What are common spin penalties in a reining competition?

Common spin problems in the show pen that result in score reductions include over-spinning, under-spinning, losing the pivot foot, hopping, freezing mid-spin, walking forward, backing up, or failing to stop at the correct count — and in competition accuracy matters as much as speed, which is why a horse that completes the correct number of revolutions with modest speed and clean execution will often outscore a faster horse that over-spins or shows significant form errors. Over-spinning occurs when the horse continues past the intended stopping point, either from momentum, anticipation, or an unclear stop cue, and it results in a penalty because the pattern specifies an exact number of revolutions. Under-spinning — stopping short of the required count — carries the same type of penalty. Losing the pivot foot means the inside hind foot has traveled significantly from its starting position, producing a spin that covers ground rather than rotating in place, which reduces the quality score for the maneuver. Hopping in the spin — the inside hind foot leaving and returning to the ground in a bouncing motion rather than staying anchored — indicates the horse is not maintaining its pivot correctly and is penalized accordingly. Freezing mid-spin, where the horse stops in the middle of the required revolutions and must be restarted, costs significantly and can indicate training gaps or resistance. Walking forward and backing up have been addressed in earlier questions and both represent fundamental breakdowns in the spin mechanics. The accuracy requirement — completing exactly the specified number of revolutions and stopping squarely — is what distinguishes the show pen spin from practice pen spinning, and horses that are not trained to stop precisely at the rider's cue rather than at their own discretion will struggle with this aspect of competition consistently.