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Horses have been in the McLean blood for
years. Four generations of McLean's from Acton, Ontario, have shown
horses. Donald McLean, Ross' grandfather was well known in the
Commercial horse ring. Lloyd helped him at the local fairs and also
had a Hackney horse. In 1974, Lloyd and Ross started into road
horses. He and Matt McDougall went to Kentucky and bought a buggy,
team harness, and single harness from Shine Ogan. Mary Croft sold
them their first road horse, Star Away B.
Lloyd and his wife, Lois, and Ross, along with his wife, Doreen, and
their children, Steve, Sherri, and Scott, trained and showed road
horses for several years until ill health caused Lloyd to give it
up. Ross' family all learned to drive with a horse called Mr. Guy
Wire. In the early days, Ross did most of the showing and received
his first victory at the Royal Winter Fair in 1977 in the over buggy
class with Tanglefoot Mike. In 1988 and 1989, Victor Dol received
Grand Champion Stallion honours at the Royal. Another stallion,
Gravitate, received the same honours in 1991 and 1992. Other notable
stablemates have been Country Moon, Cocoa Hempt, Glibb's Glory, and
Lucky Colony. And then there is Midday Special, who is really quite
special and counts among his many wins the 1994, 1996, 1999, and
2000 Canadian Bike Championships at the Royal.
In later years, most of the showing was done by son, Steve. In the
summer of 2003, Ross passed away in Guelph while in the hospital for
surgery.
Daughter, Sherri, her husband, Bill Archdekin, and their children --
Crystal, Michael, and Jayden -- are also now busy on the show ring
circuit having purchased their own horses a few years ago. Youngest
son, Scott and son, Sam, has recently come back to the show ring
again after having been involved with pulling horses for a number of
years. Oldest son, Steven, is now also dabbling in the showing in
addition to his shoeing duties. He's helped out by his wife, Leah,
and their children -- Cody and Morgan. It really is still a family
affair!
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Ross McLean exhibiting Midday Special
at the 1994 Ontario Hackney Association's Ontario
Championships in Markham.
Photo by Shoot Photo)
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Sherri Archdekin with Victor Dol at the
1995 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.
(Photo by Stoney Brannon)
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Ross McLean with
Tanglefoot Mike at the
1977 Royal Winter Fair. |
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