January Profile
19/02/11 15:02
Victoria McClenaughan
Occupation: HR Director; Mother of 2; Livestock Manager and general caretaker.
Age: Would be rude to even ask
Resides: Bringelly NSW
When did you first start riding?
I first started riding at about the age of eight. My parents had a property out near Camden where we had a couple of horses. We would go out on weekends and ride until my parents finished the house and we moved from the city to the property at Mt Hunter. My riding then became daily and I would often spend more time bareback than in the saddle on my horse. My first love was a Welsh Mountain Pony but my first Quarter Horse was a stunning black Rare Chex mare, bought through our neighbour who was a cow-horse man, Warwick Smith.
When did you first start competitive riding?
Other than hacking and jumping and some ‘Rodeo Queen’ events as a teenager (ha!), I started competing again as an adult in Western events in about 2000. I had a break from riding horses when I lived overseas and my kids were little but when my son and daughter were old enough I was back in the saddle with a Western Pleasure trained Appaloosa (more of a QH, as he was Spinifex bred but with spots!). I enjoyed the Western Pleasure and Hunter scene (especially compared to the hacking/English scene) and competed in Western Pleasure classes along with Hunter under saddle.
What was your most Memorable Win in your pleasure days?
Winning a large Open Hunter Class at Sydney Royal, up against some top Amateurs and some Western Pleasure Horse Trainers too.
When were you first exposed to reining?
I had my first ride on a Reiner who was the well-performed Greenhill Senorita in about 2001. Ed Laxton owned her at the time. My first class was the Rookie class at the NSWRHA State show, where I rode Rita and came third. It was not long after that that Spin n Lethal (aka Billy) came along. He was purchased from Cameron and Michelle Halliwell. We managed numerous wins and successes including:
Limited Non Pro National Highpoint
3rd NRHA Ltd Open
3rd NSWRHA Non Pro Derby
1st NSWRHA State Ladies
1st NSWRHA State Ltd Non Pro
1st Sydney Royal Ltd Non Pro
2nd Sydney Royal Intermediate Non Pro
As well as Rookie, Limited and Intermediate NSWRHA highpoints & Open Non Pro runner-up.
What has been your most memorable win in the reining pen?
My most memorable win was the Ladies at the 2004 NSWRHA State Show. I was Secretary of NSWRHA at the same time and running the admin of the show so it was hard to concentrate and get shown. There were about 23 horses in the class and a number of highly competitive horse/rider combos. It was one of the years Leanne Baker and Crushed Ice had formed a formidable partnership and were winning all over the country. I aspired to compete as consistently as they were. It all came together for me in that class (and that show actually). It was rewarding to have hard-work pay off. There was no buckle on the class but a pair of Ariat crepe soles – I still wear them today knowing I earned them.
Who is the Best horse you have ever ridden?
I think Onya Wozza (aka Chewy) will be the best but I am still getting the feel of him. The best Buzz I have ever had on a horse was when I did a turnaround one day on Crocodile Rock. It was from that day on that I was hooked!
What’s new for 2011?
I have just recently purchased Onya Wozza from Mick and Sonia Taylor. After having a break from showing, mainly due to work commitments but also to support Ellie doing the HSC last year, I wanted to buy another horse and it just happened to be at the Futurity that I was speaking to Sonia Taylor and she mentioned that he was for sale after the futurity. I drove home from Tamworth and could not stop thinking about him. So I sold a car and bought a horse!
Who Is Currently in your Barn?
I currently have four horses:
Bronze Peppy (Dam of Lethal Katie)
Freckles Fancy Me
Spin n Lethal
Onya Wozza
What are you plans for the next year with your horses?
Ellie, my Daughter, has now finished school and is taking a year off before starting Uni in 2012 studying Vet Bioscience & she will now ride her final Youth year on Billy.
As for myself I think it will take about 12 months just to get the feel of Chewy. I think next season will be our year – this season will be about figuring out the buttons and having some fun.
Freckles Fancy Me is unfortunately for sale and will make a great all round horse. She could be successful as a reiner or as a hunter under saddle horse or even dressage/hacking. She is a great horse going to waste.
What do you enjoy most about reining?
I love the rush of getting it right. It is a challenge to master it and your horse and then to keep getting better – there’s always something to strive for. Being able to strategise a pattern and have it all come together. Nothing feels better than riding a Reiner.
What do you look for in a horse?
Training, Breeding and the Nature of the horse.
What advice would you give someone wanting to get started in reining?
Watch lots of runs. Get regular lessons with someone who is currently doing it or someone who has a history showing successfully. There is too much complexity to the sport of reining to do it on your own. Listen and be consistent.
When you are showing, think about what you are doing as much as just doing it – thinking about a pattern before you go out, visualising the pattern in your mind is what gets you shown. And try to remember to breathe at the big shows!
