First AUS Reiner, Warren Backhouse, Settles in at WEG

Warren Backhouse and Whizs Bronze Star
In the Reining Stables at WEG
Photograph:Franz Venhaus

Warren Backhouse, his wife Carol (groom) and horse Whizs Bronze Star have settled into the WEG venue, with the other Reining horse boxes still to be filled over the next couple of days.

Warren Backhouse is the leading reining money earner in Australia, reaching earnings of over $200,000 in 2009 and is considered as one of the top reining competitors in the country, having won or placed in National Futurity titles and Open Derby titles every year, for the past five years.

Warren is originally from the Atherton Tablelands in Queensland and grew up around horses. However, his family then moved to Sydney where he got all the horse action he could be assisting a neighbour with horse breaking. Eventually Warren moved back to Queensland (Caboolture) and started his farrier's apprenticeship, put in his time shoeing, competed at rodeos (bull riding and saddle broncs) and also broke in and showed a few horses of his own. Whilst raising a family with wife, Carol, Warren competed successfully in shoeing competitions and helped his children with their horse related interests. As the children grew, Warren got back into showing, western pleasure and all western events, with Paints and Quarter Horses.

In 2001, after having spent alot of time with Ian Frances, Warren was asked to take a horse and 'go reining', which resulted in his developing a passion for the sport. The rest - as they say - is history! Warren has had the honor of competing on alot of brilliant horses, ridden for some great clients and meet alot of wonderful people during his reining career. Clinics have become another important aspect of Warren's life and he enjoys travelling and forwarding the knowledge he has gathered onto others.