As stated earlier, I did not cover reining at WEG this year, but that doesn’t mean I won’t talk about it.
Having covered the sport extensively at the 2006 WEG, attended top level performances in the USA since then and photographed many of the horses at those competitions as well as this one, I did not see a difference in type of horse from a conformational perspective in 12 years.
I caught a scant few portions of the individual performances on the screens in the media room, but nothing caught my eye as unusual. Then someone asked me about the peanut rollers and I assumed they were talking about Western Pleasure. But no!
While riding out the hurricane in Knoxville, I watched a few WEG videos online and was horribly disappointed. Having the horse’s muzzle at knee level is not part of a natural frame. In fact, the horses that go in that frame can actually be seen to elevate their heads just before each maneuver. See for yourself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1KiLXWeS2I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ffP-QK_OT8
(Fonck won the individual gold, USA won team gold)
I do not think this is a positive trend, but, if the judges reward it, then they are perpetuating it. And any reining competitor or any reining organization that does not voice their disapproval about the trend (if they do indeed disapprove), is equally responsible for the continuation of it.
This is natural:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKK7AXLOUNo
I’m also not a fan of the nose to knees look of the modern reiners. I grew up showing reiners (still have my youth horse, he’s 25 this year!) and this trend was just taking off when I quit reining around 1999/2000.
IMO, the reiner’s lope in the small circles looked flat and shuffling, almost 4 beating
It looks to me like Bernard Fonck repeatedly cues the horse to lower his head. Poor horses. That looks as ridiculous as the peanut rolling western pleasure horses. Yes, it is up to the judges to stop rewarding this kind of training or it will just continue.
I am enjoying your blogs Judy. I noticed in the reining, (you gave a ling) that the rider I saw when galloping looked to me as though he was bouncing in the saddle. Was he? I would think it incorrect if so. I am interested in your opinion. I have seen some cutting and for the most part in the warmups the riding is not smooth and relaxed by the majority of the riders. I did see one lovely rider and when I talked to her she said she was schooled in the hunter world. She also said that the “poor” riders beat her all hollow when she started!
Sorry, but I was focused on the horses, not the riders. None of the horses I photographed prior to and during the FEI jog (vet inspection) walked or trotted in that frame, which I take as further proof that it is not natural to the horses. My personal belief is that it should not be rewarded and not be perpetuated. What a difference from the top horses in reining at the 2006 WEG.
I have lost a lot of respect for the sport. Makes one wonder just what artificial gadgets and methods are used to illicit that frame…
If they are not careful reiners could lose their participation in FEI events based on the current emphasis on WELFARE OF HORSES. I sure wouldn’t want to be a reining horse. Would any of you?