Equine Education & Foundation Training
ABN 38 883 732 368
Breaking & Re-educating of
Competition, Pleasure, Race Horses & Ponies
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Tony Hodges ... then ... and now!
as told to Berni Saunders

Tony was born into a "horsey family"! His father worked on the land and was involved with horses all of his life. Coming from a farming background, horses were a natural way of life for the Hodges family and during his early years, Tony developed a strong interest in showjumping and gravitated towards this discipline. He was a very successful junior, training and competing a number of horses as well as helping his dad  with his showjumping team .  " Dad had some pretty good ones, and got a few up to A Grade level", Tony explained.

Tony and his three sisters Sam, Mandy and Jody all rode before they could walk and the family attended the local Pony Club and took part in all sorts of junior competitions. However, it was the thrills and spills of eventing that really started to get the young Tony Hodges excited!

Life on a farm was not all fun and each member of the family was expected to ‘pull their weight’ with the farming jobs and general chores. "It was a great life, and so much of ‘who I am’ today and my interest and skill with horses, comes from these early days. I always felt ‘at home’ with horses and I was never unhappy when I was in their company. My horse was my best friend and I did not have much time for the other things that young boys did … probably that is a blessing!" Tony smiles.

Tony has given a lot of thought to ‘what makes horses tick’ and feels that his early success came from developing a bond with his ponies that enabled him to work cattle and sheep during the week  ... and then turn them out to become a  top competition mounts on weekends. Tony says, "This very sound ‘all round experience’ is still with me today and while I thought I 'got it tough' as a child, the hours of riding along with my desire to do all jobs well, has given me a real insight into the way horses think and how I can work ‘with’ them to get the best results."

Tony recalls his most memorable event as a junior.  "I was thirteen years old at the time and riding my favourite pony ‘Spot’ at Wandin 3-day event. Spot was barely 14.2 hands high, so dad and I encouraged her to stand on her ‘tippy toes’, so that she would be measured at 14.2 and be eligible to compete at this ‘official’ open age event.

Tony and Spot were dwarfed by the  16 and 17 hand giants, but they navigated the demanding Novice level course with clear cross-country and showjumping rounds. They finished in the placings and shared the limelight with the more fancied senior combinations. The leading horses generally had highly respected pedigrees and many wins at top level on their performance card … the pony called Spot caused a sensation!  (Picture above ... Spot and Tony at Wandin)

At 15 years of age Tony left school and got a 'real'  job. He chose a career with racehorses and this involved riding track work for a number of trainers as well as the less glamorous side of the industry … cleaning stables, feeding and taking care of the horses. He worked and trained hard … and eventually become a registered jockey. Over the yearsTony rode many winners and his career highlight was riding 4 winners  ... in one day … oh, what a feeling!!!

As it is for so many jockeys, the strain of maintaining a  lightweight frame began to take it’s toll and Tony turned his focus back to performance horse training, where he could put his considerable skills into practice to ensure that every horse he works with will be helped to improve  ... and the rewards would be more long term !

Over the years Tony has worked with many talented and gifted horse people and from their teachings, has accumulated a broad base of practical and theoretical knowledge. Masters like the respected expert in Equine behavior,  Dr Andrew McLean from the Australian Equine Behavior Centre in Victoria (who was honoured with an invitation to speak about animal behavioral issues, at the FEI World Dressage Forum in Lausanne Switzerland in 2006).

"I learned a great deal during this time and really enjoyed the many different experiences at the AEBC.  It was a fantastic opportunity to come to understand more about working with ‘problem horses’ and I came away with a knowledge that there are very few real ‘problem horses’!  Most of the ‘problems’ can be traced back to a lack understanding … a lack of training … or both! Many problems are ‘learned reactions’ which begin when riders with too little experience hit a ‘brick wall’ and  inadvertently ‘teach’ the horse that there is a way out!" Tony explained in our chat.

During his time with the McLean family and other staff at the AEBC, Tony established some lasting and valuable friendships and had the opportunity to become involved in preparing and showing competition horses.

Eventing has always been a passion and Tony has ridden many horses right through the eventing grades, from Preparatory to the demanding requirements of 3 Star.

Tony enjoyed many successful years eventing his wonderful horse Pete.  At the peak of their career, the ‘sky was the limit’ and Pete was set to take Tony to the top. The Olympics certainly featured on their list of goals!

