Scoring a Reining Pattern

NRHA patterns are scored on a numeric scale with 70 denoting an average performance. Each pattern is comprised of several distinct maneuvers which judges evaluate on an individual basis depending on execution as dictated by the pattern descripition and the rules for judging.

The individual maneuvers are scored in 1/2 point increments from a low of -1 1/2 (extremely poor quality) to a high of +1 1/2 (excellent quality) with a score of 0 denoting a maneuver that is correct but with little degree of difficulty. The total of the scores applied to the maneuvers is combined with the starting score of 70 and penalties, if any, are deducted to calculate the exhibitor's final score.

• Patterns are worked as stated, not as drawn. The drawing is provided to give the general idea of what the pattern will look like in the arena.
• Markers are placed on the wall or fence of the arena as follows:
  • at the center of the arena
  • at least 50' from each end wall
• Where designated in the pattern for stops to be beyond a marker, the horse should begin the stop after passing the specified marker.
• Each pattern is drawn so that the bottom of the page represents the end of the arena entered by contestants and must be run as such. If the arena has only one gate and it is in the exact middle of a side, that side represents the right side of the page the pattern is drawn on.
• All exhibitors are judged immediatly upon entering the arena and judging ceases after the last maneuver. Any fault incurred prior to the commencement of a pattern is scored accordingly.
• All judges' decisions are final.

