Quality, quiet horses on offer in Tocal ASH sale

The sale features 17 ridden horses – including two experienced 10-year-olds – and one 10-year-old broodmare, with horses by Warrenbri Clancy, Teles Again and Mirror Image as well as Tocal sires Boree Below Zero, Peelvale Maestro and Spin to Win.

Tocal horse course teacher Warwick Lawrence said most horses were three-year-olds and all had been through the Tocal program.

The horses were broken by students last year and competed in the annual Tocal challenge, and they’ve also had nine weeks of sale preparation, which involves hours of flatwork.

“We do a lot of foundation work on these horses so they’re ready to go into polocrosse, the show ring, campdrafting, team penning, or even just pleasure riding,” Mr Lawrence said.

VERSATILITY is a big focus for Tahlia McDonald, who has bought two horses – Tocal Jinx and Tocal Looney Tunes – through the sale.

The 18-year-old rider from Ballina competes at in stock horse classes and challenges, campdrafting and team penning.

The horses have also done dressage, pony club and show jumping.

Looney Tunes recently won supreme champion working hack at the ASHS National Youth Show held at Narrabri.

“They’re very versatile horses – you can put them anywhere and they’ll do well,” she said.

Miss McDonald, who has applied to attend Tocal College next year, said the horses have a trainable nature thanks to the hours of work put into them prior to the sale.

"Warwick does such good foundation work on them – it sets them up for whatever discipline you want to go into."

CATE and Robert Prichard, from Indigo Valley in north east Victoria, have bought three horses from Tocal, and say temperament is a big factor in selecting horses for their children Ellyn, 18, David, 16, and Will, 14.

“We’ve got people from 14 years to 84 years – three generations – handling those horses,” Mrs Prichard said.

“The hours that go into each horse are incredible so that's been really good for us.

The family was attracted to the breed’s versatility.

“Our horses are used on the farm, and we compete at agricultural shows and ASH branch shows, in show jumping, and at interschool competitions.”

FORMER Tocal student Jess Peters had such a strong bond with the horse she helped train at the college – Tocal Navigator – that she purchased him at last year’s sale. The chestnut gelding is now excelling in dressage. 

“I’ve been in dressage for three years and I went to Tocal to go into stock work and work in agriculture, but also learn another part of riding and build my skills as a rider. 

“I wasn't thinking I’d come home with a horse, but I was given him halfway through my course and we were inseparable.”

It’s been a good match, with the combination winning all seven competitions entered so far.

“I ride with Northside Riding Club and we have qualified for the dressage championships. He can jump as well, and he’s so quiet. I can ride him along main roads and we’ve even been through the McDonalds drive thru.”