|
Guy Thomas
Career Highlights:
2004 Olympics, Athens, Greece - Member, New Zealand Equestrian Team
2010 World Equestrian Games, Lexington, Kentucky - Member, New Zealand Equestian Team
2008 FEI World Cup Jumping Finals, Gothenburg, Sweden
Winner: $150,000 Triple Crown of Showjumping, Sacramento, CA
Winner of the 2010 Cargill Cup at Spruce Meadows, Calgary, Canada
|
Guy Thomas knows how to win. His mission is to always perform at the maximum level possible. His drive, dedication, and determination energize the entire organization. The Olympics, FEI World Cup Finals, World Equestrian Games, Young Rider Finals, international competitions, a multitude of Grand Prix, plus all supporting classes are the range of his experience. He utilizes his knowledge, talent and experience to empower the riders at Willow Tree to achieve their maximum potential.
The philosophy that Guy employs for coaching juniors is to approach it on the level of being a big brother – helping and encouraging, rather than dictating and demanding. This methodology has proven to be quite successful as measured by results. He has even taken one rider from his very first riding lesson through winning many Grand Prix, including international competitions, culminating in the rider winning his first two FEI World Cup Finals Qualifier Grand Prix, a feat very few coaches can claim. His students know that regardless of what level they are riding at, they can always be guaranteed of Guy’s maximum effort in helping them achieve their goals. Guy Thomas is well known on the West Coast horse show circuit for the total effort he gives every time he rides a horse or coaches a student.
Guy Thomas grew up in a riding family. His parents, Graeme “Butch” and Lu Thomas, are highly successful riders and trainers, both having competed in the FEI World Cup Finals. Lu is still remembered on the horse show circuit as the quintessential hunter rider. Butch is a not only an expert horse trainer, he is a problem solver – or the equivalent of a turn-around expert in the business world. Guy was a natural rider from the time he started riding at the age of two and a half, hardly a surprise given the DNA he inherited!
Growing up, Guy played on school football and basketball teams in addition to riding and showing. It was as a junior in high school that he made the commitment to the family business. Looking to advance from the junior varsity to the varsity football team, his coaches gave him an ultimatum, either significantly reduce the amount of time he spent riding and going to horse shows, or he would never make the varsity football team. He turned in his football uniform and has never looked back.
Guy’s natural ability, deep understanding of a horse’s mechanics and mind, and competitive nature is demonstrated by the fact that not only is he a highly successful show jumper, but as a hobby, he rides reining horses. At his first reining competition, he achieved second place in his division. He has also ridden twice in the prestigious Reining by the Bay competition and has scored as high as second place.
Guy has a big personality, is a fierce but fair competitor, and is always willing to assist fellow riders and trainers, some of the many reasons that he is one of the most well-liked personalities on the West Coast.
His record of success and the record of successes of those he has coached speak for themselves.
|
|
Career Grand Prix Highlights:
|
| 2013 – 1st Place (Peterbilt): Menlo Charity Horse Show, Menlo Grand Prix – Atherton, CA |
|
| 2013 – 1st Place (Peterbilt): Golden State Horse Show Grand Prix – Sacramento, CA |
|
| 2013 – 1st Place (Peterbilt): HMI Equestrian Challenge Grand Prix – Sonoma, CA |
|
| 2012 – 1st Place (Peterbilt): Menlo Charity Horse Show, Menlo Grand Prix – Atherton, CA |
|
| 2011 – 1st Place (Lavito): Pebble Beach Equestrian Classic III Grand Prix – Pebble Beach, CA |
|
| 2011 – 2nd Place (Acomulado): Pebble Beach Equestrian Classic III Grand Prix – Pebble Beach, CA |
|
| 2011 – 1st Place (Lavito): Pebble Beach Equestrian Classic II Grand Prix – Pebble Beach, CA |
|
| 2010 – 1st Place (Peterbilt): Spruce Meadows Canada One, Cargill Cup, Calgary, Alberta, Canada |
|
| 2010 – 1st Place (Peterbilt): Pickwick Summer Classic, Grand Prix, Sacramento, CA |
|
| 2010 – 1st Place (Peterbilt): Golden State Horse Show, Golden State Grand Prix, Sacramento, CA |
|
| 2010 – 2nd Place (Carino): Golden State Horse Show, Golden State Grand Prix, Sacramento, CA |
|
| 2010 – 1st Place (Peterbilt): Capital City Classic Horse Show, Grand Prix, Sacramento, CA |
|
| 2010 – 2nd Place (Carino): Capital City Classic Horse Show, Grand Prix, Sacramento, CA |
|
| 2010 – 2nd Place (Peterbilt): HITS Thermal $300k Lamborghini Grand Prix of the Desert, Thermal, CA |
|
| 2010 – 1st Place (Carino): HITS Thermal, Grand Prix, Thermal, CA |
|
| 2010 – 1st Place (Peterbilt): HITS Thermal, Purina Mills Grand Prix, Thermal, CA |
|
| 2009 – 1st Place (Peterbilt): Pickwick Summer Classic, Grand Prix, Sacramento, CA |
|
| 2009 – 1st Place (Peterbilt): Showpark All Seasons Summer Tournament, Showpark Jumper Classic Grand Prix, Del Mar, CA |
|
| 2008 – 1st Place (Peterbilt): $30,000 Oaks Grand Prix, San Juan Capistrano, CA |
|
| Multiple Additional Grand Prix Victories at Sacramento Horse Shows |
|
| Multiple Additional Grand Prix Victories at the Menlo Charity Horse Show |
|
| Multiple Additional Grand Prix Victories at the Oaks |
|
| Multiple Additional Grand Prix Victories at Pebble Beach |
|
|
|