By Ruthie Stewart

We seek inspiration, we seek excellence, and beneath the beauty we find true leaders. When beauty meets substance.

Saline, Michigan is home to Tom Robertson Quarter Horses. Tom and Mary Robertson, the duo behind the business, have been together for 18 years. Mary is a real estate broker and the couple relocated to the town she was born and raised in because it was familiar territory for her. “Tom and I had reached a point in the horses where we had decided to try a career change. In 1994, on the advice of his good friend and one of our clients, Jack Cook, general manager of Brondes Ford, Tom went to work for the dealership, specializing in the sale of duallys. The physical demands of horses were taking their toll on me and that’s when we moved to Saline. We did it to be near family, and I knew the area well for the real estate market. I specialize in horse properties and it allows me to manage my own time, be my own boss, and plan my own schedule,” said Mary. She still shows a little in halter and helps Tom train, but Mary mainly focuses on their amateur and youth clients, coaching them and getting them prepared for the show ring.

As youths, Tom showed horses in open shows and Mary was active in the AQHA with the help and support of her aunt, Ruth Holliday. Mary won the Congress in 1972 in showmanship, was top ten in the nation, competed at the youth world when it was back in Amarillo and rode in all events. Training evolved from their natural love of horses. Together, as a couple, they’ve raised and trained many Congress and World Champions.

“Tom is dedicated to the horses and to the details that make halter horses great. In his mind, the welfare of the horses comes before anything else. He’ll stay up until 2 a.m. to re-band a horse or wait until 2 a.m. to band one so it’s cool enough to put a hood on,” said Mary.

Tom clips and bands his horses himself, which is unusual of most trainers, especially one of his caliber. “If you saw his bands, you’d see why. They’re impeccable. He is on top of each horse’s needs and I tease him about putting a buffet in front of them. He often gives them a choice of feed to see what they like,” Mary laughs. Tom delegates some tasks, but prefers to be hands-on in all parts of his training horses’ lives. “He wants to personally handle every horse, and he works and feeds them himself so he can see the daily changes.”

Robertson Quarter Horses is mainly a halter operation with about 20 horses in training. At the core of the business is Tom’s passion for the horses and their care. Mary continues, “He’s so meticulous and he will try to do it all himself so he knows that it is all done to perfection. We have good people working for us. The horses are his love and he’s so into it and good at it because he so in tune with them. One time, at the Congress, he got stomped on and his toe was broken and he couldn’t take his boot off, but he kept on banding. It’s not a control issue - he’s just really great at what he does.” Tom’s work ethic has paid off. He’s won the Open at the World Show and coached many World and Congress amateur and youth champions.

“He is my best friend and we just laugh and enjoy every day together. In the winter, we vacation in Aruba. We both like the sun and beach. We garden a lot together - vegetables and flowers,” said Mary. The couple also likes country music and concerts when they get a chance to attend them. Most of their time is spent working or socializing with their clients. “We enjoy our business and are very close to our clients: Kimberly Hughes, Mona Mischi, Greg and Jodi Sullivan, and Dr. Steve and Kelli Jensen. We have the best clients! It makes our work so much more enjoyable. We want to do well for them and give them good advice. It’s like a big family. We want them to make a profit, be successful and have them enjoy showing their horse. To accomplish that, their horses have to have a good mental attitude and be broke enough for them.” Kimberly Hughes was named Palomino World Champion in Amateur with Lemon Squeeze and Tom won the Open with the mare in July of this year. At the Youth World, the Jensen family won a Reserve World Championship and two thirds. It’s been a good summer for Robertson Quarter Horses.

Tom grew up around horses in Traverse City, Michigan. His grandparents owned them and his aunt and uncle showed quarter horses. “I got involved showing in halter and western pleasure and started working for Anna Bays in my sophomore year of high school. I really enjoyed halter more than anything and I still do. I like making one look better than the day before, and with young horses you can see it immediately,” said Tom. Tom never apprenticed with another trainer and has learned by observation. “I had a good background with my uncle and I learned a lot on the side. The majority of what we do is based on common sense and through trial and error you can be successful,” he says. Tom’s great eye for talent and ability to see a horse’s strong points has taken him far. “I went to my first Congress in 1972, when I was 18, and I liked the level of competition. I really like the young horses because they’re so marketable.” Tom won his first World Championship in 1989 with Causin Confusion. After that came a lot of success and then Tom and Mary quit the horse business.

