| The reining event at horseshow's around the country | | | | sits making the seat a "deep pocket". The seat is also |
| has become a virtual rising star in the horse industry. | | | | made narrower giving the rider even more contact |
| The reining saddle is designed to optimize the horse's | | | | with the horse, which gives it more stability in the stops |
| balance, agility and freedom of movement. Reining is | | | | and spins. In order to make the riders legs more |
| an event where winning a single championship at a | | | | free-moving and improve on balance, the fenders are |
| national competition can make a horse and trainer the | | | | hung from the center of the tree rather than forward. |
| buzz of the entire industry. | | | | The rigging is then dropped in order for the latigo |
| Reining is a judged event that is designed to show the | | | | straps to lie flat against the horse's sides. In this way |
| athletic ability of a well bred ranch horse. The rider and | | | | the fenders don't get caught in the equipment. The |
| horse must run several patterns such as small, slow | | | | horn is narrow and medium in height so that it doesn't |
| circles, large, fast circles, flying lead changes, roll backs | | | | interfere with the rider's hands yet allows light use. |
| over the hocks, 360 degree spins and fast sliding | | | | A well-built reining saddle will sit balanced and level on |
| stops. The saddle each rider uses must not impede | | | | the horse's back, evenly distributing the rider's weight. |
| the horse and the rider must be placed in the proper | | | | Every detail on the reining saddle gives it a fined tuned |
| position for balance while the horse is galloping and | | | | stability for maximum performance, as well as comfort. |
| doing all these fast precise moves. Basically the rider is | | | | This rig is an event specific piece of equipment that |
| simply holding on and watching the show. He gives the | | | | must sustain long, effortless slides and fast |
| horse his "head" and lets him do the work. The rider is | | | | heart-stopping spins. Competitors range in age, and are |
| mearly watching the show. | | | | from a variety of backgrounds. Competitions can be |
| To maximize balance a reiner saddle is usually made | | | | found all over the world and the horses can be of any |
| with cut-outs in the skirt to enhance the level of | | | | breed, sex, color or size. All riders must wear |
| communication between the horse and rider. Also the | | | | appropriate western clothing while performing their |
| bars of the tree are trimmed down where the rider | | | | patterns. And the saddles must be perfect. |