Patterns / Novice Classes

Pattern Download

All standard NRHA Reining patterns can be downloaded here. This document contains NRHA patterns 1 through 12.

The document containing Training Pattern 1 & 2 can be downloaded here.




Training Reining Patterns
Reining patterns all contain the same complex maneuvers, and trying these on an untrained horse can lead to some serious issues. People wanting to try reining find that a full reining pattern is quite a lot to tackle. Unlike dressage, which has levels of patterns or tests that eventually lead up to Grand Prix dressage, people who try reining for the first time will run the same patterns as the best horses and riders in the world.

If a person starting reining buys a finished horse, all they have to do is master the maneuvers and then patterns (which is not as easy as it sounds). However, if a person wants to try reining on an untrained horse, attempting the maneuvers and patterns on that horse will most likely lead to the horse becoming very resistant. They will also likely find that development of maneuvers are hindered by this resistance.

The 2 training patterns will allow riders to get the feel for reining patterns while making them aware of some basic exercises that reining trainers use to develop the finished maneuvers on their horses.

The two patterns are named Training Pattern 1 and Training Pattern 2. They are both based on NRHA patterns, but contain training elements used to teach reining maneuvers, replacing the actual maneuvers.

Training pattern 1 is the more basic of the two, and Training pattern 2 is slightly more advanced. These patterns, we feel, will be beneficial not only for beginners to the sport of reining, but people who have been doing it for some time to check to make sure there are no major holes in their training program.


Information about NZRHA Novice Reining Events
Two events: First Year Novice Reining and Open Novice Reining.
Eligibility for classes:

First Year Novice Reining: for those competitors in their first competitive year of reining, must not have competed in an Open, Aged, Amateur or Senior Youth event in previous seasons. May have competed in Rookie or Junior Youth reining in previous or current season.

Open Novice Reining: for those competitors whose average score in past Open, Aged or Amateur events has not exceeded 68. Finished horses with novice reiners are eligible for this class providing they fulfill the above criteria.

Competitors can enter First Year Novice or Open Novice, not both. The category you enter at the start of the season is what you are for the whole season.
Competitors must be NZRHA members to have their points recorded and to be eligible for any awards.

Horses of any age can be ridden one or two-handed in any bit, so long as the bit is legal to show in. We know that some senior horses going in this class could be quite green and we want to encourage people to enter. So you can ride two-handed in a curb or snaffle and can swap between one and two hands.

If you meet the criteria at the start of the season, then you may enter these events for the whole season.

We will be running a points system for these classes, with all points counting towards end of season Hi Point awards for both Islands (competitors must be NZRHA members to qualify for Hi Point awards).
- Points will be collated for the horse/rider combination.

There are two Training Patterns with different degrees of complexity. Both patterns are based on NRHA existing patterns but simplified to allow Novice Reiners to gain competency in basic manoeuvres before moving on to the full NRHA patterns. They contain training elements used to teach reining manoeuvres, replacing the actual manoeuvres.