Five Minutes With... Warren Backhouse

Warren and Docs Fancy Roy (photo: Tania Hobbs)

Warren and Ruf Lil Renee sliding their way to a win at Equitana

Warren and Shiney and Nu following their run at Equitana

Warren and Whizs Bronze Star competing in the reining qualifier at WEG 2010 (photo: Franz Venhaus/Equestrian Australia)

Warren and Whizpy Little Step - winners of the 2011 NRHA Open Futurity with a record score (photo couresy of Daralyn Davies - owner of Whizpy Little Step) View Whizpy Little Step's Stallion at Stud listing.

Warren and Lilmissnoitall

Warren enjoys sharing his knowledge at training clinics

Top trainer, competitor and clinician, Warren Backhouse, is the leading reining money earner in Australia with many impressive achievements under his belt, including wins and placings in National Futurities and Open Derbies. In addition to his many successes in this country, Warren represented Australia in reining at the World Equestrian Games in 2010, finishing 13th overall.  A fantastic achievement for someone not based in the US - the undisputed home of reining - and riding a borrowed horse. 

At the recent Equitana Open Reining Championships Warren placed first on Ruf Lil Renee and equal second on Shiney and Nu. Warren's runs on these horses were outstanding and demonstrated to the huge crowd, many of whom had never seen reining, just how amazingly educated reining horses can be.  He also impressed by showing his admiration for these horses on the completion of each run, dismounting in the arena and rewarding them with praise and pats.  These superstar reining horses and indeed all the horses Warren trains and competes, seem to love him and want to give 100%.

In addition to competing, Warren conducts regular reining and horsemanship clinics around Australia. Anyone who has been privileged enough to attend one of these clinics will agree that he shows deep dedication to sharing knowledge and helping people and horses become the best they can be, whatever the discipline.

Following attendance at one of Warren's clinics and after watching his stunning performances at Equitana, Jo Johnson caught up with the Kandanga, Queensland, based trainer to find out more!

 

Warren, how did you first become involved with horses?

Horses are something I've always loved.  I grew up on a dairy farm where there were plenty of cows but no horses! I had an uncle who had a cattle property in far north Queensland and I used to go out there whenever I could so I could ride horses and go mustering with him. I mostly just did bush riding, but I was always interested in what made horses tick.  I didn't have my own horse until I was about 15 years old and that was an Anglo Arabian, so I showed a little in Part Bred Arabian classes.  I also did a bit of campdrafting.  Then I rodeoed - competing in bull riding, saddle bronc and steer wrestling.  I also did a fair bit of western pleasure showing and was fairly successful at that. I completed my farrier's apprenticeship and worked full time as a farrier and competed in shoeing competitions! I've done a lot of different things with horses over the years. 

 

So the big question - when did you first start reining?

After finishing my farriers' apprenticeship and showing pleasure horses for quite some time, I went on to breaking in a lot of Thoroughbreds. Then about 10 years ago I was working with Ian Francis, starting colts for him and I got offered a colt to train and show, who was a good stopping horse, Hollys Hillbilly (x Hollywood Hoges).  I went to my first Futurity Show, which was the Queensland State Show at Caboolture, which we won and that was my first reining show! So I was fairly hooked on reining from there.

 

What do you enjoy most about reining?

That it requires a horse to be so very very broke.  I love training the horses and getting them to the stage where they will stand quiet and confident, absolutely still with no fidgeting and are then able to step right up and immediately perform a fast turn around or circle. A reining horse is like the ultimate horse to ride.  A cutter may get on a reiner and find it a little difficult because they're not used to a horse being so broke. Dressage riders seem best able to handle riding reiners although they have trouble with releasing the contact. A reining horse has to be able to run fast and then come back and go slow, all without contact.  You don't often see horses from other disciplines run fast and then come back calmly to a walk all without contact. It's the ultimate sport for showing off the most trained horse.

 

What makes a great reining horse?

Obviously they've got to be athletic but I think the most important thing for a reining horse is the mind. A great minded horse is a definite asset.  I've had plenty of horses with big stops and great turn arounds but not that good in the mind, whereas horses that may not stop or turn as well, have done better because they're mentally more capable.  Generally horses with the great mental attitude win a lot more and this is the most important attribute I look for. It enables you to train the horses to the stage where they're broke enough to win consistently.

 

How many horses do you work each day?

