How reining scoring works

Every reining run starts at 70. The judge marks each maneuver up or down, subtracts penalties, and the number left is your score. Here is the whole system in plain terms.

Why does every run start at 70?

Seventy is the average, correct run. From there the judge adds credit for a maneuver done well and takes it away for one done poorly, then subtracts penalties. A 70 means you ran clean and correct with nothing that stood out either way.

What do the maneuver marks mean?

Each maneuver is scored from minus 1 1/2 to plus 1 1/2 in half-point steps: minus 1 1/2 extremely poor, minus 1 very poor, minus 1/2 poor, 0 correct, plus 1/2 good, plus 1 very good, plus 1 1/2 excellent. Add up the maneuver marks, start from 70, and that is your gross score before penalties.

What is a penalty score zero?

A zero score is not the same as a no score. You get a penalty score of zero for failing to complete the pattern as written: running the maneuvers out of order, adding one that was not called for, or riding two-handed in a class that requires one hand. The run still counts and can still place; it just scores zero. A no score is a disqualification and does not place at all.

What is a plus a half worth?

A plus 1/2 on one maneuver adds half a point to your final score. It sounds small, but reining is decided in half points. A run marked plus 1/2 on spins, circles, and a stop is a 71 1/2, and that wins classes.

How do penalties work?

Penalties come off after the maneuver marks. They run from a half point for smaller faults up to five points for a major one, like spurring in front of the cinch or holding the saddle. Everything is totaled in the penalty box on the right of the sheet and subtracted from your gross score.

What happens with more than one judge?

Bigger shows use three or five judges. With five, the high and low are dropped and the middle three count. To compare a five-judge run against a one-judge run, divide the composite by the number of judges that counted, so everyone is on the same per-judge scale.