There are many different disciplines associated with Western riding, but for the most part they all refer back to the skills that cowboys had to use in the course of their daily work.

Because the daily work of rounding up, sorting, branding and caring for cattle usually had to happen on open plains, cowboys needed a quick, nimble and intelligent horse that could reach top speed quickly, stop on a dime and change direction in an instant.

The horse needed to be controlled mostly by legs and weight, ridden with only one hand and a light touch on the reins, so that the cowboy's attention could also be on tasks that could include handling a lariat (to rope cattle), opening a gate, or simply waving a hand, hat or rope to move along a reluctant herd animal.

Informal demonstrations of these ideal characteristics among ranch cowboys and vaqueros, evolved into the sport of reining, as well as the related events of cutting and working cow horses and several other horse show classes.

Equipment and attire
Riders must use a western saddle. Spurs are allowed, but whips not. Bridles are western-styled, without a noseband or caveson. The bosal style hackamore is also allowed. There are very strict rules about what types of bits and bosals are legal.

For protection in the reining, horses usually wear splint boots or polo wraps on their lower front legs, as well as skid boots on their hind fetlocks. Bell boots, which wrap around the pastern and protect the hoof and coronary band, are also usually seen, sometimes only on the front feet, other times on all four feet.

Riders must wear a long-sleeved shirt, jeans, a cowboy hat, and cowboy boots. In most competitions, they also wear chaps. Gloves are optional. There has historically been less difference between men's and women's attire in reining than in most western events, though women's clothing is more influenced by fashion trends from Western pleasure competition. Thus women sometimes wear brighter colours, and are more apt to add a decorated jacket or vest, though usually not as flashy as in other horse show events.

Reining
The sport of reining was first recognised by the AQHA, the American Quarter Horse Association, in 1949, but was managed by the NRHA, the National Reining Horse Association, from 1966 to 2000, at which time it became an officially recognised FEI discipline and is now an international sport at the World Equestrian Games.

It is widely considered that reining is the Western equivalent of dressage riding, albeit at a generally faster pace. Reining requires horse and rider to perform a precise pattern consisting of circles at a lope and gallop with flying lead change, spins, rollbacks and the spectacular slide stop.

In competition riders must follow a NRHA approved set pattern usually of 8-12 movements selected in advance by the judges. Each contestant will individually perform the required pattern that will contain a combination of spins, stops, rollbacks, circles, flying changes and a backup.

In reining it is vital to control the horse's every movement as well as to guide it through the correct pattern. Should a horse appear to make any movements on its own then points will be deducted as this is considered a lack of control. In addition, any deviations from the exact written pattern must also be considered a lack of control and therefore faulted according to the severity of deviation.

Conversely credit will be given for smoothness, finesse, attitude, quickness, and authority in performing the various manoeuvres while using controlled speed.

Freestyle reining
Freestyle reining allows a rider the freedom to perform a number of required moves to a piece of music of their choosing. Riders are often allowed to perform bareback or even without any tack at all, which obviously makes controlling the horse considerably more difficult. Judging is based on the usual attributes of control but also on artistic impression.

Pleasure
Presence is one of the keys to this event in which all horses in the class show at the same time in an arena. Classes can be quite large with a maximum of 50 entries in the arena at any one time. The rider must demonstrate control with nearly invisible aids and minimal interference using a loose rein with the horse at a walk, jog and lope.

The horse should have a low head carriage and have an effortless flowing stride with the length in proportion with its confirmation. Judging is based on performance, condition and confirmation with credit given where the horse appears balanced, fit and a pleasure to ride. Penalties are incurred for incorrect pace and wrong leads.

Cutting
Making a clear statement about its heritage, this event requires the rider by use of the horse alone, to select and separate a cow out of a small herd of between ten and 20 cattle. The rider then loosens the reins and leaves it entirely to the horse to prevent the cow from returning to the herd. The original purpose of this act was to allow an individual cow to be treated, castrated or branded.

The sport's governing body, the NCHA (National Cutting Horse Association) does not specify the breed of horse, but Quarter Horses are typical, as they seem to have a natural aptitude for it in terms of their agility and instinctive ability to keep the separated cow from returning to its herd. This is called "cow sense". The event usually lasts for 2 inutes and the rider should cut 2-3 cows, for which judges will score the rider and horse on their ability.

Team penning
Rather like sheep dog trials, a number of selected cattle must be cut from a herd and rounded into a small pen or corral. The event is timed and performed by a team of three riders who compete against other teams to complete the event in the fastest possible time.

Trail
In this event the rider is required to memorise a route and negotiate their way within a time limit through a series of obstacles placed in the arena. Judges then score the horse and rider based on attitude on approaching and dealing with each element of the course. The obstacles used can include gates that need to be opened, passed through and closed while remaining on the horse.

Horses may be required to pass around or over bridges, poles, cones and logs at various speeds and angles including backwards and sideways. Other obstacles can be four poles forming a square of 5-6 feet in which the horse must turn 360 degrees, side-passing over, in front of, or between poles in both directions, and carrying an object from one point to another.

Halter showmanship
Almost the opposite of the regular halter event, the horse's conformation is not important and it is the handler who is judged on his ability to show the horse at its best. Judges look for the horse to be well behaved, its appearance to be clean and well-groomed and most importantly, how the handler presents the horse. The handler is usually asked to lead the horse through a set pattern of walking, turning, backing up and setting it correctly at a stop.

The handlers are invariably dressed in similar fashion to pleasure riders with the smartest of clothes complemented by ornamental accessories such as silver buckles. Additionally the halters used are carved leather with plenty of silver trim.

Horsemanship
In this event the rider is judged on style, riding position and the ability to control and show the horse. Competitors are asked to perform a set pattern that can vary in complexity from a simple jogged circle to a full reining pattern with all the elements thereof.

Western riding
A technical event, this could be considered a halfway point between reining and pleasure with the rider required to follow a set pattern that will include a number of gaits and lead changes. Judging is based on responsiveness, balance, control, manners, disposition, and intelligence. In addition extra credit shall be given for smoothness, cadence of gaits and the precision of the lead changes. The horse should also have a relaxed head carriage showing response to the rider's hands.

Barrel racing
At a race you have to ride through a triangle consisting of three barrels as quick as possible. Barrel racing is done at rodeos by women only. You enter the arena in a quick canter and go around the left barrel, right barrel, hindmost barrel or right barrel, left barrel, hindmost barrel. It is allowed to touch the barrel but not to knock over. If you knock it over you get a 5-second penalty.

Pole bending
There are six poles set up with a gap of 21 feet in between. The rider has to slalom through them at the quickest time. If you knock a pole, you get time penalties; if you leave one out, the rider is disqualified.

For more information please contact the author at claudiakroeber@gmx.de