Spins, roll backs, lead changes and sliding stops.

Hugh?

I spent yesterday afternoon at the National Western Stock Show watching the freestyle Reining competition.

For all my non horsey friends, well I don't know how to bring you along except to say that it's really cool stuff you can do with your horse, and if you do it really well yesterday you could have won $15,000. Now probably the horse you did these things on cost more than that, but that's not the point or why anyone does it.

Most impressive was the man who did it with out any reins at all. So essentially he gave all speed, and directional cues to his horse through leg and seat pressure, which means he has extraordinary balance and control.

I'm jealous, if I ever get a horse this is what I would train to do. It's all about trust and communication with your horse.

What the man did is the fantasy of Lord of the Rings, where the elven kind need no "devices" to ride a horse. How cool is that and how cool to know that it really can be done.

Here's an example of what it is.