The reining horse spin is a breathtaking display of a horse’s agility, speed, and precision. This maneuver, characterized by the horse pivoting on its hind foot while executing rapid turns, is a cornerstone of reining competitions. Achieving a masterful spin requires a solid foundation built upon fundamental horsemanship principles. This guide breaks down the essential basics and the step-by-step process to train your horse for this dazzling maneuver.
The Three Pillars of Reining Training
According to Dick Pieper, a reining and cutting world champion and National Reining Horse Association Hall of Fame inductee, success in training any horse, especially for complex maneuvers like the spin, hinges on mastering three fundamental skills: lateral flexion, simple collection, and the two-track. These basics are crucial for developing a horse that is not only skilled but also enjoyable, useful, and safe to ride, whether for recreational purposes or competitive reining.
1. Lateral Flexion: Building Suppleness
Lateral flexion involves teaching the horse to bend its neck and body smoothly to the side in response to gentle rein cues. This exercise begins with the horse in a large, consistent circle, ridden two-handed with a loose rein. To encourage flexion to the left, the rider sits on their right hip, bringing the right leg closer to the horse’s ribcage and the left leg away. This subtle shift in rider position, combined with a slow, outward movement of the left hand towards the rider’s hip bone, signals the horse to tip its nose.
Consistency is key. The rider’s hand movement should always come from the same direction and at the same speed to avoid confusing the horse. The goal is for the horse to follow the rein softly and easily, not to be pulled. Pieper emphasizes that lateral flexion must be connected to movement; it should never be asked for while the horse is standing still, as this can lead to a sore neck and no real learning. When the horse responds by softening its jaw and yielding to the rein, the rider immediately rewards this with a slack rein and a pat, reinforcing the desired behavior. This process should be repeated in both directions until the horse consistently offers four or five releases on each side. This foundational step can take anywhere from two weeks to two months, depending on the horse and rider.
2. Simple Collection: Shifting the Weight
Once a horse demonstrates consistent suppleness and responsiveness through lateral flexion, the next step is collection. Collection is achieved when a horse carries more weight on its hindquarters, elevating its forehand, which allows for greater agility and smoother changes in direction. Pieper initiates collection by having the horse walk forward and setting a “barrier” with the hands. The rider holds their elbows against their ribcage, making their upper body and arms immovable, thus preventing the temptation to pull back on the reins.
The horse is encouraged to move forward into this rein barrier using leg aids. Initially, the horse may lean on the reins or shake its head, pushing against itself. When the horse begins to arch its neck and soften, the rider offers a release of 15 to 20 seconds. This lesson is repeated until the horse understands that softness at the barrier results in a reward. Gradually, the duration of this collected position is increased. The rider then encourages the horse to lift its back and reach its hind feet further underneath its body, preparing it for more advanced maneuvers. This collection is eventually practiced at the trot and canter. Throughout this process, the horse’s topline muscles are physically developed, making the collected frame more comfortable and natural for the horse. It is crucial that this training progresses slowly to avoid soreness.
3. The Two-Track: Developing Precision
With the horse moving comfortably in a collected frame, the rider can introduce the two-track. This maneuver involves the horse moving forward in a straight line while its hindquarters move sideways, resulting in the horse making two distinct tracks. For a two-track to the right, the rider releases pressure from the right leg and increases pressure with the left leg. The horse’s head and neck should point in the direction of travel, while its body moves sideways.
The goal is for the horse to perform the two-track at a mere suggestion, without concern or resistance. This exercise refines the horse’s ability to engage its hindquarters and respond to subtle leg cues. According to Pieper, once a horse masters these three basics – lateral flexion, collection, and the two-track – it can be taught virtually any maneuver, including the spin. The key is consistency and a thorough understanding of these fundamentals.
From Basics to the Spin: The Lateral Step
When a horse is proficient in the three core basics, it’s ready to learn the lateral step, a crucial precursor to the spin. The horse should be able to walk in a circle without resistance, follow the rein willingly, and automatically drop into the circle. The lateral step involves the horse moving its inside front foot backward to allow the outside front foot to step across. It is vital that the horse does not interfere with its legs or step on its coronet band during this movement.
Pieper emphasizes that the release is given not for being soft, but for successfully executing the lateral step. After taking a lateral step within the circle, the horse is released and allowed to move forward. This focus on the lateral step, where the horse bends its neck and takes a step across with its front foot, is the most critical part of teaching the horse to turn and eventually spin.
Initiating the Reining Horse Spin
To begin training the spin, the rider gently lays a rein against the horse’s neck. The horse’s nose should tip towards the inside, and its inside front foot should step back, creating space for the outside leg to step across. Initially, the rider may cross their reins slightly, maintaining four fingers between them, and ask the horse to walk in small, rhythmic circles. The horse should be cued to tip its nose and shape its body to the circle.
The circle is gradually made smaller while maintaining forward motion until the horse takes a lateral step instead of a forward one. As soon as the lateral step is executed, the horse is rewarded with a release and slack in the reins. This process is repeated, with the horse gradually understanding that taking the lateral step leads to a reward. Eventually, the horse will anticipate the lateral step as soon as slack is released from the reins.
Once the horse consistently takes a lateral step, the rider can begin holding the horse in place after the step and cueing for a second lateral step, followed by a release. This is gradually progressed to incorporating multiple lateral steps to complete a full circle. The ultimate goal is for the horse to take as many lateral steps as required to complete a turn or spin. By mastering this sequence, the horse learns to execute the correct movement before receiving a release, paving the way for increased speed and precision in the spin.
MEET THE TRAINER: Dick Pieper is a decorated equestrian with numerous national championships in reining, cutting, reined cow horse, and American Quarter Horse Association competitions. He is a National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity Champion and a member of the NRHA Hall of Fame. His expertise forms the foundation of this training approach. www.pieperranch.com.
This article originally appeared in the July 2014 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine.
