Rein and train: Battle Ground’s own makes career of horse reining

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When asked how young he was when he learned to ride, Battle Ground horse reiner and trainer Kyle Kellmer had no idea. He only knew that it was all he’d ever done, and couldn’t remember a time in his life he wasn’t riding. 

As a result of a lifetime of riding, at just 32 years old, Kellmer has built a business of training and riding horses. 

Kellmer Performance Horses is based out of his home in Battle Ground, where he’s lived with his wife and two kids for about a decade. Kellmer specializes in horse reining, a type of riding competition where contestants ride their horses through an intricate pattern of various circles and stops. The “maneuvers” are judged on a plus-minus scale — a score of 70 would be average with a 74 being very good. 

As a rider, Kellmer competes in events year around, all across the country. Las Vegas, Scottsdale, Arizona and Idaho are a few of the locations he mentioned. The event he’s currently at is in Oklahoma City and usually lasts about three weeks to a month. This particular event is the biggest and most prestigious of the year for Kellmer and other riders competing under the sanction of the National Reining Horse Association. Kellmer said that he, along with his family, are usually gone for about a week out of every month, competing. 

One unique aspect of Kellmer’s riding is that many times he is not the owner of the horse he’s competing with. The breeding and selling of horses, Kellmer explained, is a big part of the industry and given Kellmer’s expertise, owners will pay him to ride the horse, i.e., presenting it in a more pleasing manner. A baby from a horse with a strong bloodline and a proven track record of success in reining can sell for “several hundred thousand.” Riding is just one aspect of Kellmer’s  business though. His training of others on how to best ride and present their horse makes up the rest. 



His training techniques are derived from a diverse riding background. He grew up training and riding with his father under a variety of different disciplines, not just reining. Kellmer attributes that diversity to some of his success.

When addressing the benefits of owning horses as a child, being raised around horses himself  and now raising his own children around them, Kellmer said that along with the responsibility a child learns through animal husbandry, they also learn good people skills.

“Between coaching people, talking to different customers and friends that we meet all across the country … the socialization that kids get is pretty huge,” he said.