Wayne McLellan is one of Canada’s most successful hunter trainers. He and long-time business partner, Robert Meilsoe, operated Gimcrack Stables together for more than 20 years, producing a long list of champion horses and riders. McLellan has taken as many as 25 horses at a time to Florida in the many years he has been travelling there for the winter show circuit. He is also an Equine Canada hunter judge (recorded). Wayne recently fulfilled a long-time dream to open an antique furniture store, Boo Boo and Lefty, which he owns in partnership with Stephen Dixon.

As the hunter/jumper business continues to grow in North America, the circuits have become more plentiful, and they have got longer. Horses may spend as long as three months at a stretch in Florida or California on a winter show circuit. The Canadian circuit may be closer to home and allow some downtime for the horses in their own stables, but the same training challenges can arise regardless of whether it’s the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington, or the spring-summer circuit in BC.

For Wayne McLellan, a successful circuit is entirely about quality: of horse, of care and of training. When the quality is there, it’s easier to keep the horse confident and performing at its best. ‘You really have to have four eyes with horses. You need to see what is behind you, and also look ahead to the future. It’s about solving problems before they happen. When I see a horse starting to lose confidence, it’s time to change the program and rebuild before things get negative.’

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