Today is day 3 of the 2022 AHA Sport Horse Nationals in OH and it was NINE years ago that Tonka was named National Champion Arabian Sport Horse In Hand 2 Year old filly! I think today that class will head into the ring at the World Equestrian Center in Ohio! In celebration, I'm re-posting Tonka's story.
Mike Troxler and "Tonka" (GJR Shahanna Khan) 2013 National Champion Sport Horse in Hand 2 year old filly.
I have all the material I need (and then some!) for multiple amazing blog posts about Mike and "Tonka". The story of how Mike (in his position as equine manager for the William George Agency for Children's Services) produced, trained and showed a National Champion. We were very proud when AHA covered Tonka and the WGA Equine Team in a 2014 issue of the Modern Arabian Horse magazine.
Fortunately, even though my skills are limited to the written word, Mike's are not!
In addition to being able to run a sport horse, Mike can put Adobe premier through it's paces and he created a short video of Tonka's story! If a picture is worth a thousand words, then pictures and music are even more powerful. Please click on the link below for the Story of Tonka!
I'm happy to say that Tonka's story continues! After spending 8 years with Peg and Jim Hays, Tonka became ours and is joining us on our journey as we head to El Rancho Escondido on Catalina Island! In preparation for that move, Tonka and Stella both needed exposure and training with creatures of the bovine persuasion...there are buffalo on Catalina! While I didn't find a trainer with actual buffalo accomplished horse trainer Kit Hall is just down the road from us and we're excited to say that Kit will be introducing both mares to cattle!
Stay tuned for updates!
