Tom Roberts (1)

Also, known as Thomas Alexander Roberts. The Father of Australian Horse-Psychology" Tom Roberts was a trail blazer... At 14 years of age Tom Roberts joined the British Army as a Trumpeter. His ability to handle difficult horses was quickly noticed and at 16 he was responsible for handling and training 25 horses and mules a week for the lines in France, 1916-18. Roberts received lifetime inspiration at Weedon Cavalry School from Instructor Capt. J. J. Pearce, fresh from the Spanish Riding School and Saumur. He spent four years in India training polo ponies, hunters and chargers. Roberts won the first Dressage Test held by the Australian Royal Show (Adelaide 1950), and was co-founder of the Dressage Club of S.A., 1950, and was also the first in Australia instructing in dressage. Roberts organised the Dressage phase for the first (1952) S.A. EFA One-Day-Event. He also took the first EFA Schools introducing Dressage and Showjumping in Perth, W.A., and schools throughout S.A., Mildura and Broken Hill. Roberts helped found the S.A. Show Jumping Club and the S.A. Branch of Pony Club Association. When he could no longer stand to instruct because of WW2 injury, he began to write. His books on ‘horse control’ have sold world-wide. Thousands of riders, and their horses, have benefited from Tom Roberts’ books.