the rider will open, pass through and close a gate. Scoring is based on the horse’s willingness, ease and grace in negotiating the course. The other two mandatory obstacles are riding over at least four logs or poles and one backing obstacle. A minimum of 6 obstacles are used in a Trail course.

REINING: Judges the horse on movements, mastery of a prescribed manoeuvre and attitude as he is guided through a set pattern. The horse is required to perform a number of stops, spins, rollbacks, lead changes and circles at a lope. The horse should be willing to be guided with little or no resistance.

CUTTING: Horse and rider must move quietly into a herd of cattle, cut one cow from the herd, drive it to the centre of the arena and “hold” it away from the herd. The horse is scored on its ability to keep the cow from returning to the herd, cow sense, attentiveness and courage. There is a 2-1/2 minute time limit.

WORKING COW HORSE: Combines reining ability and cow sense. The competition consists of two parts: prescribed reined work and actual cow work. Judging is based on good manners, smoothness, cow sense and ease of reining. During the cow working part, one cow is turned into the arena. The horse is required to hold the cow on the end of the arena, make at least one turn each direction along the fence, and circle the cow both directions.

TEAM PENNING: A timed event in which a team of three riders must sort three specifically numbered head of cattle from a herd and pen them at the other end of the arena within 90 seconds. All cattle, except the ones being penned must be kept on one side of the starting line (often called the “cattle side”) until time is called.

WESTERN PLEASURE: Competitors compete as a group, travelling around the perimeter of the arena “on the rail” and are asked to walk, jog, lope and reverse the direction of their horses at the judges’ direction.

WESTERN RIDING: judges the abilities of a Horse to change leads precisely, easily and simultaneously, using both hind and front legs. Competitors follow one of two patterns consisting of a log and a series of pylons. The horse and rider must also change gaits - from a walk to a jog to a lope - throughout the course.

WESTERN HORSEMANSHIP: the class is divided into two sections. Riders must first follow a prescribed pattern of manoeuvres: walk, trot or lope their horses in a straight line, curve, circle or any combination, such as figure 8. Finalists from the first section of the class come into the arena as a group to show their horses at a walk, jog and lope on the rail. Judged also on rider’s position, and ability to control the horse.