FAQ'S

Some of our most frequently seen questions. If you don’t see the answer you are looking for please send us a message and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

Membership

  • Yes, both owners and riders need to have an ORHA membership. Some classes require riders to own the horse or have a lease registered with the NRHA to show.

  • ORHA memberships are valid for the calendar year and it is recommended to renew your membership as early in the year as possible.

  • Yes, the ORHA is a NRHA affiliate. In order to be eligible both the rider and the owner of the horse must designate the ORHA has their affiliate by a specific date.

  • In order to qualify for year end awards a horse and rider needs to compete in their class at least 50% of the time that it is being offered. For example, if your class was offered 8 times throughout the season, you would need to compete at least 4 times. The rider must also complete 2 volunteer hours. 

All About Reining

  • Every entry starts with a score of 70. Points for each manoeuver are added or subtracted by 1/2, 1, or 1-1/2 points for each of the 7 to 8 manoeuvers in the designated pattern as follows:

    -1 ½ for an extremely poor
    execution.
    -1 for very poor.
    -½ for poor.
    0 for correct with no degree of difficulty.
    +½ for good execution.
    +1 for very good.
    +1 ½ for excellent.

    Each part of the pattern is judged on precision, smoothness, finesse and the “degree of difficulty” for each manoeuver. Penalties may be assessed for specific infractions. Penalties range from a half-point (1/2) to five (5) points for each infraction. Going off pattern or using illegal equipment will result in a “zero score.”

  • The horse runs along the long side of the arena building speed, at least 20 feet (6 m) from the fence or rail.

  • The horse stops, by driving its hocks underneath him and sliding on his hind feet while continuing to let its front feet “walk” forward. The back should be raised upward and hindquarters come well underneath. A particularly powerful stop may, depending on arena conditions, produce flying dirt and a cloud of dust. The movement should finish in a straight line, and the horse’s position should not change. This movement is a crowd favorite.

  • The horse, without hesitation, performs a 180-degree turn after a sliding stop, and immediately lopes off. The horse must turn on its hindquarters, bringing its hock well under, and the motion should be continuous with no hesitation.

  • A 360 degrees spin, in place around its stationary inside hind leg. The hind pivot foot remains in essentially the same location throughout the spin. Most patterns call for 4 rotations. Spins are judged on correctness, smoothness, and cadence.

  • The horse backs up quickly for at least 10 feet (3 m). The horse must back in a perfectly straight line, stop when asked and hesitate a moment. It is judged on how quick, smooth and straight the line is.

  • The horse must perform large, and fast circles at speed and smaller, slow circles at a lope. They should be perfectly round, with the rider dictating the pace of the horse. The change of speed or “shutdown” should be without any resistance from the horse.

  • The horse changes its leading front and hind legs at the lope during the suspension phase of the gait. Precision is the most important factor in judging. A horse taking more than one stride to complete the
    change, or that changes early, late, or that changes only the front feet and not the hind feet will be penalized.