Reining is one of the most popular and fastest growing equine events in the world. It is open to all breeds of horses and designed to show the athletic ability of the horse within the confines of a show arena.

Horses are judged on specific movements, mastery of prescribed manoeuvres and attitude as they are guided through one of ten prescribed patterns.

Enthusiastic cheers are elicited from crowds as horses perform small slow and large fast circles, flying lead changes, spins, rollbacks and the hallmark of the reining horse - the sliding stop.

With different classes for both professional and non-professional riders, beginners as well as youth, reining is a sport for the whole family - from the very youngest to the most senior member of the family.

Reining is a one handed sport with only one hand allowed to be used to guide and control the horse during a pattern. To help people begin in the sport QRHA offers special non-sanctioned classes at prescribed shows that allow the rider to use two hands and ride in non-western attire.

The club also runs 'Beginner Clinics' where new riders receive a first-class introduction to the sport from professional reining trainers. (See our calendar of events for more details.) 

Reining horses are judged individually as they complete a nominated pattern. One or more judges will score each horse, with 70 denoting an average score.

Each horse automatically begins the patterns with a score of 70. The scoring system then adds or deducts up to 1.5 points on each manoeuvre, in addition penalty points may be deducted for incorrect performance of manoeuvres. As the judges watch the horse and rider execute the pattern, a scribe records the judge's score on a scorecard.

Scores are tabulated and announced at the end of each run. The judge's scorecard detailing the scores for each individual manoeuvre are posted at the end of each class for the benefit of the riders. 

Judges are looking for smoothness, attitude, quickness and authority in the performance of each individual reining manoeuvre. Controlled speed in the pattern raises the level of difficulty and makes the reining horse more exciting and pleasing to watch. Increased level of difficulty is rewarded with higher scores if the manoeuvres are still performed correctly.

"To rein a horse is not only to guide him, but also control his every movement".

The sport of reining has progressed to such a point that it was a demonstration event at the 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.  In 2006 Reining Australia (formally NRHA) affiliated with the international reining body in support of its bid to have reining selected as the forth Olympic Equestrian Discipline by 2009. 

To give Australian reiners the opportunity to complete on the world stage at the 2012 Olympic Games in London is a goal that Reining Australia is currently working toward. It's a goal that the QRHA fully supports