Brad And Becky Phillips of Reining Horses Unlimited
ELKLAND, MO. – Brad and Becky Phillips operate Reining Horses Unlimited, a facility to train horses for reining shows to make the horses “the best that they can be in the time we are given to train them,” in Becky’s words. “It takes two years, depending on the horse and the rider,” she explained recently while seated at the large arena that is a part of her facility, “but I can get a horse to do all the maneuvers within three months.” She currently has 17 horses, belonging to various owners, in training on the site. Brad trains and shows horses as well. Becky and Brad own an additional three horses of their own on 15 acres in Dallas County, outside Elkland, Mo.
“We train horses for reining horse shows,” she continued. “I started training horses at age 17 for Randy Cutbirth in Willard. After that, I worked for another trainer in Florida before spending eight years in Texas. When I returned to Missouri, I was another four years in Rogersville before I came here and started my own operation in 2020.”
She continued. “We work on body control and the movement of the rider’s legs and hands, as well as reining maneuvers. Our horses can go into the show ring after one or two years of training. We don’t train for barrel racing or roping competitions, but a number of people take their horses from here and go on into those fields. I do a lot of clinics and lessons. My classes are usually for adults who want to get into ranch riding shows. There are a number of those shows in this area.”
Becky and other friends and family members are involved in various aspects of the horse world. A younger sister and another close family friend were competing in barrel races in Oklahoma the particular day of this interview, and she and her daughter, Rilee and another friend were watching those competitions closely on their cell phones. Her own youngest child, four year old Kansas has competed in goat tail tying and mutton busting competitions, the rodeo contests for the youngest and smallest of contestants.
Becky took a few minutes to wrap a horse’s fetlocks before starting the day’s training. “This keeps the horse from clipping himself with a hoof as he makes the turns and spins we use. We teach the various maneuvers used in the riding shows, such as spinning in both directions, circles, lead changes meaning leading both to the right and the left and sliding stops.”
The moves and dramatic changes in direction make for a lively performance. Becky won first place in one of the biggest classes in Carthage, Mo. recently at a show at the Lucky J Arena.
“I won a $900 prize that day,” she smiled. “At that same reining show over Easter weekend, two of my clients’ horses also reached their reining goals in competition.”
Brad Phillips was also showing horses recently. Becky continued. “He came in second in the Carthage Ranch Riding Show, on a horse that I trained. I have a couple of young people who bring their horses here and work cleaning stalls and the like and then we also work at training their horses together.”
Becky explained a few years ago, her husband saw an advertisement that the owner of the facility that they now call their own, was looking to rent the place. They were able to make that deal work and after a couple of years, they purchased the arena-barn that now serves their growing business.
Becky concluded. “For any of the young people who would like to become a trainer, my best advice is to work for a good reputable trainer first for a good little while to learn not only how to train the horses but also the business end of it all. This is a business and sometimes those who are really looking to work with the horses forget that part. I worked for several trainers before starting my own business and it has really paid off.”
