Warwick McLean

Warwick McLean is one of the senior resident riders at the AEBC. He specialises in foundation training and behaviour modification of problem horses. All his work, both in-hand and under-saddle, produces relaxed and obedient horses. Warwick conducts clinics in all Australian states and is also a popular teacher at the AEBC.

In 2000, Warwick was contracted to assist with the breaking-in of 20 thoroughbred two-year-olds for the Hong Kong Jockey Club. He traveled with the horses to Shatin, Hong Kong, to demonstrate their track galloping to potential owners, before the horses were sold at auction.

In 2001 and 2003, Warwick demonstrated his skills in training the basic responses at Equitana, Melbourne. 2006 saw Warwick spend four months in Europe, receiving tuition from Finnish trainer Kyra Kyrklund. In exchange, he started foundation training for Kyra's three-year-old stock with typically positive results. Warwick gained a mass of Grand Prix level knowledge from Kyra and her partner, Richard White.


While in Europe, Warwick also worked at Brookhouse Stud, owned by Thomas Hoffman and Emma Hindle. Emma is Britain's No 1 ranked dressage rider on 'Lancet' (World Equestrian Games, 2006). During his time at Brookhouse, which boasts 1000 brood mares, Warwick broke-in and assisted in the training of several world class stallions, including 'Diamond Hit' and 'Riccione' and the German Reserve Champion Hannoverian warmblood stallion 'Curator'.

In Denmark, Warwick started foundation training and trained many horses at the Søborggård Heste Center in Seeland and also spent time with Susan Kjægaärd in Jutland. Susan is ranked in the top 100 in showjumping and has reported amazing success with young horses since Warwick's visit.

Other highlights of his time in Europe include riding a Selle Français horse in a demonstration before a crowd of 400 at Haras de la Cense. Warwick also demonstrated training and retraining on a Spanish Warmblood gelding in Milan for the International Equitation Science Symposium, in front of 150 delegates.

Although he has an enviable reputation as a rider of difficult horses, Warwick is also a keen competitor showing success at CIC** Eventing and more recently winning the Young Event Horse Championship with his five-year-old stallion Alessandro. This year Warwick began competiton at Grand Prix level Dressage on the Swedish Warmblood gelding 'Chiaretto', whom he trained on whilst with Kyra Kyrklund in 2006 and subsequently imported to Australia.

Before it was cancelled, Warwick had been selected to compete in one of the main events at Equitana 2007, 'The Way of the Horse'. Drawing on all their expertise he and two other participants will be required to break in a completely unhandled young horse in front of the audience and under a time restriction, they will be judged on the progress of their horse! He will most certainly be the only Grand Prix Dressage rider to ever be involved in this event and will be looking forward to the competion in 2008.