Occupation: HR Director; Mother of 2; Livestock Manager and general caretaker.
Age: Would be rude to even ask
Resides: Bringelly NSW
When did you first start riding?
I first started riding at about the age of eight. My parents had a property out near Camden where we had a couple of horses. We would go out on weekends and ride until my parents finished the house and we moved from the city to the property at Mt Hunter. My riding then became daily and I would often spend more time bareback than in the saddle on my horse. My first love was a Welsh Mountain Pony but my first Quarter Horse was a stunning black Rare Chex mare, bought through our neighbour who was a cow-horse man, Warwick Smith.
When did you first start competitive riding?
Other than hacking and jumping and some ‘Rodeo Queen’ events as a teenager (ha!), I started competing again as an adult in Western events in about 2000. I had a break from riding horses when I lived overseas and my kids were little but when my son and daughter were old enough I was back in the saddle with a Western Pleasure trained Appaloosa (more of a QH, as he was Spinifex bred but with spots!). I enjoyed the Western Pleasure and Hunter scene (especially compared to the hacking/English scene) and competed in Western Pleasure classes along with Hunter under saddle.
What was your most Memorable Win in your pleasure days?
Winning a large Open Hunter Class at Sydney Royal, up against some top Amateurs and some Western Pleasure Horse Trainers too.
When were you first exposed to reining?
I had my first ride on a Reiner who was the well-performed Greenhill Senorita in about 2001. Ed Laxton owned her at the time. My first class was the Rookie class at the NSWRHA State show, where I rode Rita and came third. It was not long after that that Spin n Lethal (aka Billy) came along. He was purchased from Cameron and Michelle Halliwell. We managed numerous wins and successes including:
Limited Non Pro National Highpoint
3rd NRHA Ltd Open
3rd NSWRHA Non Pro Derby
1st NSWRHA State Ladies
1st NSWRHA State Ltd Non Pro
1st Sydney Royal Ltd Non Pro
2nd Sydney Royal Intermediate Non Pro
As well as Rookie, Limited and Intermediate NSWRHA highpoints & Open Non Pro runner-up.
What has been your most memorable win in the reining pen?
My most memorable win was the Ladies at the 2004 NSWRHA State Show. I was Secretary of NSWRHA at the same time and running the admin of the show so it was hard to concentrate and get shown. There were about 23 horses in the class and a number of highly competitive horse/rider combos. It was one of the years Leanne Baker and Crushed Ice had formed a formidable partnership and were winning all over the country. I aspired to compete as consistently as they were. It all came together for me in that class (and that show actually). It was rewarding to have hard-work pay off. There was no buckle on the class but a pair of Ariat crepe soles – I still wear them today knowing I earned them.
Who is the Best horse you have ever ridden?
I think Onya Wozza (aka Chewy) will be the best but I am still getting the feel of him. The best Buzz I have ever had on a horse was when I did a turnaround one day on Crocodile Rock. It was from that day on that I was hooked!
What’s new for 2011?
I have just recently purchased Onya Wozza from Mick and Sonia Taylor. After having a break from showing, mainly due to work commitments but also to support Ellie doing the HSC last year, I wanted to buy another horse and it just happened to be at the Futurity that I was speaking to Sonia Taylor and she mentioned that he was for sale after the futurity. I drove home from Tamworth and could not stop thinking about him. So I sold a car and bought a horse!
Who Is Currently in your Barn?
I currently have four horses:
Bronze Peppy (Dam of Lethal Katie)
Freckles Fancy Me
Spin n Lethal
Onya Wozza
What are you plans for the next year with your horses?
Ellie, my Daughter, has now finished school and is taking a year off before starting Uni in 2012 studying Vet Bioscience & she will now ride her final Youth year on Billy.
As for myself I think it will take about 12 months just to get the feel of Chewy. I think next season will be our year – this season will be about figuring out the buttons and having some fun.
Freckles Fancy Me is unfortunately for sale and will make a great all round horse. She could be successful as a reiner or as a hunter under saddle horse or even dressage/hacking. She is a great horse going to waste.
What do you enjoy most about reining?
I love the rush of getting it right. It is a challenge to master it and your horse and then to keep getting better – there’s always something to strive for. Being able to strategise a pattern and have it all come together. Nothing feels better than riding a Reiner.
What do you look for in a horse?
Training, Breeding and the Nature of the horse.
What advice would you give someone wanting to get started in reining?
Watch lots of runs. Get regular lessons with someone who is currently doing it or someone who has a history showing successfully. There is too much complexity to the sport of reining to do it on your own. Listen and be consistent.
When you are showing, think about what you are doing as much as just doing it – thinking about a pattern before you go out, visualising the pattern in your mind is what gets you shown. And try to remember to breathe at the big shows!