How is the reining phase scored in working cow horse competition?

The reining phase in working cow horse competition is scored using a system similar to NRHA reining — each maneuver in the pattern receives an individual score above or below a base that represents average correct execution, and those individual maneuver scores are added to the base to produce the reining phase total. The maneuvers evaluated in the reining phase of a working cow horse run include circles in two sizes and speeds, flying lead changes, sliding stops, rollbacks, and backup, and the same criteria that apply in reining competition apply here: correctness of execution, degree of difficulty, willingness of the horse, and the invisible quality of the rider's aids. One distinction between the reining phase in working cow horse and a standalone reining run is that the reining phase in cow horse competition is typically scored with the expectation that the horse still has the cattle work ahead of it — a reining horse that is drilled to its absolute peak in the reining phase may arrive at the cattle phase mentally and physically depleted, which is a strategic consideration that experienced competitors manage. The reining phase score and the cattle run score are combined to produce the overall run total, with the relative weighting of each phase varying depending on the specific competition format and governing body rules. Judges evaluate the reining phase separately from the cattle work, assigning the reining score before the cow is released, which means errors in the reining phase cannot be recovered through outstanding cattle work and vice versa — each phase stands on its own score.