Welcome
Welcome to SARHA. Our aim is to encourage, inform and inspire like minded Reining enthusiasts and provide a link to professional training and in time, the opportunity for our members to show under NRHA rules in South Australia. We also endeavour to support the growth of the Reined Cowhorse industry in Australia and aspires to be part of the revival of this exciting discipline when and where possible.
Join us in this vision and throw your passion and enthusiasm in with ours to watch it grow whilst having a whole lot of fun.
About NRHA & NRHA Oceania
Founded in 1966, the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion of the reining horse in a fun-filled, family atmosphere. It serves as the standard setting body for the sport of reining worldwide. Within the NRHA there is a recently formed NRHA Oceania Council which is made up of 8 affiliates of the NRHA throughout the Oceania Region. SARHA is an affiliate of the NRHA and is also an active affiliate of the Oceania Council.
What Is Reining?
Reining is a judged event designed to show the athletic ability of a ranch type horse within the confines of a show arena. In NRHA Competition, contestants are required to run a pre-selected, approved pattern, included in the NRHA Handbook. Each pattern includes small slow circles, large fast circles, flying lead changes, roll backs over the hocks, 360-degree spins done in place, and exciting sliding stops that are the hallmark of the reining horse. The NRHA Judging System is recognized as the leading format for judging an equine event that combines technical and stylistic elements coupled with consideration of "degree of difficulty." Many segments of the equine judging discipline have openly embraced the NRHA Judging System.
Welcome to SARHA. Our aim is to encourage, inform and inspire like minded Reining enthusiasts and provide a link to professional training and in time, the opportunity for our members to show under NRHA rules in South Australia. We also endeavour to support the growth of the Reined Cowhorse industry in Australia and aspires to be part of the revival of this exciting discipline when and where possible.
Join us in this vision and throw your passion and enthusiasm in with ours to watch it grow whilst having a whole lot of fun.
About NRHA & NRHA Oceania
Founded in 1966, the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion of the reining horse in a fun-filled, family atmosphere. It serves as the standard setting body for the sport of reining worldwide. Within the NRHA there is a recently formed NRHA Oceania Council which is made up of 8 affiliates of the NRHA throughout the Oceania Region. SARHA is an affiliate of the NRHA and is also an active affiliate of the Oceania Council.
What Is Reining?
Reining is a judged event designed to show the athletic ability of a ranch type horse within the confines of a show arena. In NRHA Competition, contestants are required to run a pre-selected, approved pattern, included in the NRHA Handbook. Each pattern includes small slow circles, large fast circles, flying lead changes, roll backs over the hocks, 360-degree spins done in place, and exciting sliding stops that are the hallmark of the reining horse. The NRHA Judging System is recognized as the leading format for judging an equine event that combines technical and stylistic elements coupled with consideration of "degree of difficulty." Many segments of the equine judging discipline have openly embraced the NRHA Judging System.
NRHA: How Reining is Judged from NRHA on Vimeo.
A. General
"To rein a horse is not only to guide him, but also to control his every movement. The best reined horse should be willingly guided or controlled with little or no apparent resistance and dictated to completely." Any movement on his own must be considered a lack of control. All deviations from the exact written pattern must be considered a lack of/or temporary loss of control and and therefore a fault that must be marked down according to severity of deviation. After deducting all faults set here within, against execution of the pattern and the horse's overall performance, credit should be given for smoothness, finesse, attitude, quickness and authority of performing various maneuver's, while using controlled speed which raises the difficulty level and makes him more exciting and pleasing to watch to an audience.
Competitive Levels For All
There are multiple divisions of competition offered at approved NRHA shows to enable competitors at all levels to participate, learn, and improve as they master the intricacies of one of the most exciting equine competition events. NRHA offers several levels of competition for: Open riders, Non Pro riders, Rookie and entry-level riders, Youth riders, Novice horses, Aged event (futurity, derby, and maturity) horses, Affiliate (or local level) competitors. As riders progress in NRHA competition, they move through a series of stair-stepped class levels that help "level the field." NRHA maintains an extensive data base of statistics/eligibility lists to enable exhibitors to understand which events they are qualified to enter and/or are no longer eligible to enter. In order to ensure integrity of the NRHA programs, participation in NRHA approved shows requires an NRHA Membership for exhibitors and owners, as well as a valid Competition License for horses. Check out Before You Show to see what you need to do to compete in this hot equine sport.
"To rein a horse is not only to guide him, but also to control his every movement. The best reined horse should be willingly guided or controlled with little or no apparent resistance and dictated to completely." Any movement on his own must be considered a lack of control. All deviations from the exact written pattern must be considered a lack of/or temporary loss of control and and therefore a fault that must be marked down according to severity of deviation. After deducting all faults set here within, against execution of the pattern and the horse's overall performance, credit should be given for smoothness, finesse, attitude, quickness and authority of performing various maneuver's, while using controlled speed which raises the difficulty level and makes him more exciting and pleasing to watch to an audience.
Competitive Levels For All
There are multiple divisions of competition offered at approved NRHA shows to enable competitors at all levels to participate, learn, and improve as they master the intricacies of one of the most exciting equine competition events. NRHA offers several levels of competition for: Open riders, Non Pro riders, Rookie and entry-level riders, Youth riders, Novice horses, Aged event (futurity, derby, and maturity) horses, Affiliate (or local level) competitors. As riders progress in NRHA competition, they move through a series of stair-stepped class levels that help "level the field." NRHA maintains an extensive data base of statistics/eligibility lists to enable exhibitors to understand which events they are qualified to enter and/or are no longer eligible to enter. In order to ensure integrity of the NRHA programs, participation in NRHA approved shows requires an NRHA Membership for exhibitors and owners, as well as a valid Competition License for horses. Check out Before You Show to see what you need to do to compete in this hot equine sport.