Designed to showcase the maneuvers of a working ranch horse, Reining is a judged competition that highlights the athletic ability of a horse through the performance of required elements such as small slow circles, large fast circles, flying lead changes, roll backs over the hocks, 360-degree spins, and exciting sliding stops that are the hallmark of the Reining horse. This variety of movements is linked into a graceful sequence with no observable resistance on the horse's part. For freestyle events, the movements are set to music and performed in costume. This is a particularly thrilling crowd-pleaser.
Reining is the fastest growing sport in the equine industry. As a result, participation in the sport of Reining has flourished. From 1992 to 2012, Reining as a sport grew by more than 300% and the number of approved shows more than tripled. The annual purses have grown dramatically as well. In 1992, a total of 1.3 million dollars was paid out in competition purses. By 2010, this figure had mushroomed to over 8.2 million dollars.
In 1998, Reining became the first Western Discipline and the sixth Equestrian Discipline overall to be approved by the United States Equestrian Team.
Reining is the fastest growing sport in the equine industry. As a result, participation in the sport of Reining has flourished. From 1992 to 2012, Reining as a sport grew by more than 300% and the number of approved shows more than tripled. The annual purses have grown dramatically as well. In 1992, a total of 1.3 million dollars was paid out in competition purses. By 2010, this figure had mushroomed to over 8.2 million dollars.
In 1998, Reining became the first Western Discipline and the sixth Equestrian Discipline overall to be approved by the United States Equestrian Team.
Reining quickly gained in popularity not only in the USA but throughout the world. In 2000, Reining became the first Western Discipline to be approved by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) and became a full medal discipline at the 2002 World Equestrian Games in Jerez, Spain. The 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany also featured Reining as a full medal sport before large sold-out audiences.
As a sport, Reining reached its critical mass at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Kentucky. The sport was a homecoming as North America's only home-grown discipline for these, the first Games ever held outside of Europe. The Reining arenas were packed for marquee performances and the sport enjoyed exposure on NBC Sports to more than 44 million viewers.
Additionally, Reining was demonstrated at the Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia and again in Sydney, Australia.
As a sport, Reining reached its critical mass at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Kentucky. The sport was a homecoming as North America's only home-grown discipline for these, the first Games ever held outside of Europe. The Reining arenas were packed for marquee performances and the sport enjoyed exposure on NBC Sports to more than 44 million viewers.
Additionally, Reining was demonstrated at the Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia and again in Sydney, Australia.
