PrintAt one arena at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, whooping and hollering will be encouraged, and no one will need an excuse to don a cowboy hat and blue jeans. I’d be willing to bet that the reining competition at this year’s WEG is going to be the loudest and proudest. In fact, the tickets to the reining individual final are the only event so far to sell out.
Of course, it helps that reining, and western riding in general, is as American as horse sports get. Horses were re-introduced to the Americas by the Spanish Conquistadors in the 1500s (an equine ancestor existed in the Americas until about 10,000 years ago and then disappeared, so the indigenous American people had never seen horses when the Conquistadors arrived.) These European soldiers also brought cattle working and military practices that eventually became the basis of western riding.
While many of the first cowboys were actually American Indians, the cattle ranching that eventually emerged in the West was a mix of Mexican and Anglo-American practices. However, many of the terms and techniques that evolved into American cowboy culture came from the Spanish.
“The Cow Boy” taken by John C. H. Grabill in 1887. The Grabill Collection is now in the Library of Congress.
Because of the extensive rangeland and massive cattle herds that dominated the West, American cowboys had to work long hours in the saddle, and their riding style and equipment had to be functional in order to control the herds. The horses needed to be agile and quick, and they were trained to respond to the lightest pressure on their necks with the rein. Neck reining proved to be a valuable tool for the cowboys, who often rode one handed while working the cattle.
The equipment also needed to help protect riders, who often worked far away from any sort of help. The development of the western saddle allowed cowboys a secure seat and provided a necessary tool for the job with the saddle horn.
Even a cowboy’s clothing developed from a need for protection while working the cattle. The pointed toes and big heels on cowboy boots kept them from getting caught in the stirrups. Chaps protected legs while riding through brush, and of course, the cowboy hat shaded the face from the sun (since sunscreen wasn’t even a thought at that point in time). Almost everything associated with western riding today was developed because of a need for protection, safety or comfort while out on the range.
Over time, competitions between cowboys or neighboring ranches became more and more common. The riders would put their horses through their paces, displaying stops and turns, and the crowd chose the winner. These competitions eventually became the rodeos we know today. Reining, cutting, western pleasure, halter and working cowhorse competitions all developed from these friendly contests in the Old West.
The American Quarter Horse Association first recognized reining as a sport in 1949. The AQHA’s members greatly contributed to the current international popularity of the working cow horse. In 1966, the National Reining Horse Association was founded.
