Editing Reining (section)

==Origins==
Throughout the history of the [[Americas]], dating back to the earliest [[Spanish people|Spanish]] settlers in what today is [[Mexico]] and the Southwestern [[United States]], including [[Texas]] and [[California]], [[ranch]]ers needed to manage [[cattle]] from horseback. Cattle were moved, [[livestock branding|branded]], doctored, sorted, and [[herding|herded]], often on [[open range]] without the benefit of [[agricultural fencing|fences]], [[barn]]s or other means of holding the animals. A good [[cowboy]] needed a quick and nimble horse, one that could change directions quickly, stop "on a dime," and sprint after an errant cow. The horse needed to be controlled mostly by legs and weight, ridden with only one hand and a light touch on the reins, so that the cowboy's attention could also be on tasks that could include handling a [[Lasso|lariat]] (to rope cattle), opening a gate, or simply waving a hand, hat or rope to move along a reluctant herd animal. Informal demonstrations of these ideal characteristics amongst ranch cowboys and [[cowboy|vaquero]]s evolved into the sport of reining, as well as the related events of [[cutting (sport)|cutting]] and [[working cow horse]] as well as several other [[horse show]] classes.

Other nations with traditions of herding livestock on vast areas, such as [[Australia]] and [[Argentina]], developed similar traditions that have blended into the sport as it has expanded worldwide.