“Ten years ago I shut the door on the horses and we decided to take a break. We both looked each other and said let’s use our educations and try something else,” Mary remarks. Tom has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from Ferris State University and Mary went to Michigan State where she studied retailing. Tom went to work for Brondes Ford in sales and is still a consultant there, in conjunction with his training. Tom was happy working for Brondes, but horses were never far from his thoughts and he dabbled on the side. A phone call from an old friend and client was all he needed to pull him back in.

“Kim Hughes called me one morning in February and said, ‘You need to get back in the horse business.’ I said, ‘who is this?’ She said, ‘I’m telling you, you need to get back into it because I want to.’ Then I knew who it was. We went and found her a horse and I trained part-time. That was about four years ago.”

Kimberly Hughes had taken a hiatus too, and wanted to come back with people she could trust and win with. “Tom and Mary Robertson introduced me to the legendary Mr Conclusion. I was privileged to own and show many of ‘Misters’ get during his rise to fame. Tom and Mary have taught me so much as an Amateur exhibitor. It was a great experience and we won several big show titles over the years. In 1990, I took a break from showing to devote time to my career. Oh, how the years go by! My profession is highly rewarding but it’s demanding as well. There was a real void in my life. I missed the joy of owning Quarter Horses and showing on the circuit,” she said.

“I hadn’t spoken with Tom and Mary in almost 10 years! I called Tom at Brondes Ford in February of 2000. I asked, ‘Is this Tom Robertson?’ and he answered ‘Yes.’ I said, ‘You’re one of the most talented horse trainers in the country. Why are you selling trucks?’ He said ‘Who is this?’ and I answered, ‘I’m the client that’s going to get you back into the business!’ The next week we flew to Ocala, Florida to shop for our new show horse. We were back in the horse business we love!” Kim added.

Tom found that the industry had changed a lot. “There’s a lot more amateurs, and I always had good youth kids, but the amateurs have developed a lot in the last 10 years. The horses didn’t change much - a little bigger and a little stronger,” he said. Tom shops around when looking for prospects, and really likes the foals out of mares from Mr Conclusion. Tom trained Mr. Conclusion and won the Congress when he was a yearling. As a two year-old he was grand at the Quarterama, then Tom sold him that summer. Mr. Conclusion is the leading sire of halter horses and Tom believes his record will never be equaled.

Feeding, banding, and being on top of every horse’s needs must be exhausting, but Tom believes that for him, it’s a stress reliever. “I’m a picky s.o.b. and a perfectionist. I’d rather do it myself than have someone else do it. I am very aware of detail and I think that makes me successful.”

Success in horse showing is also contingent on having champion stock. “If you can’t go out and pick the right horse then you’re treading upstream. My uncle, Bill Dunn, was really good at it and got me started in horses.” Among his peers, Tom admires Jerry Wells and Ted Turner. “Randy Jacobs is a good friend and I do a lot business with him,” said Tom.

The AQHA is home base for Tom and Mary Robertson. “I’m happy with the promotion of the novice, the amateur, and the select. The new regional experience shows are a plus, too. This was the first year for the regional shows and they’re open to people that have not been top ten at the world,” Tom said. Most of Tom’s clients focus on the Congress and the World. Like their trainer, they like the level of competition, spectators, and the people involved. Tom has judged some futurities and would like to get his AQHA card in the near future..

