PG . 16
AQHA FEATURE
COMPETITOR SPOTLIGHT
- LIZ GALLIOT -
C
IT WAS THE PEOPLE THAT FIRST ATTRACTED WEST AUSTRALIAN LIZ GALLIOT TO REINING , RETURNING FROM A WARWICK SCHILLER CLINIC IN 2013 TO DECLARE , “ GUESS WHAT , WE ARE GOING REINING .”
ARTICLE BY : KERRI BEHRENS © 2022 • PHOTO BY : KEN ANDERSON EQUINE PHOTOGRAPHY
When husband Rob enquired , “ What is that ?” Liz enthused , “ I have no idea , but the people are amazing .”
Just like that she was back in the saddle , after a 20 year break to raise a family , and rebuilding her confidence riding some “ very broke ” reining horses .
Fast forward to 2022 , and Liz has recently returned from her third Reining Australia National Championships with not only a personal best score of 69 but an equal Reserve National Title in Prime Time and third in Limited Non Pro .
“ It was incredible ,” Liz said of her success .
“ I hope to do well but never expect to win or place . We are so starved of coaches in WA that we can learn more in 10 minutes of watching open pen at Nationals than we can in a year at home .”
“ So my aim is to always learn and do better . Winning is the icing on the cake .
“ I was more thrilled about scoring two positive manoeuvres in those classes - a plus half stop and spin ,” she said .
Liz also wins the prize for longest distance travelled by a Reining Australia member to compete at the 2022 Australian National Reining Championships . A ten day round trip covering an epic 9,380.8 kilometres , paying a top price of $ 3.19 a litre for diesel along the way .
Having now done the trip several times , Liz says the best advice imparted on her is to follow the number one rule , “ Do not unload a horse on the Nullarbor – ever !”
Of course it takes two to tango in Reining and Liz ’ s equine teammate is her six year old quarter horse gelding Einsteins Set N Drift ( Einsteins Revelation x Paris Dun It ) aka Floyd .
“ He is amazing . He may not be perfect , but he is perfect for me ,” Liz said .
With her friendly smile , wicked sense of humour and infectious passion of the sport , Liz herself is now one of the “ amazing people ” who inspire new riders to start Reining .
An active member and Show Secretary for both the Western Australian Reining Horse Association and West Coast Reiners , Liz is dedicated to growing the sport in her home state .
“ Reining is such an encouraging sport . You can do it from a basic level and with any horse .”
“ I say to people who are worried they do not have enough experience to compete - if you wait until you are ready you will never go . Who knows what is around the corner - so just do it .”
Liz credits her success to the special group of people who support her dream .
“ Huge thanks to my husband Rob who does all the driving . Thank you to my trainer Mick Taylor for giving me this amazing horse . Shout out to my riding coach Elise Young who flew over to be with me at Nationals ,” she said .
“ Thank you to Reining Australia and all the sponsors for making us so welcome . The show ran very well and had a great atmosphere . I am already planning the 2023 trip and hoping to bring a convoy with me !”
AUSTRALIAN QUARTER HORSE ASSOCIATION - WWW . AQHA . COM . AU