If you hear anyone say Western Reining is the same as Dressage, don't believe it: there's a HUGE difference. At a recent reining clinic it was taught: the goal is to "rein guide" with the horse "behind the bridle." Any contact with the mouth (the trainer was using a snaffle at this time) was considered "training wheels".
dressage vs reining
- Thread starter Bling
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I've never thought dressage was the same as reining. Both completly different disciplines IMO, one I know a little about and the other I know very little about...
I really don't see how Dressage and Reining are similar? In reining at high levels a horse spins, slides to a stop, ect. At high levels in Dressage a horse does Piaffe, pirouette,ect. They both do flying lead changes, but in no way is western reining anyway like Dressage. The head postion, everything is different.
They are completely differnt disciplines in my opinion.
They are completely differnt disciplines in my opinion.
Yes, and because you heard it from ONE source, that automatically makes it true.
That is not the case, and it shows that you're not terribly familiar with good reining. It's like me saying that because one of my English instructors told me to kick the horse, that all English riders kick their horses. I've never seen a good reiner ride their horse behind the bridle.Yes, contact isn't allowed in reining. Why? Because the horses are meant to be in self-carriage, turned and slowed and stopped with the seat and neck reining. There's no need for contact. Don't dressage tests require a loose rein manoever to prove the horse is in self carriage? Aren't dressage horses required to have impulsion and precision and lightness? Because reiners certainly are. The moves are different (well, not really; you still show variations of gait, lead changes, gait transitions...) but the principle is the same.
Do some research before you spout such nonsense.
While I don't find the end result of reining and dressage to be similar, many of the principles are the same. The goal of reining, however, is not to get the horse behind the bridle-and I'd wonder about what quality of instruction you're getting if you believe that. It's to actually make the bit inconsequential and the horse responsive to seat and legs.
IrisSilverMoon
206 yo ;)
while i wouldn't call them the same discipline by any means, but a lot of the goals are the same. Both have the goal of ultimate control over the horse with minimal aids. You shouldn't see what you are asking from the horse in both reining and dressage, its all done by the seat and minute leg aids.
they also do a lot of similar moves, they might not be exactly the same, but you can tell what they may transfer to, like the changes of lead, spins (pirouettes!), even moving sideways.
I consider reining western dressage, dressage means training correct? its a test of how well you've trained the horse to respond to your aids without you having to be loud about them. Reining is testing the same thing.
they also do a lot of similar moves, they might not be exactly the same, but you can tell what they may transfer to, like the changes of lead, spins (pirouettes!), even moving sideways.
I consider reining western dressage, dressage means training correct? its a test of how well you've trained the horse to respond to your aids without you having to be loud about them. Reining is testing the same thing.
Well, I have heard that too, but I don't think it is meant in a LITERAL way, I believe they mean (or at least that is what I took it to mean) is, Dressage is the "pohy, poshy" way of English, and Reining is really the "poshy, poshy" in Western, just in different ways.
Actually, they start out the same, as a turn on the haunches in walk.
They just go in different directions from there. Reining takes the basic movement and speeds it up, but keeps it in walk. Dressage takes it and brings it to canter. pilgrims5: Usually reining is called the "western dressage" because both disciplines are preformed as patterns, in an individual setting (one horse and one rider) and then scored on each movement. Reining doesn't have the levels that dressage does, probably because it doesn't have nearly as many different movements. Although there is "green reining" which is like Preliminary or Training level dressage in that the movements are judged more leniently.
Also, you can do reining to music just like you can do dressage to music. Always a crowd pleaser.
One big difference: You don't tend to get the same amount of yelling and cheering during a dressage test as you do during a reining pattern!
There's an excellent video somewhere floating around the internet of a reiner and his horse and a dressage rider and his horse preforming a pas de deux together, the same movements, but in their own style (ie; the reiner is jogging while the dressage horse is doing collected trot). I wish I could find it again. Here's a picture, but I don't think it was the one I was looking for.
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JOJOBA
Fluffy Bunny, apparently
My love of classical dressage inspired my interest in reining. A LOT of the principles are the same! I dont like the idea of 'dressage vs reining'. They compliment each other very well.
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You're right, Keket, I DON'T know anything about reining, which is why I went to this clinic. I'm mulling over everyone's comments; because I've started really getting into NH (ground work is such fun) and I understand it's geared more towards Western-style riding, while my love is (non-competitive) dressage. Bit acceptant is a big thing; watching a big-money-winner trainer do everything he could to get a young horse to "give his face" was, well, interesting. As for "good". . . he's the only professional I've seen. But I can't see where I can blend my way with his. I'm actually glad to hear that he's not representative of all reiners!
Sorry but that isn't true whatsoever !
Big difference is that it *appears* to be "western-type" people who do it (usually because they're sporting jeans instead of your white breeches) but I can't see how basic manners and education on the ground is more geared to "western-style" riding ? (Also wonder what is meant by "western-style riding")
Is this supposed to mean that uneducated horses with "english" tack are acceptable but not sporting a western saddle ??
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