A typical day finds Tom feeding at least once if not twice. “Feeding gives me peace of mind. Then we groom and get them ready to work, with my assistant Caleb Fortner. Mary helps out a lot...she’s my right arm. We pony or longe - depending on what the horse likes - then bring everyone in and clean them up. We try to do eight to ten shows a month, also.” Living in Michigan helps with limiting the driving time to horse shows. “I don't mind traveling, but living in southern Michigan means we don’t have to go far to hit a lot of shows every weekend,” Tom said

This year, Tom added a show to the schedule with the Palomino World Show in Tulsa, where he won the Open Halter. He plans on going back and likes the Palomino events and the opportunities they offer. “It gives you more avenues to show and market horses and I’d like to go back next year. It was a really good show with 32 yearling fillies and great horses,” he said.

Outside of horses, Tom acknowledges the he’s a sports fanatic. “I love all sports. I played basketball for Ferris State University. I’m a Detroit Pistons fan and Monday Night Football is as good as it gets. My wife thinks so, too, because she gets a back rub. She’s a big football fan,” he laughed.

“We’re water and sun freaks, but we do really love being home. We live in a suburb near our business, ‘Rainmakers Stables,’ which is owned by Jim McCartney, a roper,” said Tom. The couple’s three sons live in the area and are around all the time. Tom has a son from his first marriage, Andrew, who attends Ferris State, just like his dad. He’s an avid golfer and is at Hilton Head as part of a school program.

Mary’s boys from her first marriage, Kyle and Chad Toteff, are all grown up - for the most part - she said. They work and live nearby. Kyle is interested in farming and is currently a project manager for a major asphalt company. Chad works for Mary in her real estate business, and in the fall, is an elk-hunting guide in the mountains of Montana and Idaho.

Qualifying for the World Show and halter futurities have kept the Robertson’s on the road. “We have a few coming up: Southern Ohio, Ohio, Michigan, and Ontario,” Tom said. The couple travels everywhere together and Tom is quick to sing Mary’s praises and those of his clients whom they consider friends. “She’s the best woman on the planet. We’re a lot alike. We want our people to want to be around us and their horses. At the shows, we ALL go to dinner, and even when we’re at home, our clients will come over and visit. If they’re comfortable with you, they’ll be comfortable with what you do with their horses.”

Kimberly Hughes is a testament to the success of Tom’s philosophy. “Tom is an outstanding trainer and horseman. He’s a man of integrity and I trust him implicitly. Tom has an ability to pick a ‘diamond in the rough’ especially with young stock. Our horses are conditioned to perfection and the credit goes to Tom,” said Kim. Kim also holds Mary in high esteem. “Mary is an amazing woman and I have tremendous respect for her. She’s a wonderful mother and her sons have become remarkable young men. She’s a successful real estate broker and yet she’s able to balance her career with family. We have the same sense of humor and we’re always laughing, usually at Tom’s expense! I regard Tom and Mary as more than my horse trainers. They’re my family, too. I know that we won’t be taking any ‘breaks’ from the horse business any time soon! It’s where we belong and the passion we share.”

Harmonious relationships help keep everyone happy showing together. “We’re trying to go to more shows this year and build our customers’ confidence in the show ring. I love to show and I get more nervous for them than I do for myself. This business is very humbling. Sometimes you think you’ve got something great and then you get beat. You’ve got to know your competition, especially when you’re buying a horse for someone else. I shop around. You’ve got to stay on the go,” Tom added.

Tom Robertson is detail-oriented and a perfectionist. His drive to do the best job for his customers and provide the best care for their horses has taken him far. What’s touching about Tom is his unabashed affection for horses. “I just have a love for the animal. I loved being around them right from the time I was small and I’d cool horses out for the guys at the county fair. I enjoy trying to make them better, but more than showing I like taking care of them. Listening to them nicker, brushing and grooming them - when I was out of horses, I missed that more than showing.” He’s also quick to express his gratitude for his friends. “I’d like to thank all my customers and the two ladies that have stood behind me - Kim and Mona. They got me back involved in horses,” Tom concluded.

Tom Robertson genuinely likes horses and caring for them. The daily routines that many top trainers consider chores, Tom does himself. He sees the importance of the little things and takes pride in knowing and meeting the needs of each animal. His “hands-on” approach to each horse’s preparation distinguishes him from others in his field. Nothing escapes Tom’s attention and, because of that, his horses and clients are tough to beat.