The Three Prerequisites That Cannot Be Faked
Reining trainers talk about needing a horse that is "in front of the leg" â meaning the horse moves forward readily from a light leg cue without being constantly driven. A horse that is behind the leg â sluggish, heavy, requiring leg every stride â is physically incapable of building the impulsion needed for a quality sliding stop, the arc required in large fast circles, or the energy needed to spin. These qualities must be established before maneuver training begins.
Forward means the horse moves out willingly at walk, jog, and lope from a light cue and maintains that gait without constant urging. Straight means the horse tracks straight down a fence line and across the pen without drifting left or right. Relaxed means the horse's mind is present, its back is loose, its neck is low, and it is not bracing against contact or anticipating the next cue.
Building Forward in a Reining Prospect
Clinton Anderson's approach to building a forward, willing horse is systematic and progressive. He establishes forward movement first from the ground â a horse that moves away from pressure and stops when asked â then transfers those same cues to the saddle. His reining prospect work with Titan demonstrates how a horse that is responsive and forward on the ground translates that quality directly into its mounted work.
If your horse is dull or requires excessive leg, the fix is not more kicking. More leg teaches the horse to tune out leg. Instead, use a light leg cue and immediately back it up with a crop or spur if the horse does not respond. Then release completely when the horse moves forward. The horse must learn that forward movement turns the leg pressure off. Over multiple sessions the horse begins to offer forward movement from an increasingly light cue.
Developing Straightness
A young horse naturally drifts through the shoulder â usually the left shoulder leading left, right shoulder leading right. This is normal and corrected through consistent use of the supporting rein and leg to hold the shoulder in line. Fence work â loping close to the rail without drifting in or out â builds straightness effectively. The horse that travels straight requires minimal correction and conserves the rider's aids for the maneuvers that matter.
The Relaxed Mind
Warwick Schiller's approach to relaxation in the reining horse is some of the most important training philosophy available. His view â shaped by polyvagal theory â is that a horse in a state of anxiety or hypervigilance is physically and mentally incapable of the softness that precision riding requires. Before asking a horse to collect, stop, or spin, it must first be in a parasympathetic state: curious, breathing, licking, chewing, and soft in the eye. If the horse is tight, tense, or reactive, continuing to drill maneuvers builds rigidity â not skill. The answer is to slow down, breathe, and let the horse find relaxation first.
Watch & Learn
Ready to Put This Into Practice?
Work with a qualified reining trainer to apply these fundamentals correctly on your horse.