Superior Saddlery — Andy Mashke
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Certified Used Saddles — David Solum
A reining saddle can get you through a cow horse event — but it is not the optimal tool, and it becomes a real liability at higher levels. Here is exactly what you give up and when it matters.
A reining saddle can get you through an NRCHA cow horse event — particularly at the lower and amateur levels — but it is not the optimal tool for the job, and it becomes a genuine competitive liability at higher levels. The question is not whether you can compete in a reining saddle. The question is what you are giving up when you do.
NRCHA competition has three scored phases beyond the reining pattern: fence work, boxing, and open cow work. Each imposes physical demands on the rider that a pure reining saddle was explicitly designed to eliminate.
A fence run requires the horse to execute a hard sliding stop and rollback when the cow hits the fence. The forces in a fence stop are substantially greater than a pattern stop — the cow is pushing toward the horse, and the horse must absorb that forward momentum and reverse direction. The low cantle of a reining saddle (2.5–3.5 inches) provides minimal rear support for these stops. The rider must brace against the motion with core and thigh rather than the cantle, which introduces tension that telegraphs to the horse.
Working a cow in the open or boxing a cow in a corner imposes lateral forces on the saddle that reining pattern work never creates. The in-skirt or 7/8 rigging of a reining saddle is designed for the straight-line forces of pattern work. Under the lateral loading of cow work, a lighter reining-spec rigging may not hold the saddle as stably as the 7/8-to-full rigging common in cow horse saddles.
The reining pattern phase of NRCHA cow horse competition is essentially the same as a standalone NRHA event. A reining saddle is exactly the right tool for this phase — the flat seat, slick fork, and low cantle that optimize the rider's position for pattern work are fully appropriate here.
| NRCHA Phase | Reining Saddle Suitability | Cow Horse Saddle Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Reining Pattern | ✓ Fully appropriate — this is what the saddle was built for | Slight disadvantage — more cantle height than ideal for pattern |
| Fence Work | △ Workable at lower levels; cantle limitation shows at speed | Meaningful advantage — more rear support through fence stops |
| Boxing | △ Manageable — less lateral force than open cow work | Moderate advantage in rigging stability |
| Open Cow Work | △ Most demanding phase for a reining saddle — rigging and cantle both tested | Largest advantage — designed for exactly these forces |
Rookie / Green classes: A reining saddle is entirely serviceable. The cattle work at entry levels is less intense, the scores more forgiving, and the physical demands on the rider less extreme. Many riders get their first NRCHA points in a reining saddle and it is entirely appropriate at this stage.
Amateur / Non Pro: The limitation starts to show. Amateur and Non Pro classes require horses to work cattle with more intensity, and fence runs are faster and more committed. Riders in reining saddles at this level frequently report that fence stops feel less secure than they would like.
Open / Professional: At the top of NRCHA competition, the difference between a reining saddle and a purpose-built cow horse saddle is meaningful. Open horses are working at the edge of their athletic capacity. Fence runs are at full speed. The rider needs every advantage the saddle can provide, and the reining saddle's cantle limitation is a genuine competitive disadvantage in the cattle phases.
The cantle height is fixed by the tree. You cannot add cantle height to a reining saddle. If the cantle limitation is creating a genuine safety or performance problem in fence work, the correct solution is a different saddle — not a workaround that adds tension to the rider's position.
If you are new to NRCHA cow horse competition and already own a well-fitted reining saddle, start with what you have. Get your first exposure to the sport, understand what the cattle phases feel like, and then evaluate whether the saddle's limitations are affecting your performance in a meaningful way.
If you are ready to invest in purpose-built cow horse equipment, David Solum's certified used inventory regularly includes Bob's Custom and Superior Saddlery cow horse builds — saddles that were designed for exactly the demands you are about to discover.
Contact David Solum
Not sure which saddle fits your discipline — or your horse? David Solum has been advising western riders for 40+ years. Call, text, WhatsApp, or use the form.