Toby

FAIRISLE BRONZE BUGLER, OR TOBY AS HE IS KNOWN AT HOME, HAS BEEN WITH US FOR MANY YEARS AS A COVERING STALLION AND AS A VERY SUCCESSFUL RIDDEN MOUNTAIN AND MOORLAND. HE CARRIES SOME OF THE BEST OF THE OLD BLOODLINES AND IS A FABULOUS MOVER.

IN 2003, WHEN TOBY WAS 15 YEARS OLD, WE MADE THE DECISION TO RETIRE HIM FROM SHOWING. THIS WAS NOT THE RIGHT DECISION, TOBY WATCHED OTHER, YOUNGER PONIES LOAD ONTO HIS LORRY AND SET OFF, TOBY LOST HIS APPETITE, TOOK NO INTEREST IN LIFE AT WITCHHILL AND EVEN STARTED TO LOSE INTEREST IN HIS MARES, SLOWLY TOBY’S QUALITY OF LIFE SEEMED TO BE GOING DOWNHILL., IF PONIES CAN GET CLINICAL DEPRESSION THEN TOBY CERTAINLY HAD IT.

BY 2005 WE THOUGHT, THIS WAS IT, TIME TO SAY GOODBYE, WE DECIDED TO GIVE TOBY THE SUMMER .

IN THE SPRING OF 2005 THE SECTION A STALLION ‘FORLAN HELLO AGAIN’ ARRIVED AT WITCHHILL, THE CHANGE IN TOBY WAS DRAMATIC, THE TWO STALLIONS STRUCK UP A FIRM FRIENDSHIP. STABLED IN ADJOINING LOOSE BOXES, THEN TURNED OUT TOGETHER AT THE END OF THE COVERING SEASON, TOBY BLOSSOMED ONCE AGAIN.

TOBY WAS BROUGHT BACK INTO LIGHT WORK DURING 2007 AND MADE HIS REAPPEARANCE AT A COUNTY SHOW , HE BEHAVED LIKE A NOVICE, BUT LOVED EVERY SECOND.

IN 2008 TOBY WILL HOPEFULLY CONTEST VETERAN CLASSES AND A FEW MOUNTAIN AND MOORLAND CLASSES.