Australian Jake Hunter competing at the 2019 Al Shira'aa Hickstead Derby with Efodea. Image by Elli Birch/Boots & Hooves Photography.
Straight after his HSC he had left home and flown to the other side of the globe. A young rider he had befriended in China had persuaded him to work in Ireland. So Jake Hunter, aged 18, moved from the Hunter Valley to the Emerald Isle.
Since then, Jake has lived and worked in the Netherlands and Belgium, competed in scores of prestigious international show jumping events including Global Champions Tours and now, at 29, he is based back in Ireland.
“I recently bought a house in Knockmore,” he announces proudly. “The renovations are all done and I’ve just moved in.” This village in County Mayo is just minutes from where Jake works at Duffy Sporthorses, the breeding business where Jake initially went when leaving Australia.
Jake Hunter and Jativia competing at the Longines Global Champions Tour in Stockholm, Sweden in 2021. Image by LGCT/Stefano Grasso.
He had met Michael Duffy while competing at the 2014 Youth Olympics in Nanjing. “I was a bit nervous around all the European riders,” recalls Jake. “I’d watched some of them on television and I suppose I was slightly overawed. This Irish competitor came over straight away and said, ‘we’re going to be friends for the next two weeks’.”
In that fortnight Jake thoroughly enjoyed himself. “The Nanjing Exhibition Centre in eastern China was a great facility,” he recalls. “The jumping was on the second floor where there were heaps of portable stables. The stands were full for all events and the locals treated us like pop stars, asking us to take selfies and sign autographs!”
It was a life-changing time for the Australian teenager. He won individual bronze riding a seven-year-old borrowed mare named For The Star – and Michael asked him to help ride and train at his father Vinnie’s yard in the west of Ireland.
Three months after the Youth Olympics Jake was on his way to Duffy Sporthorses, which proved a gateway to several major competition yards in Europe.
After five years in Ireland, he moved to Alan Waldman’s in the Netherlands. This American show jumper and breeder featured recently in Equestrian Life’s coverage of Nick Skelton’s Big Star documentary (Big Star: The Nick Skelton Story, 2025). Waldman was on the stallion when it was noticed by leading rider Laura Kraut, who mentioned it to Skelton. His sponsors bought the horse, which the legendary British show jumper rode to Olympic victory.
“I remember riding some of the progeny,” says Jake, who successfully competed in some major European shows when he was over there. Just as importantly, he increased his knowledge of equestrian business; then added to his skill set when spending time at Patrick Vandereyt’s ‘Beeckhof’ in Dilsen Stokkem, Belgium.
Jake competing with For The Star at the 2014 Youth Olympics in Nanjing, where he won individual bronze. Image by FEI/Richard Juilliart.
IRISH PUNCH ABOVE THEIR WEIGHT
Horses have been integral to Irish culture for over two millennia and Jake is settled in this country where many riders have been on ponies since they were toddlers. It’s in their DNA.
“We punch above our weight for a small island,” says Olympian Cian O’Connor. “Many countries are bigger breeders of horses than Ireland, but they don’t have the same successes.”
The youth levels at European championships are dominated by the Irish. “So many of the young ones learn from their families,” explains Jake. “They went hunting, galloped fast, learnt to get on with it and be brave.”
He enjoys teaching and mentoring young riders and recently welcomed 15-year-old Harley McNaughton from Victoria. He rode many horses, competed at a local event and helped with trot-ups. “I learnt how to adapt, to stay focused and keep it all together,” says Harley. “Next time when I come back, I’ll stay longer.”
Harley McNaughton with Jake Hunter. Image supplied.
Jake complimented his outlook: “It’s great to see young Aussie riders like Harley pushing themselves and soaking up everything. He reminds me a bit of when I was starting out, just throwing yourself in, being open to everything and staying hungry.”
20 HORSES OF HIS OWN
At Duffys, Jake has about 20 horses of his own. “These are my business. I have foals, youngsters, and with my friend Martin Duffy, I have a very special six-year-old, Sjoes Sk-Z, a bay gelding by Solid Gold Z, which he bought as a foal.
“My day begins at about seven, I do the hard feeds then work with the horses for most of the day. Some of the staff are riders from different parts of the world. They stay and train for a few weeks and then continue their travels.”
Jake Hunter winning in Cavan, Ireland. Image supplied.
“I have foals, youngsters
and… a very special
six-year-old.”
Jake also competes at the many shows which are held regularly around the country. He welcomes the new Premier Jumping League which has just been launched. “This is all good for business and puts show jumping more in the public spotlight.”
It begins next year with a record $300 million guaranteed prize pot. The inaugural sessions run will run from March to October.
Laura Kraut welcomed this new venture: “An Olympic gold medal is the greatest thing you can achieve in the sport, yet for jumping athletes like me, the commercial opportunities often don’t follow.
“The gap between what athletes achieve and what they’re able to build tell you everything about the sport’s limited infrastructure to convert elite achievement into recognition and reward. I welcome the PJL’s values to reform this model in a way that drives revenue opportunities for all involved.”
BROTHER CADE JUST AS BUSY
According to young brother Cade, Jake is setting himself up financially and is now in a business transitioning phase.
A young Cade Hunter in action with Midnight Rock in 2015. Image by Michelle Terlato Photography.
“Jake and I want to be
known as good horsemen
who put the animal first.”
“Jake has an excellent relationship with the Duffys and their place has everything. The stables and arena are all under one roof, and outdoors there’s another arena and lots of land. They break in everything they breed,” explains Cade, “they don’t sell unbroken ones or weanlings. The team begin the horses’ careers and then sell them.”
Cade has twice visited his brother when there has been time but he, too, is working 24/7 with horses. He runs Hunters Lodge at Glendon Brook in the Singleton region of NSW.
This family business specialises in breaking-in and pre-training Thoroughbreds and is going well. The boys’ mother, Gail Hunter, an Australian show jumping champion, is an influential horsewoman who was instrumental in her talented sons’ equestrian development. They were never a couple of wealthy entitled ‘nepos’ – Jake and Cade came up the tough way doing their best with what they were given.
Recently, Hunters Lodge ticked some boxes at an Inglis Ready2Race auction where a colt it had been training, by Toronado x Baccarat Baby, stopped the clock at 10.05 seconds for the 200m gallop on the course proper. It topped the sales.
Left: Cade and Jake with their mother, Gail. Right: Cade in the saddle at Hunters Lodge. Images supplied.
“Deep down Jake and I want to be known as good horsemen who put the animal first; it was drilled into us by our mother. Bring out the best in your horse and treat it right,” Cade explains. “I’m looking forward to seeing Jake again in Knockmore – he has an Irish accent now and has learnt to enjoy Guinness! And as he’s bought his own house, I’ll be saving on hotels!” EQ
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