NRHA Pattern 1	Return to Top
Run at speed to the far end of the arena past the end marker and do a left rollback - no hesitation. Run to the opposite end of the arena past the end marker and do a right roolback - no hesitation. Run past the center mark and do a sliding stop. Back up to center of the arena or at least ten feet. Hesitate. Complete four spins to the right. Complete four and one-quarter spins to the left so that horse is facing left wall or fence. Hesitate. Begining on the left lead, complete three circles to the left: the first circle large and fast;the second circle small and slow;the third circle large and fast. Change leads at the center of the arena. Complete three circles to the right: the first circle large and fast;the second circle small and slow;the third cricle large and fast. Change leads at the center of the arena. Begin a large fast circle to the left but do not close this circle. Run straight up the right side of the arena past the center marker and do a sliding stop at least twenty feet from the wall or fence. Hesitate to demonstrate the completion of the pattern. Rider must drop bridle to the designated judge.
NRHA Pattern 2	Return to Top
Beginning at the center of the arena facing the left wall or wall or fence. Beginning on the right lead, complete three circles to the right: the first circle small and slow; the next two circles large and fast. Change leads at the center of the arena. Complete three circle to the left: the first circle small and slow; the next two circles large and fast. Change leads at the center of the arena. Continue around previous circle to the right. At the top of the circle, run down the middle to the far end of the arena past the end marker and do a right rollback - no hesitation. Run up the middle to the opposite end of the arena past the end marker and do a left rollback - no hesitation. Run past the center marker and do a sliding stop. Back up to the center of the arena or at least ten feet. Hesitate. Complete four spins to the right. Complete four spins to the left. Hesitate to demonstration of the pattern. Rider must drop bridle to the designated judge.
NRHA Pattern 3	Return to Top
Beginning, and staying at least twenty feet from the walls or fence, lope straight up the left side of the arena, circle the top end of the arena, run straight down the opposite or right side of the arena past the center marker and do a left rollback - no hesitation. Continue straight up the right side of the arena staying at least twenty feet from the walls or fence, circle back around the top of the arena, run straight down the left side of the arena past the center marker and do a right rollback - no hesitation. Continue up the left side of the arena to the center marker. At the center marker, the horse should be on the right lead. Guide the horse to the center of the arena on the right lead and complete three circles to the right: the first two circles large and fast; the third circle small and slow. Change leads at the center of the arena. Complete three circles to the left: the first two circles large and fast; the third circle small and slow. Change leads in the center of the arena. Begin a large fast circle to the right but do not close this circle. Continue up the left side of the arena staying at least twenty feet from the walls or fence, circle the top of the arena, run straight down the opposite or right side of the arena past the center marker and do a sliding stop. Back up at least ten feet. Hesitate. Complete four spins to the right. Complete four spins to the left. Hesitate to demonstrate completion of the pattern. Rider must drop bridle to the designated judge.
NRHA Pattern 4	Return to Top
Beginning at the center of the arena facing the left wall or wall or fence. Beginning on the right lead, complete three circles to the right: the first two circles large and fast; the third circle small and slow. Stop atthe center of the arena. Complete four spins to the right. Hesitate. Beginning on the left lead, complete three circles to the left: the first two circles large and fast; the third circle small and slow. Stop at the center of the arena. Complete four spins to the left. Hesitate. Beginning on the right lead, run a large fast circle to the right, change leads at the center of the arena, run a large fast circle to the left, and change leads at the center of the arena. Continue around previous circle to the right. At the top of the circle, run down the middle to the far end of the arena past the end marker and do a right rollback - no hesitation. Run to the middle to the opposite end of the arena past the end marker and do a left rollback - no hesitation. Run past the center marker and do a sliding stop. Back up to the center of the arena or at least ten feet. Hesitate to demonstrate completion of the pattern. Rider must drop bridle to the designated judge.
NRHA Pattern 5	Return to Top
Beginning at the center of the arena facing the left wall or wall or fence. Beginning on the left lead, complete three circles to the left: the first two circles large and fast; the third circle small and slow. Stop at the center the arena. Complete four spins to the left. Hesitate. Beginning on the right lead, complete three circles to the right: the first two circles large and fast the third circle small and slow. Stop at the center the arena. Complete four spins to the right. Hesitate. Beginning on the left lead, run a large fast circle to the left, change leads at the center of the arena, run a large fast circle to the right, and change leads at the center of the arena. Continue around previous circle to the left but do not close this circle. Run up the right side of the arena past the center marker and do a right rollback at least twenty feet from the wall or fence - no hesitation. Continue around previous circle but do not close this circle. Run up the left side of the arena past the center marker and do a left rollback at least twenty feet from the wall or fence - no hesitation. Continue back around previous circle but do not close this circle. Run up the right side of the arena past the center marker and do a sliding stop at least twenty feet from the wall or fence. Back up at least ten feet. Hesitate to demonstrate completion of the pattern. Rider must drop bridle to the designated judge.
NRHA Pattern 6	Return to Top
Beginning at the center of the arena facing the left wall or wall or fence. Complete four spins to the right. Complete four spins to the left. Hesitate. Beginning on the left lead, complete three circles to the left: the first two circles large and fast; the third circle small and slow. Change leads at the center of the arena. Complete three circles to the right: the first two circles large and fast; the third circle small and slow. Change leads at the center of the arena. Begin a large fast circle to the left but do not close this circle. Run up the right side of the arena past the center marker and do a right rollback at least twenty feet from the wall or fence - no hesitation. Continue back around previous circle but do not close this circle. Run up the left side of the arena past the center marker and do a left rollback at least twenty feet from the wall or fence - no hesitation. Continue back around previous circle but do not close this circle. Run up the right side of the arena past the center marker and do a sliding stop at least twenty feet from the wall or fence. Back up at least ten feet. Hesitate to demonstrate the completion of the pattern. Rider must drop bridle to the designated judge.
NRHA Pattern 7	Return to Top
Run at speed to the far end of the arena past the end marker and do a left rollback - no hesitation. Run to the opposite end of the arena past the end marker and do a right rollback - no hesitation. Run past the center marker and do a sliding stop. Back up to the center of the arena or at least ten feet. Hesitate. Complete four spins to the right. Complete four and one-quarter spins to the left so that horse is facing left wall or fence. Hesitate. Beginning on the right lead, complete three circles to the right: the first two circles large fast; the third circle small and slow. Change leads at the center of the arena. Complete three circles to the left: the first two circles large fast; the third circle small and slow. Change leads at the center of the arena. Begin a large fast circle to the right but do not close this circle. Run straight down the right side of the arena past the center marker and do a sliding stop at least twenty feet from the wall or fence. Hesitate to demonstrate completion of the pattern. Rider must drop bridle to the designated judge.
NRHA Pattern 8	Return to Top
Beginning at the center of the arena facing the left wall or wall or fence. Complete four spins to the left. Complete four spins to the right. Hesitate. Beginning on the right lead, complete three circles to the right: the first circle large and fast; the second circle small and slow; the third circle large and fast. Change leads at the center of the arena. Complete three circles to the left: the first circle large and fast; the second circle small and slow; the third circle large and fast. Change leads at the center of the arena. Begin a large fast circle to the right but do not close this circle. Run straight down the right side of the arena past the center marker and do a left rollback at least twenty feet from the wall or fence - no hesitation. Continue back around the previous circle but do not close this circle. Run down the left side of the arena past the center marker and do a right rollback at least twenty feet from the wall or fence - no hesitation. Continue back around the previous circle but do not close this circle. Run down the right side of the arena past the center marker and do a sliding stop at least twenty feet from the wall or fence. Back up at least ten feet. Hesitate to demonstrate completion of the pattern. Rider must drop bridle to the designated judge.
NRHA Pattern 9	Return to Top
Run past the center marker and do a sliding stop. Back up to the center of the arena or at least ten feet. Hesitate. Complete four spins to the right. Complete four and one-quarter spins to the left so that horse is facing the left wall or fence. Hesitate. Beginning on the left lead, complete three circles to the left. the first circle small and slow; the next two circles large and fast. Change leads at the center of the arena. Complete three circles to the right: the first circle small and slow; the next two circles large and fast. Change leads at the center of the arena. Begin a large fast circle to the left but do not close this circle. Run up the right side of the arena past the center marker and do a right rollback at least twenty feet from the wall or fence - no hesitation. Continue back around the previous circle but do not close this circle. Run up the left side of the arena past the center marker and do a left rollback at least twenty feet from the wall or fence - no hesitation. Continue back around previous circle but do not close this circle. Run up right side of the arena past the center marker and do a sliding stop at least twenty feet from the wall or fence. Hesitate to demonstrate completion of the pattern. Rider must drop bridle to the designated judge.
NRHA Pattern 10	Return to Top
Run past the center marker and do a sliding stop. Back up to the center of the arena or at least ten feet. Hesitate. Complete four spins to the right. Complete four and one-quarter spins to the left so that horse is facing the left wall or fence. Hesitate. Beginning on the right lead, complete three circles to the right. the first two circle large and fast; the third circle small and slow. Change leads at the center of the arena. Complete three circles to the left: the first circle small and slow; the next two circles large and fast. Change leads at the center of the arena. Begin a large fast circle to the right but do not close this circle. Run down the right side of the arena past the center marker and do a left rollback at least twenty feet from the wall or fence - no hesitation. Continue back around the previous circle but do not close this circle. Run down the left side of the arena past the center marker and do a right rollback at least twenty feet from the wall or fence - no hesitation. Continue back around previous circle but do not close this circle. Run down right side of the arena past the center marker and do a sliding stop at least twenty feet from the wall or fence. Hesitate to demonstrate completion of the pattern. Rider must drop bridle to the designated judge.