C&I Q&A: Winning Reining Trainer Fernando Salgado

The winning team at the inaugural American Performance horse last March included Adan Banuelos, who won the cutting; cow-horse trainer Sarah Dawson; and reining trainer Fernando Salgado.

First, the stats on Fernando Salgado.

Hometown: Gainesville, Texas
Lifetime Earnings: $1,360,923.20
Equine Partner: Pale Dun Star (NRHA earnings of $153,315.24)

Fernando Salgado on his equine partner Pale Dun Star at the 2023 American Performance Horseman.

C&I: What does an event like this do for both competitors and spectators?

Fernando Salgado: Personally, for my career, it was an amazing experience. It’s definitely a different ballgame, different environment, and different level than anything we do all year long. The [National Reining Horse Association] Futurity is our biggest event, and there are always big crowds. But it is nothing compared to the energy and the size of this event. I feel very lucky that I’ve been part of the first one.

I’m from Brazil, and a lot of people I know in Brazil don’t know exactly what reining is. They know that I’m a horse trainer. Because of how big The American is, they go, “Oh, now I know what you do!” I’m competing at the highest level in reining, but that never got their attention. The American did.

Fernando Salgado and Pale Dun Star competed on Team Blue during the 2023 American Performance Horseman.

C&I: What impact does The American Performance Horseman have on the Western horse industry?

Salgado: I have customers that are investing a lot in reining, and after that event, they are thinking about having a horse in cutting training.

It allowed people who might never have watched that level of competition to see it, and it exposed our sports to a lot more people. It opened the door and gave ideas to [show producers].

C&I: Tell us how you selected the horse you rode at The American Performance Horseman.

Salgado: At most shows we go a week before and school our horses in the arena. This competition was different. We didn’t have a lot of room to warm up, and we only rode one night [in the arena] before the competition. I needed a horse that was solid, confident, and knew its job. Some horses just need more preparation. I needed one that would come out ready to go. I chose a 6-year-old gelding that had been shown in the non-pro and the open. I really didn’t have a horse to win first place, but I knew I could do a good job. I marked a 224.5, which is a big score. I was happy for the horse I had at the moment and in that situation. He handled it well and it paid off.

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Fernando Salgado and Pale Dun Star

C&I: Western horse events are typically solo endeavors. What did you think of the team concept, and how did that impact you?

Salgado: It was so cool to get to see those guys from the cutting and cow horse [disciplines]. Whenever you’re around the best of the best, there are always things you can learn and transfer to your discipline.

For me personally, it added a lot of pressure, especially since my team had the No. 1 riders in the cutting and the cow horse! Sarah [Dawson] was leading the cow horse from the morning, and Adan [Banuelos] won the cutting. Then I was like, “Here we go! I’m going to be the one that’s going to be remembered if I drop the ball.” I needed to be consistent, and I did exactly what I knew I could do. I had a really good run and it helped the team.

It was great to get to know them. We became friends. I follow a little bit of the competition but personally didn’t know anybody [from the other disciplines]. So just to be around it and see how they warmed up and competed was great.

Adan Banuelos (left), Fernando Salgado (middle), and Sarah Dawson (right) celebrate their win at the 2023 American Performance Horseman.

C&I: How would you describe the atmosphere of The American Performance Horseman?

Salgado: Usually in the reining events, people cheer a lot, but it is usually quiet between the maneuvers and loud when there is a big stop or other maneuver. You do one big stop and people cheer, and then you nail one turn and they cheer. I drew first in the reining, and when I stopped and backed up [on the first maneuver], it was loud. There was no stopping, and it was coming from everywhere. Usually there is a group of people that cheer for you on this side or that side of the arena. This was the whole arena. It built an amazing energy.

PHOTOGRAPHY: Courtesy of Chelsea Schneider

Learn more about The American Performance Horseman.

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