| So You Want To Be a Reiner #1 ...... By Carrie Zambrano |
Disclaimer: In this series of articles I will provide tips on how to get started in the fastest growing western sport , Reining. These tips will be from the non-professional prospective, and will have pointers and stories from various other Non-Pros in the industry. They come from years of mistakes, and rewards in the reining industry. Always consult a professional when in doubt. This website and author assume no responsibility if these pointers do not work. These are merely suggestions. Let's Follow a Few Possible Scenarios: The Potential Owners : Mark is a CFO of a international company based in Phoenix , Arizona. His wife Sally asked Mark if they could go and watch a reining horse show she heard , from a friend that is being held in Scottsdale. Mark, really does not care for horses, let alone pretentious horse show, but he obliges Sally and they head off to the show. The Potential Breeders: Natalie and Jack, have had horses their entire lives. In fact Jack and Natalie are very well know for their superior breeding in the rope horse and barrel racing business. Throughout the years both Natalie and Jack have seen reining at various Quarter Horse shows. However, they have never actually sat down and watched a show, or ridden a reiner. Their good friends have invited them to watch them show at a national sanctioned show being held in Scottsdale. They have even invited Jack and Natalie to ‘try out’ one of the good mares that they have for sale. So off to the show they on this clear, cool Saturday morning. The Potential Competitors: Richard and Jenny have recently moved to a two acre parcel in Arizona from the East Coast. They wanted to have more wide open spaces for their kids to grow up in. They have been trying to get the kids involved with horses, but have yet to find anything that interests them. Both Richard and Jenny work , and have what is considered a modest income. A neighbor invited Richard, Jenny and their two kids, Elly, 14, and Sam, 7, to a show that they will be participating in this weekend. So they load the kids up into the new red Mega-Cab truck and down the road to the show they go. All three families arrive at the show, muddle around, look at the vendor booths, pick up a bowl of ice cream, a cocktail , or a corn dog, when they hear the announcer state the Open Derby classes will start in 5 minutes. They all head to their respective seats. Sam squirms in his seat and asks “ Can we leave now?!”. Richard tells Sam to wait just a few more minutes, Sam reluctantly complies, in a huff. The booming low voice of the announcer proclaims that the first entry in the class is “ Draw # 1; Entry # 237; David Jones ( who just so happens to be Jack and Natalie’s good friend) from Aubrey, Texas, riding I’m A Hollywood Star” The arena is quiet except for Amarillo by Morning, by George Strait playing quietly over the loudspeaker providing background ambiance. Suddenly a beautiful , majestic , muscular butter colored horse with a mane blacker than midnight that touches his shoulders and a tail that nearly drags on the ground, burst into the arena at a dead run. He heads straight up the center and proceeds about ¾ of the way down before it appears the earth just gives out from under his feet and he folds in two. His front feet appear to continue to run while his hind end seems to be right up under his belly and leaving a huge cloud of dirt and tracks that go for nearly 30 ft. The crowd goes crazy with hoots, whistles and cheers. Mark usually very stoic and repressed looks around at the crowd, has to, himself throw out a couple of whistles and claps. The horse whips around and repeats the impressive stop at the other end of the arena. Sam is enthralled. Once again the horse whips around and runs off back up in the arena but this time he stops just past the center of the arena, and appears to magically back up with out being told. By now all of our spectators are roaring with cheers and whistles and deafening clapping. David Jones and “Star” ( his barn name), sit and the center of the arena for a few seconds. Suddenly they start to spin as if they were an ice skater participating at the next Olympics. After four mind blowing fast spins, they halt, dead on exactly where they started. Again the crowd erupts in cheers. David and Star begin again, only this time in the opposite direction. After four and one quarter turns, this time, they freeze , facing the judges. Again the crowd praises them with thunderous applause. David and Star continue to win the crowd , through their blazing fast circles, that seem to almost stop when they transition to the small circles. By the end of their run the crowd is on their feet with showing David, and Star with adulation. Mark, Sally, Richard, Jenny, Sam, Elly, Natalie and Jack are all hooked. So now they all want to be reiners. However, Mark and Sally really do not have a desire to ride horses, but they would like to own one of these awesome athletic equines. Jack and Natalie’s wheels are racing in their head. How awesome would it be to incorporate some of this talent into our herds bloodlines. Heck maybe in breed a few of our own reiners and see them in the pen someday. Now Richard, Jenny and the kids are all about getting on the back and being in the ring them selves one day. Richard thinks to himself “provided I don’t fall off during the spins!” Now what are the steps that each of these varying , yet committed , families need to take to realize their dreams? I will help to provide some answers through this series “So You Want To Be A Reiner”. Simple easy to follow steps that nearly everyone who is new and coming into the sport can use! While these articles will focus mainly on the competitor, the first few steps are useful to potential owners and breeders as well. First let’s start with Richard Jenny and the kids, the potential competitors: Okay , you are hooked. You do not think you can live through another day with out this sport. One problem, you do not know how to ride. Your wife has and extensive background in the amateur English show world. Your kids have ridden at camp a few times, but you have never even been on the back of horse. So let’s start with this: I have the desire but do not know what to do, and where to go. Step 1: Seek Professional Help. Not the professional help that you may be thinking of , no seek out a professional trainer. After watching several horses or classes, go to the warm up pen , this is where the horses are warming up and being readied to be shown, and just watch. Watch and listen. Do you seen anyone riding around that you immediately are drawn to? Perhaps it is