Guy McLean’s journey with horses began at his family’s 1660-acre Homestead Resort in the Queensland bush. Here, he was responsible for over 50 trail riding horses, from training them to be suitable for novice riders to leading guests on extensive trail rides. This early immersion laid the foundation for his lifelong dedication to equine welfare and performance.
The images within this article showcase Guy McLean’s performances and his deep connection with horses.
The first image captures a moment from one of Guy’s performances, highlighting the trust and partnership between him and his equine companions. The subsequent images depict his teams of horses, demonstrating their liberty training and the spectacle of his shows. Later photos feature Guy with his horses at various prestigious events, including “Australia’s Got Talent,” and feature his various awards and accolades. The visual narrative concludes with images that emphasize the scale and impact of his demonstrations, featuring large crowds and the powerful presence of his horses.
Guy’s dream was to share his passion for these magnificent animals with a wider audience. An opportunity arose when his father, Norm, learned of Guy’s talent for bush poetry. He was asked to recite the “Man from Snowy River” poem for 100 travel agents visiting the Homestead. Guy agreed, with the condition that his horse accompany him, which provided the confidence and strength to make the performance uniquely his own. This marked the beginning of Guy’s entertainment career. He would ride his stallion, Nugget, bridleless and saddleless, into the middle of his father’s restaurant, reciting poetry for an hour to groups of 100 guests. Word spread about the “Horseman from Susan River” and his stallion, leading to performances at festivals, on music stages, and in street parades.
Since then, Guy has established three liberty performance teams across two continents, showcasing his unwavering dedication to all things “horse.” His teams have been featured at major Australian, USA, and Canadian events, including Royal shows, Equitana Asia Pacific, Dressage Festivals, International Rodeos, World Cup Showjumping Events, World Equestrian Games, and the NY Central Park Horse Show. In 2016, he performed with his four Australian Stock Horses live on stage for “Australia’s Got Talent,” broadcast on Channel 9.
While Guy has always identified himself as a horseman, his talents in bush poetry have earned him two Australian Bush Poet Champion titles (2002 and 2006) and the honor of being named an official “Ambassador of the Outback.” His most treasured achievements, however, are his two World Championships in “Road to the Horse” (2012 & 2013) and his Australian Championship at Equitana Australia’s “Way of the Horse” in 2005. More recently, he was appointed the first Official Australian Stock Horse Ambassador, a significant honor in his career.
Guy’s performances are renowned for being inspiring, educational, and exceptionally entertaining for audiences of all ages, whether they are seasoned horse enthusiasts or newcomers to the equestrian world. Through his horsemanship, bush poetry, and double-handed stockwhip cracking, Guy has showcased Australian culture to the world. Accompanied by his teams of Australian Bred OG’s, USA Born equine family members, and his two World Champion legends, he has captivated audiences in arenas seating over 5,000, demonstrating the essence of being a lifelong horseman and a proud Australian stockman.
With numerous achievements to his name, Guy remains driven to share how passion and desire can lead to remarkable accomplishments, even for a shy boy from a small country town. He aspires to inspire and educate people globally through his tours. His ongoing commitment is to create shows that motivate the younger generation, recognizing their crucial role in the future of equine and agricultural industries. He believes they will become the next generation of great horsemen, stockmen, cowboys, and farmers worldwide.
