Leslie Riley – Area 3 Reserve High
Point All Round Amateur Champion
2006 saw Leslie bring her “oldie and goodie” out of retirement. Leslie’s 18-year old red roan gelding, Good Zippo Two (Clancy) had not been in the show ring in six years, but when Leslie found herself without a show mount – Clancy was called into action. The pair finished the year as the Area 3 Reserve High Point All Around Amateur Champions and the Champions in Amateur Hunt Seat Equitation and Reserve Champions in Amateur Trail and Amateur Western Riding. Clancy and Leslie have won numerous year-end awards in both Area 3 and Ontario over the years. They completed a Superior in Showmanship and have qualified for the world show in Showmanship.
This year Leslie showed Clancy in Showmanship, Hunt Seat Equitation, Horsemanship, Trail and Western Riding. Leslie says her favourite event is Western Riding because there is so much to think about in the class. Showmanship and Trail run a close second. In 2006, she travelled to Area 3 shows, but in the past she has shown throughout Ontario, Michigan and at the Congress. Her most memorable show moment was in 2000 when her horse, The Snazzy Version, won the 3-year old and Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle classes at the OQHBF. The horse show moment she would like to forget was at Summerama several years ago in trail class, when Clancy, after having a near flawless pattern, decided to drag a bush through the entire back through! Everyone but Leslie found it very amusing!
Leslie has always been an animal lover and like many little girls wanted a horse. Growing up in Toronto though, a horse seemed an unlikely pet. However, her father had shown Hackney ponies as a boy and when Leslie expressed an interest in horses, it wasn’t too difficult to convince him that “if there’s a will, there’s a way”. Leslie started showing Pinto/Paint horses in 1976. They were the natural breed for Leslie and her family’s introduction to the horse show world, as her father’s uncle owned “Painted Skipper” - the first Paint Champion stallion in Canada. In 1979, Leslie and her horse McCue’s Piper became the first Pinto Youth Champions in Canada. She continued showing Pinto/Paints until she switched to the Quarter Horse circuit in 1990.
Leslie and her husband Dave live on a 33-acre farm in Schomberg. They have a 5-month old yellow lab puppy - Kieran, four cats - Twizzler, Spud, Spock and Mango, Clancy and the most recent addition - Just Playin Star (Georgia), a 4-year quarter horse mare. Georgia is Leslie’s new show mount for 2007 and she plans to train her for all around events.
Leslie is a small animal veterinarian at Golf Glen Veterinary Clinic in Aurora. Since I have the inside scoop – I can truly say that Leslie loves to ride and spend time working with the various mounts she has had over the years. When she is not riding, she tries to spend as much time as possible in her garden. She also enjoys downhill skiing, hiking and swimming in her pool. In the past, she has served in a number of capacities on the Area 3 Board of Directors.
Leslie has a great show support team. For the first 20 odd years of showing, her parents-George and Doreen attended every show with her. Since then, either Dave or I tag along to help out. Lindsay Grice has been her coach for 15 years.
It was fun watching you and the “old guy” this year and best of luck with Georgia in 2007!!