the way they are handling their horses, or maybe it is they way they are talking to their clients while they warming up for their Non Pro classes. You can seek out a trainer at a show and simply go and talk to them. Some trainers will ask you to call them a later time and make and appointment, others may have time to sit and talk with you right then and there, or after this class is over with. If you can not talk with one at the show, make a note of who you liked and call them. Most trainers have their business cards for you to pick up at their stalls, or their numbers are listed in the show premium. You may meet with upwards of 5 or 6 trainers before you find one that suits you. Make sure the trainer trains horses and teaches their non-pros in a manner that suits you. Some trainers are more laid back while others are more aggressive in their training and teaching techniques. Think of it as a marriage of sorts,. You are going to spend a lot of time with this person. You will share your hopes dreams, fears, triumphs and tragedies with this person through out the years. Your life is essentially in theirs hands if you are a true beginner. You do not want a trainer who ignores your wishes and shuts you out when discussing your dreams and goals. Your want someone who will support your and reprimand you when you need it. You may end up switching trainers through out the years as your progress. Outside of finding the right horse, finding the right trainer is of utmost importance , yet can be one of the difficult parts of reining. Maybe you are thinking I am an awesome rider, I have ridden my entire life, why do I need a trainer, can’t I do it myself? Yes you can , and we will address this in a later article. Step 2: Set Your Goals. You have just gotten of the phone with your future trainer. You and your family are going to go and meet with him or her this Saturday. Make sure that you have a list of things that you and your family would like to accomplish both in the short run and the long run. Sample Goals: - Richard does not know how to ride, and in fact is a little intimidated. Richard is thinking that he should probably take the 6 months to a year or so just learning basic riding and horsemanship skills. Meanwhile he can build his confidence and then be ready when it is his time to compete, because when he is ready to show, he wants to win. - Jenny already an accomplished rider, has never earned any points or money, outside of weekend horse shows. Jenny really wants to learn how to make reining horses do what they do. She also would love to start competing right away. She has heard that her local reining association has a “Green as Grass” class for riders who are just starting out. What a great way to get her feet wet, build confidence and the following year she wants to try for “Rookie of the Year”. - Sam the youngest likes to ride, but he is a bit apprehensive about running. Richard and family watched a “Short Stirrup” class at the show and it is perfect for Sam. In this class he can walk or trot , learn the patterns and build his skills for the future. - Elly, is ready to dive right in. She is confident and has already aired a lot of knowledge about reining from surfing the web. Elly and her family have decided that this year Elly will start out in the “Rookie Youth” classes. These are some great short term and long term goals. Here is a check list that you will want to go through with your family and your trainer. This is for those who will purchase their horses with the assistance of their trainer and will board their horses with their trainer:
you want to spend. A really good used saddle is just as good as a brand new saddle when you are starting out if you can not afford a new one. Good used saddles and tack are plentiful nowadays if you can not spend the extra money o new tack. Classified ads both in print and on then net, and reputable tack dealers are a great place to find good used tack. Just be sure that the saddle fits you and is what you want, and is legal in the show pen, whether it is new or used. ~ Decide how much you want to spend on horses. Today the sky is the limit on what you can spend on a horse. However , it is not necessary to always spend the ‘big bucks’ when you are just starting out. Your trainer should be able to help you find the right horse for you that fits in to your price range, high or low. Is it possible for family members to share a horse? Or does everyone need their own? Your trainer can help you with this decision as well. ( we will have tips on finding the right horse and saddle at a later date). ~ Shoeing , vaccinations, worming and added supplement costs are a given when owning horses. Prices vary. ~ Clothing is another added cost: boots, spurs, a hat, chaps, jeans and long sleeve tops that are legal in the ring are all things that you will need to have when your are ready to start showing and riding. (Chaps are always optional, and not needed until you are ready to show.) ~ If you are going to head out to shows right away, have your trainer help you figure their costs: entries, stalls, hauling fee , day fees, hotel fees, these are all fees that can be incurred when going to shows, depending on your trainer and where the show location is. ~ Are you going to need to purchase a trailer and truck? Or will your trainer haul your horses for you?
Communication with a trainer from the outset will make your relationship happier and easier. Most trainers welcome feedback on how you feel things are going. It will help you trainer know whether or not they need to make any adjustments to their program for you . Next Time: What you need to know when buying your first horse. Tips for those who only want to be owners, and breeders. Got Questions or Tips? Send them to Carrie at: caz_az@hotmail.com Carrie Zambrano, 34. lives in Chino Valley , Arizona and has been reining for over 10 years. She has numerous state level and several region titles to her accomplishments, including CHRA Challenge / Western Affiliate Finals Limited Non- Pro Champion and Intermediate Non- Pro, and Non-Pro Reserve Champion in 2002. She trained under the guidance of Marcy Ver Meer for over 8 years. Currently she trains her own horses, but often seeks out the advise of many helpful professional trainers. Her husband Ariel, starts colts, works with problem horses, and trains rope , and cow-horse horses,. Her daughter , Madalyn , will start her reining career later in the year. Currently Carrie raises horses with her parents, Mike and Marilyn Aaby, and her husband., while working on dual degrees in Equine Assisted Therapy, and Ag Journalism. |
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