Graeme “Butch” Thomas

Butch is not only a renowned rider, coach, and horse trainer; he is an expert at pairing riders with horses. Butch’s keen ability is well known, and it has produced a long line of highly successful pairings year-after-year and decade-after-decade. Furthermore, his expertise at “matchmaking” has assisted many amateur riders to record-breaking legacies, and launched the careers of countless numbers of professionals. Born and raised in New Zealand, Butch had a successful riding career before he moved to the United States, including numerous Grand Prix victories in New Zealand and Australia, in addition to stints on the New Zealand Olympic Equestrian Team.

Butch is the patriarch of Willow Tree. He provides a steady hand to the operation, functions as a cool and confident leader, and is a mentor to the riders and staff. His ringside presence instills confidence into the riders he coaches. He provides critical leadership abilities during the most prestigious and high pressure events – he’s never intimidated and always able to provide crucial guidance and strategic advice.

His highly regarded leadership qualities are exemplified by the fact that he was chosen to be the Chef d’Equipe of the Zone 10 FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships team five times. Under his stewardship, his teams won team gold medals four times, plus numerous additional individual medals, including gold.

Record breaking leadership skills and an unmatched ability to create and develop rider-horse teams are just two of the many reasons that Butch is one of the most highly respected professionals in the equine industry. (Source)

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