Welcome

Welcome to "Reining Training Tips", a blog devoted to training reining horses. Some of you know me well,  others not at all,  but if you are reining or interested in the reining industry in any way, I think you will want to read on.

I have been training, and showing reining horses since 1980. I'm still learning and that will never end, but I have developed a program that I believe in. That is what I want to share.

 My business is Wildwood Reining Horses, a one-woman operation that began in Saskatchewan and is now located in Hanceville in the Chilcotin area of British Columbia, Canada. I stand two stallions and raise quality Quarter Horses bred to rein. Although I am cutting back on training outside horses, I still train and show my own horses and coach riders.

Training a reining horse to competition level takes time - 18 months to two years, in fact. Even then, without competition experience, the horse is not finished. Although some horses will come along faster than others, all will benefit from a step-by-step program over several months, even years. 

Many years ago, when I started reining, I didn't want to show 3 year olds because of the strain it would put on their young bodies but I soon found out that I must if I was to stay in the game. To reconcile my doubts with my common sense, I decided then to adhere to two rules:

1. I would condition my horse gradually for several months before the intense training began and
2. I would not try to make a reining horse out of a horse who was not capable, either mentally or physically.

These two rules, I believe, have spared my reining prospects injury.

In subsequent posts, I will talk about choosing and training a reining prospect as well as "fixing" problems on older horses. I will keep posts short and on topic. Please comment, request clarification, suggest topics or even challenge me!