REINING SPINS

Trainer Aaron Ralston demonstrates the difference between a turn on the haunches and a reining spin.

- HEIDI NYLAND MELOCCO

If you’ve watched a great reining pattern, you may be excited to get home and practice the moves on your own. A signature move of reining is the spin, where the horse quickly moves in a 360-degree turn, moving over his stationary inside hind leg.

In a spin, sometimes called a turnaround, the horse propels his outside hind leg and his front legs forward and around his pivot leg. The horse moves round and round, not leaving the location where he started. It’s a fast and mane-blowing move.

You know how to turn your horse on his haunches, so you may think practicing at home means taking step after step around in a circle. While a turn on the haunches and a spin are both forward movements, it’s important to know if you’re asking your horse to move slowly or amp up and spin around on your command.

Here, trainer Aaron Ralston explains the difference and helps you make sure that you’re teaching your horse to spin instead of stepping slowly to the side. Even if you ride a reining horse, you’ll want to be able to turn on the haunches slowly if you need to move close to an obstacle or simply turn around.

“The main difference between a spin and a turn on the haunches is where I point my chin and my hands,” says Aaron. “Look and point your chin where you want to go. If you just want your horse to take a step or two to the side for a turn on the haunches, look a little to the side and point your hand there. If you’re spinning, you’ll turn your chin farther and your hands won’t release the cue when your horse has stepped just a few steps.”

Turn on the Haunches