MATT MILLS
Matt Mills, California native, has been riding horses since the age of 9. After riding horses for 10 years and being introduced to reining, he was confident he'd be training reining horses for a while. A summer internship at age 18 with the respected NRHA Professional Dell Hendricks turned into a job, and then became the defining moment of his career. In a sport where the prime for most is reached in one's mid-to late-30's, Matt Mills is ahead of the curve. At age 28, Mills is consistently ranked in the top 20 (competition) and top 25 (purse) listings of reiners worldwide, with 14,000 riders internationally who participate in the sport.
In addition to his youth and skill, Matt stands out as one of the few African-Americans riding as a professional trainer. While he’s easy to pick out of the crowd, for those in the industry, Mills is better known for his mega-watt smile and charismatic personality. Currently, Matt has delved into the sport of professional football, as he counts Philadelphia Eagles receiver Brain Westbrook as one of his top clients and friends.
While Mills has been slowly working his way up the ladder of success in the show pen, 2006 became a standout year for Matt when he won the USEF (United States Equestrian Federation) Reining Championship in Lexington, Kentucky. Riding the beautiful and athletic Easy Otie Whiz, a stallion by top sire Topsail Whiz, Matt won the event with an amazing 231.5, punching his ticket to the World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany. Matt credits 'Easy' with being a big reason for his success. “He was my breakthrough horse,” Mills said. “He's done more for my career than any other. I was right there knocking at the door until that time, and he spring-boarded my career to the next level.”
At the World Equestrian Games, Matt and “Easy” scored a 224.5, earning the Team USA Gold Medal and placing fourth in the Individual competition. Reining, unlike horseracing or steeplechase, is the rider's mastery of a symbiotic relationship between horse and rider. Together, they perform a routine of maneuvers that must satisfy a five-judge panel. Matt competes with every given opportunity. He hopes to continue raising the profile of the sport, which hopes to soon become an Olympic event. It is also continuing to gain momentum on ESPN and other sports media outlets.
Matt operates his training operation from Bobbie Cook’s OutWest Stallion Station and Performance Horses in Scottsdale, Ariz., where he trains horses and non-pro riders. At the ranch, Matt manages a rigorous 12-hour day of training horses as well as mentoring assistant trainers. It is on his ranch where he trains, develops and connects with stallions like the young Chic 'N' Shine that led him to victory at the 2006 Denver Summer Slide or the more seasoned Easy Otie Whiz, who put him in the winner’s circle at the USEF Reining Championship in Lexington, Kentucky and the World Equestrian Games in Germany.
The connection between horse and rider rivals any human-to-human connection. Like a film director and his actors, Matt Mills does more than just walk and talk with these thousand-pound creatures. He must master the subtleties, as well as the discipline to bring out the best in them.
Of all his wonderful clients, supporters and stellar equine partners, Matt counts his most important partners as his family. He has been married to his wife, Karen, for two years, and the couple has a 1-year-old son, Ryan, in addition to Alec, 13, and Emma, 10. Matt’s mom, Debbie, divides her time between her home in California and as the OutWest Stallion Station Breeding Manager, and his dad, Henry, is a minister. In his free time, Matt enjoys spending time with his family and playing basketball and golf.
For more information go to: www.mattmillsreining.com |
