I'm going to train my almost 5-year-old mare for reining. She's very calm, smart, and obedient. I've started her on leg yielding and sliding stops, but she's only in the beginning stages.

I read that these are things a horse needs conformationally to excel in reining:

1. Low head carriage.
2. Straight legs for soundness.
3. Good pasterns for soundness and way of moving.
4. Overall balance.
5. Sloping shoulder.
6. Strong hindquarters.

I'm working on number 6, and number 5 isn't great at the moment ( but I'm hoping to improve her balance by taking her reining training very slowly. That isn't conformational, anyway.

But what are your opinions about the rest?


Here are some pictures:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cloudsmysti...

(They go from oldest to newest)

I am told top reiners also tend to be a little sickle hocked. Not too severely so as to impede soundness but just enough to aid in quick stops.

Your MFT is already pretty well fit. How is the gimpiness on her rear leg going? Is she coming out of it? (from your previous question) If these are recent photos I would say she already has.

One of the advantages of MFT's is their stamina. In longer competitions they will often out compete the QH's. In shorter ones they will sometimes fall a little short, but they can learn and learn well. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

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First of all you have a GORGEOUS horse (I love the blue eye!) and i am definitely impressed at the quantity and the quality of the photos!

But to our question:

You cant change the slope of her shoulder. That is the way she is built. She looks to be in good shape but she needs more toning in her rear area. She could definitely do reining. but I doubt she could compete with cowy breeds such as QH, Paint, Azteca, etc.,....

good build but for reining you need to get muscle on that but. and yes you are right on on what a horse needs to be a good reiner

and despit what other people say. MFT's make great reiners becasue of there cow sense that they are naturally born with. And MFts may not ever get the build of a quarter horse there butts are still strong. yours just needs to be built up some.

MFTS:
http://www.4psranch.com/admin/assets/Hor...
http://foxtrottersales.com/Rangerpromo3A...
http://www.nearaway.com/Lakota-1-350w.jp...
http://www.horsedelval.com/images/M.Coy%...
http://www.mftcc.ca/Myrna_cuttinghorse.j...
http://www.silkoakranch.com/diamond157in...
http://www.geocities.com/Pat_Lox/aycox.J...
http://www.mphorseworld.com/communities/...

Personally, I wish her neck wouldn't be as stocky and that her shoulders would be more round and she should have a more round butt with not a lot more muscle but some.

People are telling you to pile on muscle but that is WRONG. A reining horse shouldn't be super stocky. Horse trainers are finding out now that horses from stock lines are actually worse compared to thinner horses in the reining circuit. It's because the slimmer ones are faster and more agile, making their moves swifter and flow better. But I guess it depends on preference!

Also, calm horses don't always do well in reining! I talk to many reining trainers and ask them what they look for in a reining horse and they all look for very moody horses with tons of attitude. That way when they're out in the show ring, they always give it their best and leave an impression. Stallions often win over geldings. Take a guess as to why!

But, if you aren't planning on going pro with her, I would definitely say go for it! She looks like she could have some great potential in her! Good luck!!

I think your mare has good conformation for reining, but she needs more muscle in her butt. She looks bold, and not easily intimidated. I couldn't picture her bing scared of cows. If you can't get her over her fear of cows, then reining is really fun. I believe I like reining better than cutting. Both reining and cutting is hard on her joints, so keep her supplemented. :]

***A horse can do anything, no matter breed or conformation. If she has the right heart, and the right head, then they can do anything asked of them***

EDIT: Sorry!! For some reason I thought you were still talking about cutting. Blonde moment!! haha

First of all, wow, I WISH I had that many photos of my horses. And good photos too! I'm impressed. I'm lucky if I take 10 photos a year. I know I'll regret it one day when they are gone :(

I think your mare looks great. She is really fit. Remember, you can't change the slope of her shoulder, you can only change her muscling. And I think she looks very fit. Sure, she can tone up some more, but she's a MFT, she will never have the big round muscly butt of a QH, which is typically what most reining horses are. Her butt is already muscly for MFT (a lot of them tend to be pretty goose rumped) so I think you are doing well.

Don't let 'em kid you...conformation is hugely important in the reiner, working cow horse world. If you have a major "hole" in your horse's conformation, either in the slope of the hocks, fetlocks (sickle hocks), a weak loin which will prevent your horse from "getting into the ground" on a sliding stop, spin or rollback over the hocks, you'll pay for the imperfections in vet bills. Your horse will be unable to "hold" a stop as he hasn't the strength through his loins. A flat croup will not help you either as it doesn't allow your horse to go as deep into the ground on a stop. Although some of the other breeds would try to convince the rest of us that it hasn't affected their horses' movements, I've yet to be convinced from the majority of the wanna be reiners....

Exceptionally heavy muscling through the forearms and shoulder will not help you either. All of that bulk prevents a smooth spin or turnaround.

Strong gaskins and hindquarters are mandatory. As is good balance which you mentioned...

Here's a link from Bob Avila, at the top of the working cow horse, reiner game....also hints from Al Dunning and others.

http://special.equisearch.com/downloads/...

Bob Avila on body control..............hugely important, without it, you don't have a thing going for you...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iqXKzXTd...

Todd Bergen at the NRHA 2007 Finals..........
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2EEcJ48X...

You mentioned low head carriage...yes, it's important to have that horse's neck come straight out from his shoulder....tough to rein when you have a horse's head in your face. If you show, it certainly detracts from the overall profile.

Reiner judges have a preference for a particular "look" on a reiner particularly at breed shows. Familarize yourself with that.

Yes, reiner trainers are looking for a responsive horse...hot, moody doesn't get it done...they're difficult to train, unreliable and you cannot depend on them in the pen. It's in the training...there are those that wash out but bloodlines really make a difference....a competent trainer and a beautifully bred horse win it EVERY time...ask Todd Bergen.