I ride about 12 a day.  Reiners take a lot more time than say a western pleasure horse, that you might only ride for 15 - 20 minutes a day. Because reiners require so much time with galloping circles, running down, stopping and then letting them recover in between, you might ride each of these horses for an hour or an hour and a half each day. I currently have six to 10 futurity horses, one derby horse and a handful of two year olds.  I have other other derby and open horses that will be coming back in to work after Christmas.

 

Do you have a favourite horse?

I really can't pick any in particular there have been so many - Shiney and Nu, Ruf Lil Renee, Whizpy Little Step, Terminator, Docs Fancy Roy and CD Rom to name just a few. To me they are all great horses and there are plenty of others that I haven't named. Those early horses that I rode probably could have been equally as good as some of the horses I'm riding now, if I'd known then what I know now! I'd love to go back and try, say Hollys Hillbilly, as a futurity horse now, only because I've gained so much knowledge in the past 10 years. I really couldn't say I have a favourite - they've all had a special spot for me.

 

What would you consider the highlight of your career so far?

Representing Australia at the 2010 World Equestrian Games (WEG) and running 13th in the World.  WEG did really cap my achievements - to go up against the best in the world and place 13th was fantastic - of course, I'd love to come first in the world but just competing against riders and horses of that level was great.  Equitana just recently was great too.  It was very very close to the atmosphere at WEG but with 4000 people rather than 14000.  Equitana really was such a major production, it blew me away!

 

What was the best thing about competing at WEG?

The best part was being in the arena with peers who are world champions, who have won those events and are the best in the world.  Riding with them in warm up was awesome but then competing against them and achieving what we did was great.  Another highlight of the trip was the motel that we stayed in! Everybody on the Australian team from para-equestrians through to eventers all stayed in the one place.  You'd get back there in the afternoon and there'd be a blackboard out the front with everybody's achievements on it for that day or week, then people from the different sports would sit down in the foyer together and have a cold drink and talk about what they'd been up to.  The motel put a party on one night for all of the Australian team.  Being part of the team was definitely a highlight.  People from other disciplines would come and see us at the stables, even though we hadn't known them before WEG and then they came to the reining competition and were cheering and screaming for us.  It was truly awesome.

 

Is there a horse sport you’d love to try?

I'm really keen to get involved in cutting. I did some three or so years ago and I enjoyed it but it's very hard to do cutting and reining at top level competition, due to time and client commitments. I'd like to get in and go do some cutting as a new challenge.

 

What bit advice can you give to up and coming reiners?

Never close your mind. Never think you know everything or think the way you do something is the only way it can be done. If you close your mind to outside information and stop listening to what other people have to offer you may get left behind.  You need to always be open minded about anything anyone has to offer you.  Also a good reining horse is a confident horse, so whatever you do, don't destroy that confidence.

 

What do you enjoy most about teaching at training clinics?

I really enjoy seeing people and horses improve. This makes me confident about what I do because I see others getting the same results.  I love watching people getting better and I try and make them think about it a little more - as in encourage them to discover it for themselves, rather than me sit there and say do this, do that and this will happen.  I hope this helps them feel a sense of achievement.  I did a clinic at a station right out in the middle of the Northern Territory and I turned up and there were 20 guys, all station hands with their feet shoved forward onto the horses shoulders (not using their legs at all) and I thought I've bitten off more than I can chew!  We spent four days working on their legs and seat and once they realised how to use their legs properly, they completely changed what they were doing. It was awesome to watch. They went from station ringers whose main aim was to stay on something that was going to buck, to achieving real results with their horses and getting excited about it. That was great.

 

How do you spend your spare time?

You mean what would I like to do if I had spare time?! Seriously, I like to go fishing! I usually only manage to go out once a year but it is my passion. Maybe I could become a host of a fishing show? I love sitting there with my esky in a little boat, drifting along.

 

Goals for the future?

Showing will be full on next year, but I do have a little cutter I'd like to take to show next year, I'll give her 18 months on cattle and then she'll probably be the first one I'll take to the Cutting Futurity.  I'll only have time for one cutting horse because I have obligations in the reining pen for up to four years with clients who want horses trained and shown.  It'll be a slow transition but hopefully I'll be able to show more in cutting in future.

 

Thank you so much for your time Warren and we can't wait to see you and your fantastic reining horses in action again!

If you'd like to organise a clinic with Warren, email him at backhouse.train@bigpond.com or visit the Five Star Reining website as per the link below.

 

Quick Links

• Find out more about Warren's clinics at www.fivestarreining.org.au
• Read more about the reining at Equitana and watch Warren compete.
• View reining horses for sale on Horsezone.