The Team

Andrew Buckley

Andrew business, E B Lodge, was established in late 2005 and has grown considerably since its inception.  Andrew brings to E B Lodge outstanding credentials for the training and development of quality show and dressage horses. He has trained under arguably Australia’s most successful coaches, Rozzie and Heath Ryan, for 8 years to master the finer points on dressage in order to apply this to the team at E B Lodge. Andrew’s family have always been involved in horses however he has only been riding since he was 15 and worked part time to fund his passion for his future career. His first priority has always been to succeed in dressage. He purchased his first Warmblood from Heath and Rozzie Ryan when he was 19. That mare, Mayfly, went on to be extremely successful in hand and under saddle for both Andrew and her current owners. He was so impressed by her attitude and potential that he then proceeded to purchase her dam, Stirling Scarlet, in foal to Medallion, resulting in the filly Mayhem. Scarlet has since become his matriarch mare.

His primary focus is the breeding and training of his own horses. E B Lodge owns and stands at stud, Rubin James, the exciting young Rubinstein stallion that Andrew purchased two years ago. Rubin James had basic education when he and Andrew first teamed up however they are now training at FEI level with great results from limited outings at Medium level.  Rubin James began his competition career in hand and under saddle in late 2006, dominating the Australian show circuit. His highlights include dual Australian National Champion and Supreme Exhibit at Sydney Royal in 2007.

Before setting up his own business, Andrew worked with Anthony Mountley, Greg Farrell and Greg Andrews to further his halter training career, specifically in the Arab industry and has enjoyed many successes at the Australian, National and East Coast Championships with horses such as his sire Rubin James, and his homebred Mayhem, EBL Rumba and Mayfly.  Outstanding successful horses include Gold ‘N’ Wings, Orabanda Accolade, Orabanda County Fashion and Fames Providence.

Andrews’s show successes speak for themselves. He has won countless Royal and Supreme Champions both in hand and under saddle including success with horses like current EFA Galloway of the Year, Paint the Picture and Riding Pony stars like Bevanlee After Dark, the current Supreme Saddle Pony exhibit and Best Ridden Stallion at Sydney Royal 2008, Sanlirra Pavlova, Rathowen Quantum and Manorvale Perdita. His own Rubin James and E B L Lush, have been awarded Supreme Arabian Derivative exhibit in consecutive years at Sydney Royal in 2007 and 2008.

Another facet of the business is Andrew’s boutique broodmare band. He owns 5 broodmares, all of them carefully selected for their pedigree and type. They include bloodlines from Salute, Ludendorf, Medallion, Weltmeyer, Regardez Moi, and Carbine.  Andrew has gained great satisfaction from watching mares that he has bred, then produce the kind of foals he has been striving for. He feels that breeding is such a satisfying outcome for all the work and planning that he has invested in the business. The E B Lodge progeny are what the core of the business depends upon for further growth. 

Andrew offers to potential clients the ability to be part of a highly successful  team that focuses on quality, reputation and results that come from hard work and dedication.

 
Sophie-Lea Upson

Sophie is a young, enthusiastic rider who brings a wealth of knowledge and assistance to the day to day running of the barn. She began her riding career in 2006 under the watchful guidance of Andrew. Armed with a passion for riding and learning, she ventured out to Byalee to work for Ann-Maree Lourey.

At Byalee, Sophie received further riding tuition from Ann-Maree, took on the responsibility of being one of the pony trainers and assumed the role of competition groom. Through Bylaee, Sophie had the privilege of meeting some of Australia's leading and accomplished riders such as Health and Rozzie Ryan and Rachel Sanna.

At the 2008 Dressage Nationals whilst strapping for Dimity Lourey, Sophie realised that her interest lie within the bounds of a dressage arena. Combining this with a craving for the show ring, it was EB Lodge where Sophie decided was the place to be.

Sophie arrived at E.B. Lodge and was immediately thrown into the deep end at Sydney Royal with a team of 21 horses. This was the first show that she had ever strapped for, especially with such a large team and thrived on the atmosphere, the pressure and of course the rewards. Enjoying this sometimes hard and stressful environment, it was decided by Sophie that the atmosphere and thrill of showing plus the satisfaction of the dressage arena was where she wanted to be.

A week after arriving home from Sydney, Andrew had broken in one of the new additions to the barn, a stunning part bred arabian filly called Aloha Silhouette. Silver has since become Sophie's team horse that she rides during the week and has now begun to show at various hack and breed shows with success! Silver and Sophie have formed a beautiful partnership throughout their learning and this gives Andrew a great deal of satisfaction to watch them grow together.

Sophie has numerous roles at E.B. Lodge, some of which include being groom/strapper at all Show and Dressage Competitions. She had proved to be master of all make-up! She holds the enviable position of What's Colour's (Imp HOL) official Groom, accompanying him and Andrew to all of the Dressage Competitions. Her day to day contributions at the barn are extremely valuable and include assisting Andrew with working all of the horses, tacking up, washing down, feeding, riding, assisting with weaning and breeding. Through her involvement on the breeding side of things, Sophie has also develop quite an interest and has recently acquired her own broodmare who is due to go in foal to one of EBL's resident stallions, Rubin James (IFS).