Together Tony and Pete worked their way through the grades to 3 Star level and enjoyed the success which enabled them to qualify to take part at the prestigious Melbourne Three Day Event at Werribee Park. Unfortunately, at this competition, Pete had a stumble on the Steeplechase element and ‘cartwheeled’ over a jump. Onlookers were relieved to see Tony and Pete walk away from the fall, but the devastation was to come … Pete had broken his leg - it is the worst fear of every rider … and shattered many hopes and dreams.

After numerous trips to the Vet and a ‘King’s fortune’ in vet bills, Pete recovered but his Eventing days were over and he was semi-retired and continued the light duties required of a ‘Dressage Schoolmaster’. He was able to pass on the things that Tony had taught him and seemed to enjoy this new and important role! Pete is now in full retirement and will live out his days happily munching grass. Pete is fondly remembered for the happy times he shared with Tony.

Following the disappointment and emotional upheaval of Pete’s retirement, Tony decided he needed a break from horses and concentrated all energies on a career in Dairy Farming - he did well and spent many years Managing Dairy Farms. His love of horses and riding saw him competing in what little spare time he had - and he was always ‘itching’ to do more! Tony said, "Once horses are in your blood, it is difficult to get them out of your system".

In 2004, Tony had the opportunity to return to what he loves - training horses and working with them full time. Tony’s older sister Sam (Samantha Bartlett) was expecting her first child and needed someone she could trust, to help work client’s horses and her two dressage stallions.

During the years 2004 and 2005, Tony worked from Sam’s property in Upper Pakenham. He took on the full time responsibility of the breaking in, educating and problem solving for all of Sam’s clients, so that she did not have to let them down while she was out of action.  Tony helped Sam with the Stallions Gershwin E and Weltwunder.  Being relatively young competition stallions, it was important  for their physical and mental development that they did not have a long break in their training. Sam was keen to keep her boys in work.

"This was a wonderful experience! When I rode Sam’s stallions, I realised (first hand ) the positive effect of good basic training.  I could feel the benefit of  working with  horses that  have received the right start in their early education - it was more like working with a well practiced dancing partner!  This made me stop to think that so many of the beautifully bred young horses that are in Australia today will probably not live up to the potential of their bloodlines and movement, because their early education had been less than ideal. I really want to focus on this area and make the most of what these horses can do for Australia’s Olympic chances in the future." Tony said.

2005 was a big year … and the events that unfolded have shaped the future. Apart from the normal day-to-day work with the horses, Tony also moved in with his partner and ‘soul-mate’ Shani, in Langwarrin. Tony has spent every spare moment re-developing the small acreage property to make use of every square meter and transform it into a very ‘horse and people’ friendly training facility.  This is where he has estblished his business, breaking and educating performance horses and working with their owners to ensure the best results are achieved.

"I am delighted with the way the property works as it makes the most of utilising the small space. Having the horses close by ensures that that they are safe and as content  as possible during their stay with us," Tony said.

All of my experiences have led me to recognise that most hobbyist riders need  ‘professional’ backup to complete their support team. Many riders will experience times when - for a number of reasons - they need someone to help them with new training exercises or to work through some temporary problems or resistances .  Or maybe just help out because the demands of their life could necessitate an undesirable break in the horse’s training program." Tony explained.

Tony has a few horses in work and is riding Dressage  and competing on an 8 year old  Anglo Arab gelding named Summit Park Zalam (Maloo to his friends). Tony says, "Maloo is an interesting case and at ‘first glimpse’ would easily be overlooked.
But ... not very far under the surface, there is a big heart and quite a lot of talent trying to get out and show the world what a pretty ordinary horse can achieve, when he has an owner who believes in him … and the right training to help him to understand his job and overcome the difficulties that  conformational shortcomings have created.

"Lots of people own a ‘Maloo’ and it is very satisfying when you can tap into their talent and make these horses 'better than nature' intended. This is what ‘good horsemanship’ is all about! Very few people have the tens of thousands of dollars required to buy the perfectly conformed youngster with the paces for scores of 10 ... and we have to make the most of what we have got to work with." Tony told me after I watched Maloo do some very impressive half steps.

"I get great satisfaction working with people to help them improve their horse and get more out of their riding."  Right - Tony helps Jess.

Tony is keeping his ‘hand in’ doing some Showjumping on his sister Sam’s Stallion Gershwin E.   Tony and Shani are looking forward to being parents … and also the opportunity to meet new friends, both human and equine as they develop a niche for Tony at this exciting time for all branches of the performance horse industry.

Tony and Summit Park Zalam (Maloo) proving that good training and
working systematically to reach goals is very rewarding - all horses will improve!