Conference noted::equitation

1670.0. "Morgan Grand National - Freestyle Reining!" by ELMAGO::HBUTTERMAN () Thu Oct 22 1992 18:27

    
    	Last week I attended the Grand National Morgan Horse Show in
    Oklahoma City... I go every year to watch and this year we were treated
    to a  most incredible display of horsemanship.. I wanted to share it
    with folks...
    
    			FREESTYLE REINING..... PRO/AM
    
    	These "show horse folks" (And I am one of them) have most likely
    never had the opportunity to witness freestyle reining.  The class was
    inserted into the show progam on Saturday night, next to the last class
    before the evenings 'grand finale -  park harness world championship'.
    The crowd was excited and ready.. but didn't know what to expect......
    The announcer gave a brief description.. this class was open to pros
    and amatures alike, there was a set of manuvers and execution of lead
    changes, roll backs, sliding stops, spins and backing.  Scored very
    similarly to dressage - everyone starts w/70 points and points are
    deducted by a judging panel.  Each horse and rider enters the ring
    individually and their exibition is coreographed to music of thier
    choice.
    
    	IT WAS TOTALLY INCREDIBLE...!!!    Each exhibitor had a theme they
    worked with and the music to match/back it up with... a couple of
    choices were "Wind beneath my wings".. with a costume on horse and
    rider that LOOKED like wind.  It was beautiful.  Another was a current
    Clint Black love song.. another used Waylon Jennings, America and they
    rounded up a group of folks who represented TAXES, FOREIGN TRADE, WAR,
    etc etc and the rider had a Ross Perot nametag on the back of his
    shirt......  he rounded up the bad stuff out of the colisium and left
    FAMILY.... It was pretty neat ..
    
    	But what I wanted to say was how impressed I was with these
    incredible horses!  They were EXCELLENT.... sliding stops that started
    mid ring w/the horse putting his tail into the ground/never bobbling
    and sliding some 30  (maybe more I am not a good judge of distance)feet. 
    spins that seemed to never end.  transitions 
    and changes that every dressage lover would die for. 
    
    		IT WAS GREAT...!!!!
    
    	The crowd absolutly went crazy in appreciation for the obvious
    hard work, training, skill, and love that went into these
    presentations.  They promised to make it officially a class next year
    with a world champion to be crowned... just like the other divisions.
    It sure made me wonder if my handy quiet western pleasure horse could
    be as able.
    
    	So... If you get a chance to watch.. I'm sure it doesn't matter the
    breed, it is a wonderful example of versitility, and horsemanship that
    I had never had the pleasure to watch before.

    I saw the APHA World Championship Freestyle Pro and Amateur Reining
    classes this year.  It was without a doubt the most exciting horse
    event I have ever seen.  It was the crowds favorite class and the
    exhibitors were so creative with their theme music and costumes.  I
    loved it!  I would go back just to watch that class.   I videotaped it
    and I have watched it about 5 times.  
    
    The horses really looked like they were enjoying "getting down and
    dirty" on those spins.  They are amazing.
    
    Karen
    

    Having seen (by video tape) both previous years Freestyle Reining
    Championships and Volvo World Cup FEI Freestyle competition I would say
    there is a great deal of similarity between the two. Of course, there's
    no sliding stop in FEI Dressage (perhaps there should be :-) !) but I
    recall that the top competitors in freestyle reining trained their
    horses in dressage as well. Both disciplines require a well balanced,
    well schooled flexible horse.

    Freestyle Reining is wonderful to watch.  I just came back
    from Columbus Ohio we were attending the Quarter Horse Congress.  
    All of the Reining Classes had the largest audience....but when they 
    had the Freestyle Class the Coliseum was deafening from the cheers 
    and clapping by the audience.   Some people were so amazed by this
    class.
    
    My husband does Reining...it is an exciting sport to watch, I would
    say the majority of the horses are quarter horses.  
    
    If you have never been to a Reining show I would suggest attending
    one somtime.   I have brought many of my Hunter and Dressage friends to
    see my husband show and they are truely amazed with the horse and
    riders performance.  Especially when the Pro's ride.......try it you'll
    like it.....
    
    Lori