Equine PHD Few topics ignite more debate in the horse world than the question of when a young horse should begin work. On one side, there’s concern that starting too early risks long-term soundness issues. On the other, some argue that thoughtful early training may actually support bone development. So instead of arguing from a point of instinct […]
If, as many within the reining community claim, horses are not drugged (or medicated) to perform, why is there such an extensive list of permitted substances? The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) has released its 2026 list of 185 permitted and conditionally permitted medications for use in reining competition. Of those 185 substances, 82 fall […]
When more than one in ten reiners test positive for prohibited substances, the issue is no longer individual wrongdoing. It is cultural normalization. A Sport at a Crossroads Reining was once celebrated as a discipline that showcased the athleticism, responsiveness, and partnership of the Western horse. From its early roots in the 1960s to its […]
Sleepy-eyed and mechanical, many modern reining horses move like programmed machines — executing patterns with lifeless precision. Only errors of non-compliance often setting the placings.Their expression is dull or bored, their reactions delayed, their spirits subdued. And yet, this is the image celebrated in the show ring. According to the NRHA, “To rein a horse […]
Myth Busting: The Physical Demand on Reining Horse Slides. Only 3% of horses are considered suitably conditioned for competitive sliding stops due to a lack of trotting, hill work and riding out. “The sliding stop is comparable to the load on the extremity of a horse during a gallop race.” A sliding stop requires strong: […]
Spinning the Reining Horse – a key manoeuvre in any reining pattern This was filmed at a major futurity event in the warm-up pen late in the evening – Reining is not all flowing manes and long reins – the horses’ journey is often much different as the temperature rises to win competitions. Unfortunately, this is […]
Alarmists Spread False Information on Revised Horse Protection Act Information is being spread stating that the Revised Horse Protection Act will affect all horse shows, exhibitions, and events, excluding speed events crippling the horse industry as we know it today. Reading the entire Act one easily draws the conculsion that this is simply UNTRUE! The […]
One of the greatest barriers to peak performance is young horses carrying too much weight, according to veterinarians. They say ‘Rider Weight Matters’ However, reining horse enthusiasts seem to ignore the facts and have no desire to change, as they refute people’s comments, cringing at reining photographs of overweight or oversized riders on small horses. […]
This Reining Horse collapses in front of the judges, and the crowd is cheering. Are they used to seeing this from show horses? Is the trainer invested in the horse’s future or just focused on winning the Futurity? At the National Reining Horse Association Futurity for three-year-old horses, the prize money is now in the […]
Are We Starting Horses Too Young? What the Science Actually SaysMarch 1, 2026 - 5:03 pm
Why Do Reiners Have So Many Equine Drugs They Can Use?February 3, 2026 - 10:10 am
NRHA Derby European Championships at Equitalyon 2025January 26, 2026 - 8:11 pm
One in Ten Reiners Test Positive For Prohibited SubstancesDecember 28, 2025 - 10:14 pm
A Reiner is a Robot – When Obedience Replaces Horsemanship?November 10, 2025 - 7:07 pm
The Physical Demand on Reining Horse’s When SlidingNovember 4, 2025 - 10:41 pm
Spinning The Reining HorseOctober 15, 2025 - 10:30 pm