VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: Reining Riders take over fairgrounds for Summer Slide event
Shariden Truly: It’s more than just horsepower — it’s timing, precision, and trust between the horse and the rider. At the Summer Slide, hosted by the Central New York Reining Horse Association, competition runs deep — but so does community.
Tiffany Day: Our mission of Central New York Reining Association is to bring a family yet competitive environment with a supportive group of people to encourage people to compete and have that support from their peers.
Truly: The supportive and welcoming environment is what keeps the riders coming back each year — including competitor Frani Simmons, who’s been reining for years.
Frani Simmons: Everything. It doesn’t matter how old you are, and I’m old, and it doesn’t matter how young you are. I have kids in my barn from 15 and the oldest is 80. And I have 76, 78 — I have all ages — and it’s great. Everybody gets along like they’re the same age.
Truly: Whether it’s your first time riding or your millionth, Simmons says the best way to rein is to just start — and keep trying.
Simmons: Try it. Try it. Absolutely. Just find a trainer, a barn that does reining, and try it once. You’ll be hooked.
Ttuly: With riders from France, Canada, and the Central New York region, the Summer Slide will continue throughout the weekend. If you’re looking for something different to do, it might be time to get your boots on the ground and see what the reining community is all about. Shariden Truly, NCC News.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — The New York State Fairgrounds are filled with the sounds of horseshoes and cheering as the Central New York Reining Horse Association is hosting its annual Summer Slide event. The show turns Western riding into friendly competition and community.
The Summer Slide event is all about showcasing the sport of reining. The discipline focuses on a horse and rider practicing patterns such as spins, sliding stops, and paced circling. Tiffany Day, president of the CNYRHA, said it’s the heart of the community that brings the riders together.
“Our mission of the Central New York reining association is to bring a family yet competitive environment with a supportive group of people to encourage people to compete and have that support from their peers,” said Day.
The community feel and support were on full display this afternoon as riders from France and Canada competed against local talent. From teens to seniors, the event brought in a diverse crowd of horse riders who all had one thing in common, a love for reining.
“It doesn’t matter how old you are, and I’m old,” said longtime rider Frani Simmons. “And it doesn’t matter how young you are, I have kids in my bond from 15 and the oldest is 80. And I have 76, 78, I have all ages, and it’s great. Everybody gets along like they’re the same age.”
Simmons said the joy she feels while riding is unmatched, and noted that she could never be stopped from reining because of how happy she is while doing it. She also said that she’s gotten several of her friends to try the sport, and they now love it as well. Simmons is a huge advocate for giving reining a shot, as the sport sees age as just a number.
“Absolutely. Try it,” she said. “Just find a trainer and a barn that does reining, and try it once. You’ll be hooked.”
The Summer Slide will continue throughout the weekend with a ton of chances to check out the riders from near and far. If you’re curious about the sport, organizers say this is the perfect time to get your boots on the ground and experience the reining in action.