MD Reiners
Where Dreams Begin
What to expect........
Kai-Ann Hargrave photo...KaiBrad@msn.com
The Objective
The objective in training is first to determine if the horse will even make a good reiner, not every horse will. If the horse can't, then the worst thng that happens is you end up with a decent handle after 90 to 120 days. It doesn't take a year or a year and a half to know if they have it in them, but it does take that long to go from halter broke to show pen.
The next objective is to determine how competitive they will be. Not all Reiners are OPEN caliber, some will be more for the Rookie & limited Non-Pro Divisions. Open Divisions are tough and again you have to determine the level of abilities, choosing the shows that will most advantage the horse.
Most horses are not great at all the maneuvers,so then you need to polish the ones they do well and make them shine, then make the other manuevers correct. Most of the time this strategy will put you in the money.
One of the biggest keys to a great Reiner is the want to, a big heart goes a long way. Of course you have to have the physical abilities, but being willing and trainable has pulled many a rabbit out of the hat. It never advances a trainer to show a horse at more than what they are capable of doing.
Bloodlines are also an important issue, not that they guarantee a reiner, but it will usually increase the odds. Conformation and trainability come first. There are never any guarantees of a champion, but what we will guarantee is to ride, feed and never abuse a horse. Above all to be honest with the owner. When a person brings a horse in for training we like to visit with the owner about their objectives and expectations from the horse. Normally in about 120 days, we have an idea if the horse will meet those expectations, sometimes it's a realistic dream and sometimes it's a reality check, but you'll always hear the TRUTH!
|
 |
