Liam Sykes, Class of 2017
After working his way through the American circuit, Liam won the 2023 Horse Reining World Championships.
Just eight years ago Liam Sykes routine included the daily commute from Ringwood East to Luther College, attending timetabled classes, completing his VCE and perhaps even pondering the future like so many Year 12 students do.
Even he may have been surprised to know that his future self would become a professional horse reiner, winning the 2023 Horse Reining World Championship
in Texas, after working his way up the ranks of the highly competitive American circuit. Liam’s interest in horses came as a surprise to his family, given no one around him owned or rode horses, except his aunt who enjoyed the occasional trail ride. It was meeting a pony at his third birthday party that ignited his passion.
“I started riding lessons at the age of six at a small farm in the Dandenongs and it was something I looked forward to every week.
“I didn’t have daily access to horses like many people do, but every chance I got I grabbed it. For example, I did work experience with Kate Elliott, at her property in
Glenburn. She introduced me to the reining discipline as well as training young horses which I loved.
“I also spent time working for Corey Holden in Cobram, a decorated cutting horse rider and trainer who has enjoyed significant success (and winnings), and although I loved my time there the idea of reining excited me more,” Liam said.
After graduating from Luther College, Liam travelled, snowboarding and exploring his love of the great outdoors, a passion he discovered after completing VCE Outdoor Education. But his love of horses drew him back, soon attending a clinic hosted by Trent Harvey in Sunbury, Victoria in 2019. It was there Liam solidified a relationship with Trent, who soon after invited Liam to work alongside himself and Tom McCutcheon reining horses in Aubrey Texas.
“Trent mentored me every day and helped develop my skills as a horse trainer. I also had great support from other trainers working at the facility. When Trent went on to start a business of his own, I became his righthand man.
“The years that followed, Trent taught me how to ride the older more highly trained horses and gave me the opportunity to start competing. This resulted in my
world title, which I won on a mare named Hope N a Prayer, which one of his clients owned at the time.
“I now have a new position training for Mirjam Stillo, another successful trainer who comes from Italy. Training performance horses is a long and challenging process. It takes two years to develop a horse from no training all the way to the show pen. I work six days a week, most days are no less than 12 hours of working which I ride 12-15 horses every day,” Liam said.
Horse shows run for about ten days most months of the year, with Liam competing on many different horses depending on client requests and prize money available.
“Most major reining competitions have a minimum of $500,000 prize money spread across multiple divisions. The biggest show being The Run for a Million where one million dollars in prize money is awarded in a single night event. Most of these shows are held in Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona, and Las Vegas,” he said.
With twelve-hour days and a busy schedule, Liam is rarely without his sidekick Fern, a cattle dog who is not just his daily companion but also travels with Liam to shows, even staying in hotels with him.
When looking back at his time at Luther, Liam is grateful for the experience.
“My greatest memories are definitely the outdoor education camps. They fed my love of the outdoors and still heavily influence my recreational activity choices to this day,” he said.
“I also had two teachers who were valuable in my secondary school journey – Tim Martin and Charlotte Lee.
“Tim was one of my Maths teachers and he always had such a friendly face. He was a great educator not only in the classroom, but an expert on the keys to success in everyday life.
“Charlotte also taught me Maths (and Science) and ended up as my VCE ‘mentor’. Like Tim, she proved a knowledgeable guide through the highs and lows of school life.
“If I think about it, Tim and Charlotte really were instrumental in developing my ability to manage daily challenges, helping me build a foundation I can apply to all areas of my life.
“This has proven most valuable since my career choice of horse reining was not something that formed any part of the curriculum!” Liam laughed.
Looking forward Liam plans to build a life in the USA, given the equine industry is so large. His family have been and will continue to visit, even meeting in ‘the middle’ on a trip to Hawaii.