Ray Schiller, an 85-year-old rodeo champion from Young, NSW, has a lifetime of achievements in the sport displayed in his living room filled with trophies and old rodeo photographs. Born in 1939 on a farm in the Riverina, Ray grew up riding horses and steers with his siblings, developing the skills that would lead to a successful rodeo career.
Ray and his brothers, known as “The Thrilling Schillers,” competed in rodeos across Australia, facing injuries and near-fatal accidents but always persevering. Ray’s crowning achievement came in 1968 when he won the national finals bull ride, earning an engraved silver buckle. Despite not being a full-time rodeo rider, Ray’s technique and innovation, such as designing his own spurs, set him apart from his competitors.
After retiring from rodeo in 1972, Ray remained involved with horses, breeding and showing quarter horses at a national level. His sons also excelled in Western performance events, continuing the family legacy. Ray’s influence on horsemanship extended to his son Warwick, who became an internationally renowned horse trainer and clinician, carrying on the Schiller name as a cornerstone of Australian and international horsemanship.
