Tony and Tom







For many years, Tom Mix adored his horse Blue, who starred with him in many Westerns. When Blue died, Tom was at a loss, and needed another horse, though he was grieving so much for Blue, his friends thought he'd never bond with another one the same way. When they found Tony, he was considered untrainable - he didn't seem to be interested in learning. They thought he could be a double for other horses. Horse wrangler Pat Crissman gave Tom the large sorrel (spending exactly $12.50 for the animal when he first acquired him). Tom saw something special in Tony from the start, and and it was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Tony became so popular that he was the star of some of their films together. He knew lots of tricks (Tom said he never "taught him tricks", he just explained what he wanted him to do, and he did it...), but if the stunts were dangerous, like charging down a rocky hillside or being leaped onto from a train, a double horse was always used. Tom would never risk Tony on the rough stuff. Tony was at first jealous of one of his doubles, a horse named Buster. He would snort and shake his head when Tom mounted up on Buster. For his entire life, no person but Tom ever sat on Tony's back, and no one else taught him his tricks but Tom (well, talked it over with him).

The accident that cause Tom to be so careful with Tony was one involving explosives. He and Tony were to come galloping down a narrow trail on a cliff, and just after they passed by, dynamite hidden under the trail was to be set off by a remote control. Unfortunately, the scene was being filmed so that the sun was in the eyes of the man controling the explosion, and he was a little too quick. The trail blew up right under Tom and Tony, throwing them down the cliff and covering them with rocks and dirt. Tony lay real still until they were dug out... Tom was partly beneath the horse. Tom would not let them take him to a hospital until a veterinarian had cared for Tony, who had a big rip in his side.

Tony could be a bit temperamental. Tom would sometimes hire a three-piece orchestra to play "happy" music for him, to get him in the right mood for work. He would also sweet talk him, and offer Tony his favorite treats, apples, carrots, and bananas. Tony always came around. It's said that Tony could tell time, and when the sun was at a particularly low position in the sky, would call it quits for the day. He must have been in the Equine Actors' Union.

Tom and Tony travelled around the country promoting their films and making personal appearances, and often it was Tony who was the star. Tom never seemed to mind. Tony traveled with Mix to all (at that time) 48 states as well as Mexico, Canada and Europe, where he performed for royalty and made appearances in 25 major European cities. He met President Harding at the White house. His hoof prints are in the cement sidewalk in front of the famous Grauman's Chinese Theater. While at the height of his fame Tony received thousands of fan letters a week.

By the year 1932, Tony had reached the age of 22 and Mix retired him to his ranch. In 1940, Tom Mix died in an automobile crash. His will left Tony to Mix's long time friend D. Parker. By the fall of 1942, Tony, now 32 years old, was put to sleep to ease his way to greener pastures.