REINING
Shawna Sapergia and BL Whiz Kid qualified for the
2006 Canadian Equestrian Team – Reining, but are
unable to attend the FEI World Equestrian Games in
Aachen this year. Shawna and her partner, Mike
Scott, DVM, MVsc, own the Rafter SS Ranch in
Airdrie, Albert (www.sapergiareiners.com). Shawna was on the gold medal Nations’ Cup team in
2001, the silver medal CET – Reining at the World
Equestrian Games 2002 and also won the individual
bronze medal.
WHAT'S THE PLAN?
“At the WEG 2002 the team strategy involved who
would go in what order. Preceding the competition,
we rode together, watching out for each other and
working as a team. The feed back was a good
feature,” she said.
“Individually you have to adjust your strategy for
each horse. Basically, you want to stay clean and
correct in his best moves. Where he’s good, more
speed adds to the level of difficulty – always with
a loose rein while keeping the precision.”
HOW IT'S SCORED
“Judges want to see fast reactions with hardly any
contact, on a loose rein. The rider should appear
motionless. They also want to see speed in the
horse. In essence, the horse (appears to be) trying
without the rider moving. They want to see dramatic
changes at the markers and big, but smooth and exact
transitions. It’s not how you drive a car; there’s
no coasting and no popping the clutch. They also
want that dressage image of elegance; it is more
that way than the way cowboys are depicted in the
movies.
“The horse should stop in line with the marker; one
step on either side is a penalty, as is the rider
moving, taking up the reins or if the horse is
‘anticipating’ (the next move), especially the
stops.”
The Reining competition will take place in a roofed,
sand-based arena measuring 45m (148’) x 80m (263’)
in Stadium 3. The sand footing is critical for many
of the required movements in the pattern. For
example, Shawna said “A ‘good stopper’ trots his
front legs and slides on both hind legs. The hind
legs are well under the horse’s body from
compressing his hindquarters. The head and neck are
quite low and the tail bone can actually touch the
ground. The tail hairs drag behind. A 30’ to 35’
slide is common for the top horses. But if the slide
is deeper (into the footing) it will travel less
distance but score higher. The distance is not a
make or break issue.”
Starting with a numerical score of 70 (indicating a
correct performance) the judges then evaluate each
movement or group of
maneuvers
and assign scores for each in ½ point increments
from a low of -1 ½ (extremely poor quality) to a
high of + 1 ½ (excellent quality). Those points and
any faults or penalty points assigned for errors or
bonus points for increased degree of difficulty
through the use of increased speed are then totalled
for a final score.
DETERMINING THE FEI WORLD TEAM REINING CHAMPIONSHIP
The first round of competition for
€40,000 in prize money will also determine the FEI
World Team Reining Championship with FEI Medals
being presented for the teams placed 1st
to 3rd.
DETERMINING THE FEI WORLD INDIVIDUAL REINING
CHAMPIONSHIP
The second round of competition for
€20,000 in prize money will determine the FEI World
Individual Reining Championship with FEI Medals
being presented for competitors placed 1st
to 3rd. Note that only the twenty best
competitors from round 1 and any competitors tied
for 20th place at the end of round 1 are
eligible to compete for the Individual Championship.
Scores are not carried forward from round 1.
More information is available at
www.reiningcanada.com;
www.nrha.com (National Reining Horse
Association) and for details on the official
rules governing this competition, please see
www.horsesport.org/ “Rules & Regulations”.
