Above: Rhys Stones and Riverton Kanntador at Sydney Jumping Association (SJA).

Rhys Stones, a talented Senior rider and well-respected member of our Jumping community, merges a rich family history in horse breeding with a competitive spirit that pushes boundaries. At the heart of his success is Riverton Performance Horses, a venture that began with his parents, Des and Elva Stones, in Albury-Wodonga.

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Riverton Performance Horses has its roots in a breeding program initiated by Rhys’s parents. “Rhys’s parents have been heavily involved in breeding jumping horses for many years,” Tahli Hendler (TK), Rhys’ partner shares. “Rhys’s mum selects the bloodlines, does the foaling down herself and ensures they are well-raised before they come to Rhys for breaking and to develop them into competitive jumping horses. This strong foundation has allowed Rhys to focus on the training and competitive aspects of the business, producing high-quality jumping horses. In addition, Rhys and TK, take on client’s horses for training and enjoy coaching a number of Junior and Young Rider students at their Orangeville, NSW facility.

Currently, Rhys and TK manage a team of 15 jumping horses, including two World Cup contenders: their own Riverton Kanntador (Kannan x Conquistador) and a client’s horse, Ballentyne (Balou Du Rouet x Romany Ego Z) with both horses at the beginning of their Grand Prix journey, but showing great potential. Rhys’s Mini Prix horses include Nightshade (Balou x Carismo) who Rhys and Maree Hewitt imported from Europe and who Rhys competed on back in Europe recently and Riverton Red Blue (Balou de Rouet x Vivant).

Above: Rhys Stones and a 7 year old Riverton Kanntador at SJA.

Rhys’s competitive aspirations have been shaped significantly by his recent experiences in Europe. “I was beginning to feel a bit stale in Australia, doing the same shows without much progression,” he admits. This prompted him to make a spontaneous decision to travel to Europe, where he aimed to gain exposure to the higher levels of competition. “I wanted to see what the sport had to offer outside of Australia,” he explains.

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His time in Europe was an eye-opening experience. “The level of competition was intense. At every show, you have hundreds of exceptional riders who could win on any given day,” Rhys shares. This realisation deepened his desire to elevate his game and that of his horses. He learned that consistent training and high-quality facilities are crucial for developing competitive horses. “In Europe, the horses jump on synthetic surfaces every week, which builds their confidence and allows them to progress at a good pace,” he explains.

Above: Rhys Stones and Nightshade competing in Sopot, Poland in June last year.

Rhys returned to Australia with a renewed hunger for success and a clearer understanding of the standards required to compete internationally. “It changed my outlook on the industry and made me hungrier than ever,” he reflects.

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A significant figure in Rhys’s life and career is former Australian Representative rider Maree Hewitt, who joined the Riverton Performance Horses team three years ago. “Maree reached out to us as she was missing being part of the sport, and since then, she’s become a vital part of our family,” TK says. Her involvement goes beyond mere coaching; she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that has profoundly impacted Rhys’s riding and training methods.

“Maree has helped me improve my position, hands, and overall approach to riding,” Rhys states. “Her insights have transformed how I train and develop each horse. I have learned more from my time working alongside Marie in three years that I have my whole life in the sport, my riding has changed.” Laughing, Rhys says “she will watch me riding and then she’ll insult me and that works every time haha!”

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Looking ahead, Rhys has ambitious goals. He is currently focused on obtaining his MER (Minimum Eligibility Requirement) to put himself in the running for selection to compete at the 2026 World Championships in Aachen, with both Riverton Kanntador and Ballentyne by the end of this year. Achieving this would set the stage for an international campaign in 2026.

While Rhys acknowledges the challenges of competing at the highest level, he remains optimistic about the future of the sport in Australia. “Everyone is working hard to grow the sport here, and I believe we have the potential to produce top-level competitors,” he says. His passion for Australia is evident, as he describes it as “the best country in the world” for its lifestyle and opportunities. While he recognises the need to be based in Europe or the US to be in the running for selection for major championships, he has no desire to move over there permanently saying, “I’ve got my family here, Eva (his daughter) is here and there’s no place like home, so for me, I’m a little bit of a home body in that sense, I need to have the consistency with Eva because that helps control my emotional state, to be totally honest, I love Sydney.”

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Rhys attributes much of his success to the support he receives from his partner, Tahli. “TK is the engine that runs my operation,” he says appreciatively. Her organisation and emotional support keep him grounded and focused on his goals with TK “reminding me to pull my head in when I need to!”

As he navigates the challenges of horse producing and competitive Jumping, Rhys Stones exemplifies the dedication and passion necessary for success in this sport. With a strong foundation, invaluable mentorship, and clear aspirations, he is poised to make a significant impact on the sport, both in Australia and internationally. As he continues to evolve as a rider and trainer, the Jumping community will undoubtedly be watching closely, eager to see what he achieves next.

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