You know the elements for developing a consistent performer in reining competition. Use these do's and don'ts in your day-to-day rides to further build consistency in your horse.

Don't rush the ride. When you rush, you put unhealthy pressure on your horse, which breaks several of the cardinal rules of consistency. (Not the least of which is eroding his confidence and your own ability to stay consistent.) Say you've got only 20 minutes to ride. To avoid the temptation of trying to cram a full training session into that time frame, consider using the time as a conditioning session. Lope him, rather than drilling on him. You'll help condition him physically, and the mental break will be refreshing.

Do reward him. When your horse does something right, tell him verbally, give him a pat, and let him catch some air. Youngsters particularly need these rewards. When your reining horse is first starting out, he may give you the right response purely by accident. Unless you tell him in a big way that he did well, he can't possibly learn what you're expecting from him. By rewarding the correct response, you make him want to give it to you--time and time again.

Don't take things personally. When your horse makes a mistake, don't get mad. When you do, you scare him, which is counter to consistency. It's not as though he plotted to "get" you by screwing up. Instead, try to understand why he responded as he did. Did you ask for the maneuver correctly? Is he too fresh to focus? Are you being consistent? Might he be hurting--or afraid? Get to the bottom of his incorrect response, then use your head to fix it. And, if you're having a bad day, skip the ride. Taking your day at the office out on your horse will only erode his progress.

Do keep him sound. If your horse is working sore, pretty soon he'll be working sour. If your normally willing horse suddenly turns cranky or resistant, listen up. Take a proactive approach, working in tandem with your veterinarian, in an effort to uncover--and treat--any physical cause. If no physical cause is evident, turn your attention to a possible mental "unsoundness," such as too much pressure from you.

 

Don't ask for 100 percent every day. If you were to ask your horse to deliver his heart and soul every day, you'd fry him. A fried reiner can't deliver consistently, if he can deliver at all. Save that request for the futurity or big show, or chances are you won't have a horse to show.

Do know when to quit. Always quit on a good note. This may be the most important key to consistency. You may not always end on a perfect note; it may be simply an improvement. This doesn't mean quitting after a prescribed amount of time, nor does it mean ending your work after 10 minutes when your horse does something well. Rather, it is a feel thing. For instance, if your horse is sharp on all the maneuvers you've asked for, reward him, then go lope. If, near the end of a session, he gives you a stop that's an improvement over yesterday's, reward him and quit for the day. Your horse will soon associate the ultimate reward (quitting) with his effort to deliver the correct response.

Do plan for the future. If you want to keep a youngster consistent for the long run, look beyond the futurity or your big event. I give my 3-year-olds about a 2-month break after the NRHA Futurity (held in late November) to allow them to recuperate physically--and mentally. I turn them out all day and bring them in at night. I don't get on them again until the end of January. They come back twice as mature and ready to work.

This story originally appeared in the February 2003 issue of Horse & Rider magazine.