2025 MFTHBA Rulebook

106 Section 12. Reining A. Class Description: To rein a horse is not only to guide him, but also to control his every movement. The best reined horse should be willfully 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 therefore faulted according to severity of deviation. Exhibitors will follow one of the patterns published in this MFTHBA handbook. Pattern No. 11 may be used for Novice and Youth classes. B. Class Procedures: 1. Any one of the ten MFTHBA approved reining patterns may be used and is to be selected by the judge of the class and used by all contestants in the class. The number of the selected pattern should be posted at least one hour before the scheduled start time of the class. 2. Reining pattern number 11 may be used for Novice and Youth classes. 3. Each contestant will be worked from the gate individually. A working order will be announced at the beginning of the class. 4. All horses will be judges immediately upon entering the arena and judging will cease after the last maneuver. Any fault incurred prior to the commencement of a pattern will be scored accordingly. C. Judging Considerations: 1. Credit will be given for smoothness, finesse, attitude, quickness and authority in performing the various maneuvers while using controlled speed. 2. A rider may untangle excess rein with free hand where excess rein may prevent the rider from continuing the pattern, where excess can be straightened without affecting the performance of the horse, during hesitations, or when settling a horse. Rider’s free hand may be used to hold romal in the normal fashion. D. Scoring: 1. Scoring will be on the basis of 0 - Infinity, with 70 denoting an average performance. Each element of the pattern will receive points from =1 ½ Excellent) to -1 ½ (Extremely Poor). These points will be added or subtracted from the base score of 70; penalties will then be deducted to arrive at the final score. E. Faults/Penalties: 1. The following will result in a reduction of one half (½) point: a) Delayed lead change by one stride. b) Starting a circle at a trot or exiting rollbacks at a trot, up to two (2) strides. c) Over or under spinning up to one-eighth (1/8) of a turn. Deduct 1 point for over or under spinning from one-eighth to one-fourth (1/8 to ¼ turn). d) Failure to remain a minimum of 20 feet (6 meters) from the wall or fence when approaching a stop and/or rollback. 2. The following will result in a reduction of one (1) point: a) Starting or performing circles or figure eights out of lead. b) Each quarter of the circumference of circle out of lead or any part thereof. [Note: The penalty for being out of lead is cumulative and the judge will deduct one penalty point for each quarter of the circumference of a circle or any part thereof that a horse is out of lead. The horse is considered out of lead when either the front or the back legs are on the incorrect lead (cross firing).] c) In patterns requiring a run-around, failure to be on the correct lead when rounding the end of the arena : for one turn or less, one (1) point; for more than one turn, two (2) points. d) Over or under spinning from one-eighth to one-fourth (1/8 to ¼) turn. 3. The following will result in a reduction of two (2) points: a) Break of gait. b) Freeze up in spins or rollbacks. c) Trotting beyond two strides, but less and ½ circle or ½ length of the arena. d) On walk in patterns, failure to stop or walk before executing a canter departure.