Location   

Horsezone News

Reiner Shaun Saunders - A Legend at 25!

Published on Wednesday, October 23, 2013 in General

From the October issue of Local Horse Magazine

On 24 of September 2013 Reining Australia held their annual Hall of Fame Dinner at the 2013 Futurity and National Affiliate Championship show.  The Hall of Fame Awards recognises the exceptional achievements and accomplishments of the people and horses whose efforts have a marked effect on the history of reining in Australia.

Legend Status is achieved by any rider who has won over $100000 in prize money. To put this into perspective there have been only five riders in the history of reining in Australia who have achieved this status.

Shaun Saunders from Saunders Performance Horses in Wamuran, QLD near Caboolture was the latest rider awarded Legend Status by Reining Australia after reaching this milestone.  And furthermore at only 25 years of age he is the youngest rider to achieve this impressive status. He joins the other legends who are household names in the reining industry - Martin Larcombe, Warren Backhouse, Ian Francis, John Wicks and Cameron Halliwell.

Saunders is now undisputedly one of the leading riders and trainers on the reining circuit. He is a multiple State and National winner whose star continues to shine and there seems to be no limit to what he might achieve throughout his career.

Born the eldest of 4 boys who grew up on a cattle property in Central Queensland, Saunders love of horses was always on show.  His father Ian took him to some reining clinics whilst Shaun was still at high school and his passion for reining began.

He commenced riding reining horses in 2003 at the age of 15 years. His exceptional horse skills and talent quickly came to the fore when he won High Point Youth of Australia including 3 State Championships and Reserve Champion at the National Show.

But it was in 2005 when Saunders made a statement and people really started to take notice. In his first open event the VRHA Open Derby he ran a scintillating 75 score on ‘Okies Spark’ to win the championship. He then went onto win the QRHA open and the NRHA (RA) Open Derby Championship.

Over the next few years he competed in his 1st NRHA (RA) futurity where he ran 3rd and was Reserve Champion in the Open Derby. The Saunders talent was not just limited to horse riding when in 2008 he won 3rd year apprentice of the year as a farrier working with respected horse trainer and farrier Glenn Wyse.

It was around this time that Saunders in his relentless drive to become one of the best riders went to work for well known trainer Warren Backhouse at Backhouse Training Stables. It was here that he would forge an everlasting relationship with the love of his life Hayley.

In 2010 he won his first open futurity at the Pacific Reining Spectacular and later that year went onto win his first QLD State Futurity by a record breaking 11 points. In 2011 he ran the equal highest ever scoring run in Australia on Whizz Peppy scoring a massive 76.5.

Shaun and Hayley formed Saunders Performance Horses in 2011.  The Saunders Performance team established themselves with immediate results not only in the reining pen.  In 2012 Hayley and Shaun were married and are now the proud parents of beautiful baby Alexis who is already a popular member of the reining family.

Shaun has now achieved 3 State Open Futurity Wins, with other successful wins in Derby and Open events on the State and National Level including the Open Classic and Open at the recent 2013 Reining Australia Nationals and Reserve Champion in the 2013 Gold Buckle Futurity Championships.

The Legend Award is a result of the sheer determination, guts, drive for success, and unbridled ambition without compromising on sportsmanship, honour and respect for his fellow competitors.

Shaun Saunders -  already a true legend - at 25.

Horsezone is pleased to be working with Local Horse Magazine and welcomes their contributions. To read other great articles across like this one go to  www.localhorsemagazine.com.au


Be the first to comment on this article
You must be logged in to place comments