Sophie's ambitions for the future include breeding her own What's Colour (imp HOL) foal which she will train and compete in dressage with the intention of making it to Grand Prix level. She also wishes to continue pursuing her interest in breeding beautiful Warmblood foals.

EBL & Coachwood Performance Horses are incredibly fortunate to have such an eager, friendly and vibrant member of their team.


Joey Baldwin

Joey Baldwin was introduced to the world of horses at the age of ten through pleasure riding which quickly progressed to competition riding. His first outing was at a One Day Event at the age of twelve, and although he found this sport exhilarating and enjoyable, he realised that his future with his current horse, Riverwood Prince, lay in the dressage arena.

This exciting partnership have trained under the guidance of Level 3 coaches such as Shaun France, Ron Paterson (FEI International judge) and Heath Ryan. Joey and Riverwood Prince can boast of many championships and event wins including success at N.S.W Dressage Young Riders Competition.

Joey’s passion for jumping and eventing still continues and he manages to keep his hand in this field with the occasional help from Jamie Coman (Olympian and Australian Show Jump Coach).

Since leaving school Joey has displayed some handy horsemanship by working in the racing industry, riding young breakers and preparing them for the track.

Joey brings to the barn a quiet confidence and understanding nature with all of the horses. He has proven himself to be the type of rider that will listen to a horse and gain responsiveness through his quiet, undemanding demeanor. Joey has also become a valuable member to take to competitions where his enthusiasm for the show ring and competitions is evident and contributes to the smooth operations amongst such a large team of horses.

He realises there is so much more to be learnt and here at E.B Lodge he hopes to broaden his horizon into the show ring. With Andrew’s help he has big plans for his own two colts ‘W.Riverwood Splash’ the first Australian ‘What’s Colour’ (Imp HOL) foal and ‘Mr. Oakley’- the mini man- the whole 74cms of him!


Sam Heald

Sam Heald is an important part of the E B Lodge team. Sam has been involved in horses from a young age, and after leaving school he worked for Victoria Ferguson when she was short listed for the World Games in Stockholm with her Grand Prix horse, Gamekeeper.

Sam then took the opportunity when he was 20 to travel internationally and gain invaluable experience in Europe. His travels took him to Switzerland and England where he worked and trained under such luminaries as Edgar Lichtwark, Herr George Wahl, Paddy McMahon, the famous World Cup showjumper, the Marius Milton Stud, who were the breeders of the infamous showjumper Milton, Herr Egon von Neindorff and Christine Stuckelberger, the Olympic Gold medal winner and winner of the World and European Championships and World Cup winner.

Upon his return to Australia Sam settled in Victoria where he began showing and working for top show riders Malcolm Ansell of Tudor Park show horses, Craig Rawson, and Lindy Sutton who have produced such horses as Trentham, Centennial Park, WS Jordan and Trent Nathan.

Sam then moved to the Hunter Valley, to again work with Victoria Ferguson, at her company Herbal Horse, the very well respected herbal suppliers to the equine industry. He gained much knowledge about herbal remedies & conditioning, illness and the benefits of a herbal diet which we find very helpful at E B Lodge.

Sam is an invaluable team member when E B Lodge is at major shows, stepping in to ride when needed and is currently enjoying his in hand work and competition with his Riding Pony filly, Miss Diva who is due to foal to Bevanlee After Dark in October 2009.   Sam’s keen interest in international dressage, new sires and the trends in the European industry are extremely beneficial to E B Lodge and we appreciate his involvement and encouragement.   

Maia Murray

Maia Murray is an important part of the team at E B Lodge. She is the team rider for our barn and she specialises in the Ponies and smaller Galloways. Riding from a young age, and with the support of her very patient and encouraging mother Jackie, Maia gained her showmanship skills riding some lovely ponies for many reputable show trainers and instructors.  Maia has trained under instructors such as Lynn Muller, Claire Wickens, Ann Serrao and Greg Shepard, people who have acted as her mentors and have played a huge part in her success.

During her early years Maia had considerable success on the ponies Marena Puff N Stuff and Cimmeron Conhky (who was Champion at Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide Royals). She also competed in dressage with her pony Moore Park Hemmingway winning numerous titles including Pony of the Year and Young Rider of the Year at IDA and Reserve Champion Young Rider at the Pony Dressage Championships.

Her showing career has included such horses as Man of the Match, Rathowen Solomon (who has taken Maia to the Grand Nationals), Globrook Georgie Boy, Harmony Hill Anankin (Champion Derivative at Canberra Royal and the East Coast Championships), Tambarooa Millennium Max (Reserve Champion Hunter at Bathurst Royal and Reserve Champion East Coast Arabian Pony), and ridden to many champions on A little Bit of This, Rosedale Music, Pegasus State and Clouds.

Maia brings to the barn her bubbly personality, beautiful riding skills and a professional attitude that has enabled her to share our success. Her most recent pairing is, of course, with our Riding Pony Stallion, Bevanlee After Dark, with whom she won Best Ridden Stallion of Show and 1st in the Australian Saddle Pony, Riding Pony and Part bred Welsh classes at Sydney Royal 2008.  

Maia’s ambition is to concentrate on dressage and has a young warmblood, bred by Andrew, EBL One Night in Paris who she aspires to compete at Grand Prix level with.  We appreciate all her help and support and look forward to sharing much more success with her.