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Simply Bookkeeping · Tidysmith

Spins

The spin as described in the National Reining Horse Association Rule Book (2003) "Spins are a series of 360-degree turns, executed over a stationary (inside) hind leg. Propulsion for the spin is supplied by the outside rear leg and front legs, and contact should be made with the ground and a front leg. The location of hindquarters should be fixed at the start of the spin and maintained throughout the spins. It is helpful for a judge to watch for the horse to remain in the same location, rather than watching for a stationary inside leg. This allows for easier focus on other elements of the spin (i.e. cadence, attitude, smoothness, finesse and speed)".

To me, the spin is a forward movement that pivots around an inside hind leg. Being able to drive your horse forward with your legs is the first step in building a correct spin. Once the horse understands that your leg pressure mean forward momentum then, and only then, can you start to guide and direct the forward movement. In the beginning stages it is detrimental to stop the horse and then ask for a spin. In Image 1 and 2, I am using my legs (always first) to drive Lacy forward into my hands (second) until she is soft. When she is soft and giving I will lessen my leg pressure (first) and then give slowly with my hands (second). This rewards her for carrying her body forward in frame.

When the horse is driving forward willingly and can give softly to the bridle, we are ready to get to the spins. Giving softly to the bridle means that you are able to 'capture' or frame your horse's body. Your legs will drive the hind quarters up and forward into your hands. Your hands should be able to softly direct the horse's nose in any direction and cause the horse's body follow. If you come across stiffness or resistance at this stage, then you need to do more of this work before progressing to the next step of the spin.

As in Image 1 and 2, I am driving Lacy forward into a small (10 foot) circle to the left, in preparation for the left spin. While I am riding her in this circle, I am aware of several things. Firstly that she is tracking 'true', which means that her hind hoof print is trying to get into the front hoof print. If I feel that her hind quarters are swinging out of the circle and making their own set of tracks I will straighten her out and drive her straight forward until she tracks true and then attempt to bend her body on the circle again. This is a very important point for horses that tend to 'bottle spin' or pivot on the outside hind. If the haunches are swinging out on a 10 foot circle then they certainly will in a 360 spin. It is, as you can see, very important that the outside hind drives straight forward, up underneath the horse ... this is the key to teaching a stationary inside pivot leg. The outside foot has to keep driving forward.

Secondly, I am aware of how soft she is in my hands. I'll need to be able to place her head and neck wherever I need them to teach her to spin correctly. A horse with a high head and resisting the bridle, will not learn to spin correctly. If I allow a horse to spin with his head high and resistant in the bridle, I will be allowing bad habits to form.

In Image 3, I am starting to start the left spin by opening my left leg away from her side. My second cue to her, is lifting the left rein away from her neck. Both of these cues 'open the door' for the horse. The opening of the leg and the rein away from her neck, will allow the horse to move to the left, not pulling the horse to the left but just allowing her to move off of the circle track. (I try to keep myself very straight and upright in the saddle) I like this picture, it has a good feel to it. Lacy has stayed in frame and is ready to keep herself correct for the spin move.

In Image 4, I have added a stronger outside neck rein to 'close the door' on the right side of her body. I do not let my hand pass over the crest of the horse's neck and I will never pull the neck rein hard enough to cause a counter bend in her neck. My right hand must stay on the right side of the horn during the teaching stages of the spin. This rule is important for several reasons. One, to not over do it and cause the neckrein to pull the horse nose over to the right (opposite of where we are heading). Two, to help keep my hand low, which makes the neckrein touch more of the horse's neck and shoulder and Three, this low right hand, prevents my body from leaning and falling in to the left. When I increase the feel on the right neck rein, I will also increase the feel in my left, opening rein to help prevent the counter bend in Lacy's neck. You need to maintain an even feel in both hands so that you can guide the horse in the direction you want, not pull them there. The instant that I feel the horse's body move left, i will soft the reins forward, thereby allowing her to spin.

In Image 4, Lacy's nose is sticking out a bit, which is undesirable at this stage. I would prefer she bring it in and round her body more. I will accomplish this by increasing the right neckrein, straight back towards my hip while holding steady with the left rein. These added reins will not only cause the nose to come in, and her body to round, but it will also add push to the horse's shoulder. As soon as I feel her give to this rein, by moving her shoulders around to the left, I will soften and release the rein forward, to keep the momentum going. (My body position leaning a bit forward to encourage forward in the horse)

In Image 5, Lacy has set her inside pivot foot because her outside hind is doing it's job of moving forward. I am allowing my hands to reach forward when she is moving correctly and I will re-guide her head, neck and shoulders with my hands, if she strays from what I want.

Just a quick word about using your outside leg to start the spin, or teach the spin. I prefer to use the reins to control from the cinch forward, as in guiding the horse and I save the leg cues to yield the horses body and/or to ask for speed. Once the horse learns to guide around in the spin correctly from the reins, then I will teach her to respond with speed from leg cues. I've seen too many riders completely off balance, using one leg jammed forward and the other, spur glued into the horses side, trying to get them to spin. Horses will learn very quickly, that a leg jammed against their side is more comfortable if they lean against it. If the rider is that off balance, then how can the horse perform a balanced fast maneuver? During my horse's fastest spin I will have both of my legs evenly placed away from the horse. The first leg that moves away from the horse, establishes the direction of the spin ... as the second (or my outside leg) starts to push away from the horse's side, it is a cue and/or threat to the horse, that he better get going or else my leg is going to bump her hard. When I want to quit the spin, I return my legs, hands and body position to center.

The most common spin problems come from riders who pull the horse back into the spin. These riders are trying to "set the horse back on to a pivot foot". Any time that this happens, the horse will lose the forward momentum that they need for a successful spin. The inside pivot foot in the spin is key for successful propulsion from the outside. The outside driving foot is where a lot of the spin speed will be generated from. This fact re-enforces the need for forward movement in the spin maneuver.

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