TOBY

Mystery Heels Appaloosa/Arabian Date of Birth - April 1, 1981

My parents bought Toby for me in August of 1988, to show in 4-H.  We have learned a lot together.  I have shown him Western, Hunt Seat, Saddle Seat, and Dressage.  Our favorite activities while showing were Showmanship and Trail classes.  They were an area we excelled in.  I qualified for the 4-H state horse show 2 years in a row with him.  It has taken me a long time to understand Toby and to respond correctly while riding him.  He is very mischievious and likes to nibble on people if they are not paying attention to him.  He is very devoted to me, I let one 4-H'er a year ride him and show him in the 4-H circuit shows.  He enjoys showing and I believe that some horses live longer if they stay active.  If I am giving a riding lesson on him, he will constanly try to follow me into the center of the ring.  Toby is a very intelligent horse and while training I always have to stay one step ahead or he will get bored and think of new ways not to work.  Dressage has been the most interesting discipline that we have done.  Dressage training has kept Toby's mind active so that he can't think about how to get out of work, he has to stay focused on me to do the movements correctly.  He enjoys grazing and hanging out with our other horses.  He stays at my parents house and I try to ride him when time allows.  Sometimes we just enjoy going for a ride in the country and just enjoying each other.  Toby is my buddy and we hang out together, he really enjoys it when I just spend time grooming him and petting him.

Toby and I training

Toby and I at our 4-H State Horse Show.  We were alternates for the regional horse show that year.

Graphics by Fuzzy Faces