Gabe Davide describes the sport of reining as
”
figure skating on a horse.
”
It involves a series of orchestrated moves demonstrating the
technical and athletic ability of the horse and rider with points
awarded for skillfully completing maneuvers.
By Marc Hopkins Special to the Dispatch
Gabe Davide describes the sport of reining as “figure skating on a horse.” It involves a series of orchestrated moves demonstrating the technical and athletic ability of the horse and rider with points awarded for skillfully completing maneuvers.
During competition, the rider must take the horse through a series of wide and tight turns at varying speeds, complete several fast stops and starts, smoothly execute varying speed transitions and perform other exhibitions of skill.
Reining is an international sport and its participants hope that one day it will be included in the Summer Olympics. For the riders and horses at the Buck N Horse Ranch in Gilroy and others like it, it is a hobby, something Davide says anyone can get involved in.
Davide, 26, competes in what he describes as the “minor leagues of reining,” and has won several titles in the last two years including Champion and Reserve Champion at events such as the Cactus Classic, the Hollywood Charity Show and Reining by the Bay. However, his primary focus these days are on his students.
The students range in age from 16 to 75 years old, both men and women from all walks of life including attorneys, business owners and the tech industry. His students have finished in the top 10 for the region which includes competitors from California, Nevada, Arizona and Oregon.
Davide, who took over as reining trainer at the Buck N Horse Ranch in January 2004, teaches individuals who already have basic riding skills, working to get rider and horse ready to compete in categories from “As Green As Grass” riders who have never competed before to “Rookie,” which includes riders who have won at least $100 in competition.
When it comes to horses “you have to make the wrong things hard and the right things easy,” said Davide, who grew up on a boarding and breeding facility. It may take days working with a new or young horse to get it to take one step in the direction you want, but “you have to go one step before you can go 100 yards,” he said.
“Horses are different from people in that they are prey animals… their instinct is to flee when scared,” Davide said “You have to build trust with the animal and let them know you are not there to harm them.”
Horses have varying degrees of physical ability and natural talent. “You have your Michael Jordans and you have those who will never do more than shoot hoops in the back yard,” Davide said.
The sport is physically demanding on both the rider and the horse, and Davide recommends that before riders get involved in the sport they have a good riding foundation.
To get more information on the sport visit the National Reining Horse Association’s Web site at www.NRHA.com or visit Davide’s Web site at www.gdhorses.com.
