2026 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE
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AQHA FEATURE: 2026 AQHA HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE
2026 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE
VICKI SCHILLER
For almost six decades, the Tyrone prefix and Vicki Schiller have been synonymous with the Australian Quarter Horse and rodeo industries. Raised on her family farm in southern NSW, Vicki’ s life with horses began at just three years of age. She rode to and from primary school each day, travelling 5- 6 miles each way. Her father, Des Schiller, was an early promoter of the Quarter Horse breed in southern NSW, and the family’ s passion for the breed became a lifelong legacy.
Vicki’ s remarkable career spans barrel racing, campdrafting, cutting, cowhorse, reining, western pleasure, bridle path hack and breakaway roping. Her major successes began in the 1970s, including Australian Junior Barrel Racing titles in 1970 and 1971. She went on to win the barrel race at Q77 with Mr Wonderful, receiving a coveted Bob Berg buckle, and repeated the success at Q79, winning both the Open and Youth barrel races.
In 1986, Vicki and her sister Tania Schiller took to the rodeo road, making the National Finals Rodeo in their first year. They then travelled Australia full-time for three years. Vicki and her outstanding gelding Clover Fleetwood( Woody) became one of the sport’ s most successful combinations, breaking the Australian barrel racing record and winning the WPRA All- Around and Barrel Racing titles in 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1994. Vicki has also achieved numerous National Finals and average titles in breakaway roping.
Her passion for learning saw Vicki travel to the USA to work with renowned horsemen including Skip Brown, Phil Ames and Smokey Pritchett. On returning home, she established cutting facilities at Tyrone and continued to develop her skills across multiple disciplines. In 1989, she won the inaugural Non-Pro Stakes Cutting at Wagga Wagga with Murrumbo Doc’ s Chex, earning her first trophy saddle.
Beyond her own competition achievements, Vicki’ s greatest legacy may be the horses she has bred, started and trained. Horses from Tyrone have gone on to win Australian and State titles with numerous successful riders, helping shape the careers of competitors across generations.
AUSTRALIAN QUARTER HORSE ASSOCIATION- www. aqha. com. au